DATE  DUE 

UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS 

AT 

AMHERST 


F 

74 

L98 

L5 

1890 

V.l 


m 


Mgaiiiiii;iiii;ii!iiiiiia^^ 


OLD  TUNNEL  MEETING  HOUSE,  LYNN.     1682.     See  p  ^11. 

Li  the  foreground  are  a  couple  of  unruly  wights  confined 

in  the  Stocks ,  likewise  a  Dame  on  her  pillion 

taking  an  aii-ing  with  her  Good-man. 


AUTOGRAPHS 


Several  of  the  following  fac-similes  appear  in  other  connections  in  this 
volume;  but  it  was  thought  that  the  reader  would  be  pleased  to  see  them 
collectively  on  one  page,  with  those  that  do  not  elsewhere  appear.  It  is  an 
old  fancy  that  the  character  of  an  individual  may  be  determined  by  his  hand- 
writing; and  to  those  who  entertain  it,  autogra})hs  are  peculiarly  interesting. 

The  star  distinguishes  those  who  were  born  in  Lynn. 

The  references  to  pages  show  where  accounts  of  the  individuals  may  be 
found;  though  in  most  instances  they  are  spoken  of  in  several  places,  which 
may  be  ascertained  by  referring  to  the  index. 


Samuel  Whiting,  S^r  —  settled 
over  the  First  Church  of 
Lynn,  in  1636,  continuing-  in 
the  pastorate  43  years.  Writ- 
ten in  1679,  at  the  age  of  82. 
p.  267. 


Jeremiah  Shepard— successor  to  Mr.  Whiting,  and 
first  minister  in  the  Old  Tunnel  Meeting-house, 
where  he  preached  37  years.  Written  in  1689,  at 
the  age  of  41.    p.  314. 


^^<im^ 


George  Burrill  — head  of  the 
family  once  called  the  roy- 
<al  family  of  Lynn.  Writ- 
ten in  1653.    p.  115. 


*  Ehenezer  Breed  —  "  Uncle  Eben."  —  Written  in  1796, 
at  the  age  of  31.    p.  519 


T^^n^  iio^Cc^   Ma  f'J-ff^tllu-r 


Thomas  Neiohall—t\\e  first  person  of 
European  parentage  born  in  Lynn. 
Written  iu  1677,  at  the  age  of  47.   p.482. 


Moll  Pitcher  —  the  fortune-teller.    Writ- 
ten in  1770,  at  the  age  of  32.    p.  374. 


'^rhnm.ns     T  n^inltt/^/^-,         ^^     „„+,■„„     j  v^ 


Thomas  Laightoti  —  an  active  and 
conspicuous  settler.  Written  in 
1668.    p.  155. 


George  Gray — the  hermit  of  Lynn. 
1843,  at  the  age  of  73.    p.  419. 


cr^^z-^z:^ 


Written  in 


Thomas  Dexter  —  a  prominent  and  enter- 
prising settler.    Written  in  1657.    p.  119. 


^^^^/'^ 


*  Alonzo  Lewis  — Lynn  bard  and  historian. 
Written  in  1831,  at  the  age  of  37.    p.  544. 


Maria  Augusta  Fuller  —  writer 
of  prose  and  poetry.  Written 
iu  1829,  at  the  age  of  22.    p.  505. 


CC<yC4^^L^O<yi^^ 


*  Charles  F.  Lummus  —  Rrst  printer  in  Lynn, 
ten  in  1832,  at  the  age  of  31.    p.  511. 


Writ- 


HISTORY 


LYNN, 


ESSEX  COUNTY  MASSACHUSETTS  : 


INCLUDING 


LTNNFIELD,'   SAUGUS,    SWAMPSCOTT, 


NAHAISTT, 


1629-1864. 


cr^^^z:^ 


/ou^^.c4^f^J/^ 


^-e</^^-c?<-^C- 


LYNN: 

PUBLISHED      AT     THE      BOOKSTORE      OP 
GEORGE    C.    HERBERT. 


^1  S" 


n 


0 


o  n 
NOTE.  ^  •  / 

This  volume  gives  the  History  of  Lynn  from  1629  to  1S64,  and  is  alluded  to 
in  the  subsequent  volume  as  the  "  1865  Edition  of  the  History  of  Lynn,"  which 
subsequent  volume  brings  the  History  down  from  1864  to  1890. 

J.  R.  N. 

Lynn,  1890.  •  -  . 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress  in  the  year  1890,  by 

James  R.  Newhall, 
in  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress  at  Washington. 


P.REFACE. 


Alonzo  Lewis,  the  accomplished  historian  of  Lynn,  died  on 
the  twenty-first  day  of  January,  1861.  A  few  years  before  his 
death  he  proposed  publishing  a  new  edition  of  his  work,  which 
appeared  in  1844,  comprised  in  a  volume  of  278  pages.  But 
unforeseen  obstacles  occurred,  and  his  design  was  never  accom- 
plished. The  few  papers  left  by  him  came  into  the  possession 
of  the  individual  whose  name  is  associated  with  his  in  the  title- 
page  of  this  volume ;  but  they  proved  of  scarcely  any  value, 
consisting  as  they  did  of  loose  notes,  mostly  in  pencil,  mixed 
with  surveying  calculations,  poetic  effusions,  and  all  sorts  of 
memoranda;  and  a  large  portion  were  incapable  of  being  deci- 
phered. I  was,  therefore,  compelled  to  lay  almost  every  parti- 
cle aside,  and  simply  take  his  former  edition,  and  add  to  it 
such  matters  of  interest  as  were  derived  from  my  own  ori- 
ginal investigations.  It  is  probable  that  he  intended  to  pre- 
pare his  work  as  it  passed  through  the  press,  merely  taking 
care  to  keep  just  a-head  of  the  printer;  though  it  is  barely 
possible  that  some  prepared  pages  may  have  been  destroyed 
by  the  fire  which  occurred  at  the  cottage  after  his  decease. 

I  have  not  felt  at  liberty  to  alter  the  text  of  Mr.  Lewis  — 
excepting,  of  course,  to  here  and  there  correct  an  obvious  error, 
like  an  error  of  the  press,  or  mere  slip  in  transcribing — or  in 
any  way  make  him  responsible  for  matter  not  his  own ;  and 
hence  have  indicated  by  brackets  all  the  material  additions  and 
corrections  that  I  have  made. 

(iii) 


Si6"7^^ 


IV  PEEFACE. 

It  is  quite  impossible  to  avoid  an  occasional  error  in  a  work 
of  this  kind.  In  the  multitude  of  dates,  names,  and  detached 
facts,  where  there  are  no  connections  and  associations  to 
prompt  the  mind,  the  most  lively  watchfulness  will  not  be 
rewarded  with  entire  success.  Errors  of  the  press  are  particu- 
larly liable  to  occur  in  works  where  figures  are  freely  used; 
because  in  fonts  of  type  the  figures  are  all  of  one  size,  while 
the  letters  vary  in  their  proportions,  and  the  printer,  who 
readily  distinguishes  a  wrong  letter  by  the  mere  sense  of  feel- 
ing is  at  fault  with  that  sense,  when  his  fingers  seize  a  figure. 
The  closing  lines  of  Mather's  Magnalia  are  so  apt,  that  the 
temptation  to  introduce  them  here  is  irresistible :  "  Reader, 
Carthagena  was  of  the  mind  that  unto  those  three  things  which 
the  ancients  held  impossible,  there  should  be  added  this  fourth: 
to  find  a  book  printed  without  erratas.  It  seems  the  hands  of 
Briareus  and  the  eyes  of  Argus  will  not  prevent  them."  And 
elsewhere  he  says:  "The  holy  Bible  itself,  in  some  of  its  edi- 
tions, hath  been  aftronted  with  scandalous  errors  of  the  press- 
work;  and  one  of  them  so  printed  those  words.  Psalms,  119, 
161:  ^Printers  have  persecuted  me,'  <fec."  It  is,  however,  be- 
lieved, with  some  confidence,  that  this  volume  will  be  found  as 
free  from  errors  as  a  work  of  the  kind  can  well  be  made. 

It  seemed  necessary  to  bring  along  the  histories  of  Lynn  and 
her  municipal  progeny  —  Lynnfield,  Saugus,  Swampscot,  and 
Nahant  —  in  a  united  form,  as  much  confusion  would  ensue 
from  an  attempt  to  separate  what  was  so  blended ;  the  tables 
at  the  close  of  the  volume,  embrace  all  that  it  appeared  requisite 
to  give  in  separate  form. 

I  have  followed  Mr  Lewis's  plan,  when  giving  quotations 
from  old  records,  of  presenting  them  with  all  their  vagaries  of 
orthography  and  syntax.  Many  have  been  puzzled  to  find  a 
reason  for  the  diversity  of  spelling  indulged  in  by  the  old 
worthies ;   they   often    seeming  to  have  used   every  effort  to 


PREFACE.  V 

give  a  word  in  as  many  shapes  as  possible.  But  I  have  come 
to  the  conclusion  that  they  were  either  curiously  experimenting 
with  the  language,  or  considered  the  style  ornamental. 

It  may  be  observed  that  I  have  not  been  so  prodigal  of  titles 
as  is  common  with  some.  But  this  should  not  be  attributed 
to  a  disposition  to  detract  from  the  dignity  of  any  one  ;  for 
the  fact  is  that  '^  Esq."  and  ^'  Hon."  have  now  come  to  be  so 
profusely,  improperly,  and  even  ridiculously  applied,  that  they 
have  ceased  to  become  any  thing  like  safe  testimonials  of  rank 
or  worth.  And  it  is  quite  refreshing  to  see  a  name  without 
meretricious  adornment.  It  must  be  a  weak  name  that  cannot 
stand  without  a  crutch;  and  all  titles  of  dignity,  when  worn 
by  those  whose  lives  do  not  become  them,  are  debasing  rather 
than  ennobling,  impressing  all  well-ordered  minds  with  a  sense 
of  irony.  But  these  remarks  may  be  unnecessary,  as  it  is  hardly 
probable  that  the  omission  of  titles  would  be  noticed  by  any, 
excepting,  perhaps,  a  few  who  might  feel  themselves  wronged 
by  the  omission.  Anciently  there  was  more  discrimination  in 
the  use  of  titles,  if  there  was  not  less  love  of  them.  Mister  or 
Master  was  a  title  of  dignity,  awarded  to  magistrates,  ministers, 
doctors,  and  generally  to  those  who  had  taken  the  freeman's 
oath ;  and  on  some  occasions  individuals  were  deprived  of  it, 
by  special  law,  as  a  punishment.  Goodman  was  the  prefix  of 
those  who  had  not  attained  to  any  dignity,  nor  had  taken  the 
freeman's  oath.  Military  titles  were  highly  prized ;  and  as 
exposure  to  perils  might  be  necessary  for  their  legitimate 
attainment  the  baptismal  font  was  sometimes  resorted  to  for 
the  bestowal ;  and  it  will  be  by  no  means  a  matter  of  wonder 
if  ^'Honorables"  are  presently  made  in  the  same  way.  Conceit 
and  ambition  have  done  a  great  many  worse  things.  There 
was  a  delicate  custom  that  prevailed  to  some  extent  even 
down  to  the  present  century,  which  deserves  mentioning  —  the 
custom  of  giving  to  all  respectable  women  who  had  attained 
A^ 


VI  PREFACE. 

middle  life  —  those  who  had  never  been  wedded  as  well  as  those 
who  had  — the  prefix  of  Mrs.  or  Mistress.  This,  however,  is  not 
so  convenient,  in  some  respects,  as  onr  custom,  and  has  occa- 
sioned errors  among  genealogists  who  did  not  keep  it  in  mind. 

In  designating  a  particular  century,  I  have  adopted,  in  place 
of  the  old  form,  a  mode  of  expression  that  seems  more  readily 
to  fix  the  right  time  in  the  mind.  Instead,  for  instance,  of  calling 
the  century  beginning  with  1600,  the  seventeenth,  and  that 
beginning  with  1700.  the  eighteenth,  the  first  is  designated  as 
century  1600,  and  the  latter  as  century  1700.  This  seems  in 
accordance  with  the  mode  of  expression  usual  in  similar  cases. 

It  may  not  be  inappropriate  to  mention  that  the  types  for 
every  page  of  this  volume  were  set  by  my  own  hands.  There 
are  divers  things  necessary  to  the  decent  appearance  of  any 
work,  about  which  the  author  has,  ordinarily,  no  occasion  to 
trouble  himself;  but  when  he  is  compelled  to  assume  the  burden 
his  labors  are  greatl}"  increased.  The  exactness  required  m 
everything  touching  the  mechanical  department  of  book  making 
is  a  source  of  care  and  perplexity.  And  then,  in  a  critical  point 
of  view,  the  late  fantastical  innovations  in  the  spelling,  com- 
pounding, and  capitalizing  of  words,  and  .the  punctuating  of 
sentences,  demand  constant  attention,  if  any  thing  like  uniform- 
ity would  be  preserved.  But  it  may  be  unwise  to  volunteer  dis- 
closures that  show  responsibility.  A  local  work,  like  this,  must 
always  be  put  through  the  press  in  the  most  economical  way, 
or  pecuniary  loss  is  sure  to  ensue ;  and  the  present  is  issued 
not  without  apprehension  on  the  point.  But  here  it  is,  with  its 
imperfections  on  its  head.  It  was  prepared  during  hours  filched 
from  the  duties  of  an  exacting  profession,  and  sometimes  from 
needed  rest.  Yet  the  labor  was  pleasant.  And  if  the  reader 
derives  as  much  enjoyment  from  the  perusal  as  the  writer  did 
from  the  preparation,  and  he  escapes  absolute  pecuniary  loss,  he 
is  ready  to  declare  himself  abundantly  satisfied.  J.  R.  N. 


ORDER  OF  THIS  HISTORY. 


CHAPTER  I.,  Beginning  on  Page  9: 

Embraces  Introductory  Remarks  —  Notices  of  the  Early 
Voyages  and  Discoveries  in  and  about  our  territory  —  An 
account  of  the  Indians  found  here^  with  brief  Biograph- 
ical Sketches  of  some  of  the  more  prominent — Topograph- 
ical and  general  Descriptions,  with  notices  of  Natural 
History  and  Phenomena  —  Facts  concerning  the  Business 
Enterprises  and  Employments  of  the  Settlers,  and  their 
Religious  Character,  Manners,  and  peculiar  Customs. 

CHAPTER  II.,  Beginning  on  Page  111: 

Carries  forward  our  History,  year  by  year,  in  the  form  of 
Annals,  giving  all  important  events  under  the  appropriate 
dates,  from  the  time  of  the  first  settlement,  in  1629,  to  the 
year  18G5  — interspersed  with  brief  notices  of  prominent 
individuals,  and  other  matters  deemed  pertinent. 

CHAPTER  III.   Beginning  on  Page  479  : 

Contains  Biographical  Sketches  of  various  Natives  of 
Lynn  who  from  position,  endowments  or  acts  seemed  enti- 
tled to  some  special  notice. 

CHAPTER  lY.,  Beginning  on  Page  575: 

Embraces  various  Tables  —  Lists  of  Public  Officers,  Names 
of  Early  Settlers,  Religious  Societies  and  Ministers,  News- 
papers and  Editors,  etc.  —  together  with  Statistical  Sum- 
maries. 

CHAPTER  Y.,  Beginning  on  Page  590: 

Contains  brief  Concluding  Remarks,  alluding  especially  to 

(vii) 


Viii  ORDER    OF    THE    HISTORY. 

the   progress   of  Lynn    during   the    last   twenty    years  — 
and  closing  with  acknowledgments  for  the  friendly  assist- 
ance received  during  the  progress  of  the  work. 
THE  INDEX,  Beginning  on  Page  593: 

Contains  all  the  Surnames  in  the  book,  alphabetically  ar- 
ranged in  connection  with  the  subjects.  Names  are  so  nat- 
urally connected  in  the  mind  with  events  that  it  is  thought 
the  arrangement  will  prove  highly  useful.  A  full  index  is 
to  a  work  of  this  kind  of  the  first  importance.  Indeed  a 
good  index  is  a  valuable  addition  to  any  work.  And  the 
object  of  the  threat  of  Lord  Campbell  to  introduce  a  bill 
into  the  British  Parliament  making  it  penal  to  issue  a  book 
without  an  index,  should  be  better  appreciated  by  book 
makers  than  seems  generally  to  be  the  case. 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Of  the  Illustrations  in  this  volume  little  need  be  said,  as  for 
the  most  part  they  explain  themselves.  But  of  the  two  Views 
at  the  commencement,  it  may  be  remarked  that  in  the  one  taken 
from  the  base  of  Sadler's  Rock,  every  church  steeple  in  Lynn 
but  three,  to  wit,  the  Union  street  Methodist,  the  Second  Uni- 
versalist,  and  the  South  Street  Methodist,  is  shown.  On  the 
extreme  left,  appears  High  Rock,  with  its  Observatory ;  and 
then  come  the  steeples  in  this  order :  Second  Baptist,  First 
Universalist,  Chesnut  Street  Congregational,  Central  Congrega- 
tional, Boston  Street  Methodist,  First  Methodist,  Roman  Cath- 
olic, First  Baptist,  First  Congregational ;  which  brings  us  to 
the  extreme  right  of  the  picture.  In  the  View  from  Forest 
Place,  proceeding  from  left  to  right,  we  have  the  First  Congre- 
gational, Second  Universalist,  Boston  Street  Methodist,  South 
Street  Methodist.  And  thus  the  two  pictures  give  every  stee- 
ple in  town  exceping  the  Union  Street  Methodist. 


HISTORY  OF  LYNN. 


CHAPTER    I. 

General  Remarks,  page  9  —  Early  Voyages  and  Discoveries,  25  —  Nahtint, 
Grant  of,  to  Capt.  Gorges,  30  —  The  Indians,  32  —  Indian  Deed  of  Lynn. 
49  —  Topography  and  Phenomena,  56  —  Shoes  and  Shoemaking,  86  — 
Ancient  Ferry ;  Roads ;  Iron  Works,  93  —  Peculiar  Custo-ms  and  Domgs  in 
Religious  Matters,  100. 

GENERAL    REMARKS. 

When  the  collection  of  the  facts  composing  this  work  was 
commenced,  very  little  was  known  of  the  early  history  of  Lynn. 
It  had  not  even  been  ascertained  in  what  year  the  town  was 
settled  —  the  records  for  the  first  sixty-two  years  were  wholly 
wanting  —  and  the  names  of  the  early  settlers  were  unknown. 

It  has  been  said  that  the  Town  Records  were  burnt,  about  the 
year  1690 ;  but  that  they  were  in  existence  long  after  that  peri- 
od, is  evident  from  an  order  respecting  them,  on  the  seventh 
of  March,  1715,  when  the  inhabitants  voted  that  —  "Whereas, 
some  of  the  old  Town  Records  are  much  shattered,  therefore, 
so  much  shall  be  transcribed  out  of  one  or  more  of  them,  into 
another  book  as  the  selectmen  shall  think  best  ....  and  the 
selectmen  having  perused  two  of  the  old  Town  Books,  and 
find  that  the  second  book  is  most  shattered,  and  that  the  oldest 
book  may  be  kept  fare  to  reed  severall  years,  think  it  best  and 
order,  that  soe  much  shall  be  transcribed."  A  few  pages  were 
thus  copied,  and  the  books  were  afterward  destroyed  or  lost. 

[In  1686,  Oliver  Purchis  was  elected  Town  Clerk.  And 
probably  he  kept  the  records  in  a  careless  manner,  as  subse- 
quently this  passage  appears :  '^  At  a  Town  Meeting  held  in 
Lyn,  May  16th,  1704,  the  town  being  informed  that  there  was 

(9) 


10  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

considerable  concerns  of  the  town  lay  in  loose  papers  that  was 
acted  when  Capt.  Purchis  was  Town  Clark  —  therefore  Voated, 
that  the  present  selectmen,  with  Capt.  Theo.  Burrill,  should  be 
a  committee  to  sort  all  them  papers  and  such  of  them  as  they 
thought  fit  the  Towne  Clark  to  record  in  y®  Towne  Booke.' 
The  papers  were  accordingly  sorted  and  some  recorded.  But 
though  among  the  rejected  ones  there  were  doubtless  many  con- 
taining matters  that  would  be  highly  interesting  to  the  people 
of  this  day,  yet  it  is  hardly  probable  that  anything  of  real 
value  escaped. 

[The  sly  censure  on  Mr.  Purchis  involved  in  the  vote, 
should,  however,  be  a  warning  to  all  delinquent  clerks.  And 
had  some  who  preceded  him  been  a  little  more  sharply  looked 
after  it  is  not  likely  that  we  should  be  so  destitute  of  what 
we  now  mourn  for  as  lost.  Of  late  years  our  records  have 
been  kept  in  a  very  perfect  manner,  and  it  is  earnestly  to 
be  hoped  that  the  example  they  furnish  may  at  no  time  in  the 
future  be  disregarded. 

[It  is  well  to  bear  in  mind,  however,  that  divers  matters 
which  are  now  considered  entirely  within  the  jurisdiction  of 
the  towns  themselves,  were  anciently  taken  cognizance  of  by 
the  General  and  Quarterly  Courts.  Town  records  were  hence 
deemed  of  comparatively  small  importance,  and  often  kept  with 
little  care ;  far  too  little,  when  it  is  considered  what  mischief 
might  arise,  for  instance,  from  uncertainty  respecting  land  allot- 
ments. But  the  living  witnesses  were  then  at  hand,  and  the 
necessities  of  the  great  future  could  not  be  anticipated.  Yet  it 
is  not  believed  that  Lynn  has  greatly  suffered  from  the  loss  of 
her  early  records.  Eichard  Sadler  was  our  first  Clerk  of  the 
Writs,  acting  also,  it  is  presumed,  in  the  capacity  of  Town 
Clerk.  And  he  was  probably  a  man  of  education,  as  he  after- 
ward became  a  minister  in  England.  No  vestige  of  his  jottings 
are  now  known  to  exist.  But  should  every  scrap  of  his  old 
book  —  if,  indeed,  his  records  ever  assumed  a  shape  worthy  of 
so  dignified  a  name  —  come  to  light,  it  is  hardly  probable  that 
it  would  compensate  for  a  perusal  excepting  in  the  way  of 
curiosity ;  for  it  appears  almost  certain  that  a  knowledge  of  all 
the  doings  of  real  importance  has  come  down  to  us  through 
other  channels. 


GENERAL   REMARKS.  11 

[Where  Mr.  Lewis,  a  few  lines  hence,  speaks  of  having  discov- 
ered a  copy  of  three  pages  of  the  town  records  of  1638,  he  no 
doubt  refers  to  those  containing  the  land  allotments.  He  found 
the  copy  among  the  records  at  Salem.  Now  this  fact  shows 
that  the  old  authorities  realized  the  importance  of  perpetuating 
evidence  concerning  the  division,  and  hence  had  the  pages 
recorded  where  the  record  would  be  most  secure ;  if,  indeed, 
the  law  did  not  then  require  that  all  transactions  concerning 
real  estate  should  appear  in  the  county  archives.  And  does 
not  this  support  the  view  just  taken  concerning  the  value  of 
the  lost  records?  The  great  utility  of  a  proper  record  of  births, 
marriages  and  deaths,  was  in  former  times  seldom  kept  in  view. 
Our  town  books  all  along  bear  melancholy  evidence  of  this. 
And  even  now,  it  is  hard  to  make  some  people  realize  how 
important  a  record  concerning  even  the  most  humble  individual 
may  become  somewhere  in  the  future.  Very  few  come  into  the 
world,  concerning  Avhom  it  is  not  of  consequence  to  preserve 
some  exact  knowledge,  however  lowly  may  be  the  estimation 
in  which  their  own  modesty  induces  them  to  hold  themselves.] 

In  my  researches  I  found  several  volumes  of  old  records  of 
births,  marriages  and  deaths,  commencing  in  1675,  in  a  very 
ruinous  condition,  and  caused  them  to  be  bound  and  furnished 
with  an  index.  The  earliest  record  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
town,  now  in  existence,  commences  in  the  year  1691 ;  and  the 
earliest  parish  record,  in  1722. 

I  have  examined  every  attainable  source  of  information,  to 
supply  the  deficiencies  of  the  lost  records.  I  have  discovered 
numerous  ancient  manuscripts  ;  and  among  them  a  copy  of  three 
pages  of  the  old  Town  Records  for  1638,  and  several  in  subse- 
quent years,  which  providentially  happened  to  be  the  pages 
most  wanted.  I  have  also  found  a  journal,  kept  daily  for  forty- 
four  years  by  Mr.  Zaccheus  Collins ;  and  another,  for  twenty 
years,  by  Mr.  Richard  Pratt;  in  which  they  appear  to  have 
noticed  everything  remarkable  during  those  long  periods,  and 
from  which  I  have  extracted  many  interesting  particulars.  I 
have  transcribed  from  the  records  of  state  and  county,  as  well 
as  from  those  of  town  and  parish ;  and  from  numerous  files  of 
unpublished  papers.  Indeed  I  have  spared  neither  labor  nor 
expense  to  make  this  history  complete.     Not  only  have  nume- 


12  HISTORY   OF  LYNN. 

rous  volumes  concerning  early  discoveries  and  settlements  in 
America  been  consulted,  but  the  manuscript  records  of  towns 
and  parishes  in  Great  Britain  and  other  European  nations  have 
been  explored. 

It  would  have  been  quite  as  easy,  in  most  instances,  to  have 
conveyed  the  ideas  in  my  own  words ;  but  as  I  was  delighted 
with  the  quaintness  and  simplicity  of  the  original  language,  I 
thought  that  perhaps  others  might  be  equally  pleased.  More- 
over, I  like  to  hear  people  tell  their  own  stories.  Some  histori- 
ans have  strangely  distorted  facts  by  changing  the  language  so 
as  to  fit  their  own  fancies  or  conform  to  their  ow^n  prejudices. 

The  records  and  files  of  our  state  government  furnish  much 
information  respecting  our  early  history ;  but  as  they  existed 
when  I  began  my  researches,  a  vast  amount  of  patience  was 
requisite  to  obtain  it.  Those  papers  were  then  tied  up  in  hun- 
dreds of  small  bundles  and  many  of  them  bore  the  impress  of 
the  mob  by  whom  they  were  trampled,  in  1765.  At  my  sug- 
gestion they  have  been  arranged  in  volumes  and  furnished  with 
an  index ;  so  that  future  historians  will  be  spared  much  labor 
to  which  I  was  subjected.  The  papers  in  other  public  offices, 
and  particularly  those  of  the  Essex  Court,  at  Salem,  merit  a 
similar  attention.  [It  would  be  more  exact,  perhaps,  to  speak 
of  the  papers  as  the  records  of  the  Colonial  Courts,  as  there 
were  three  distinct  jurisdictions  within  the  present  county  of 
Essex,  to  wit,  the  Salem,  the  Ipswich,  and  the  Norfolk  County 
Court  jurisdictions,  each  with  different  magistrates  and  clerks.] 
People  yet  have  too  little  veneration  for  their  ancestors,  and 
too  little  love  for  their  country,  or  it  would  have  been  done 
long  ago.  The  Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  at  Boston^ 
merit  unbounded  gratitude,  for  the  care  with  which  they  have 
preserved  rare  historical  books  and  valuable  manuscripts.  [And 
the  local  historian  of  Essex  County  has  cause  for  gratitude  to 
the  Essex  Institute,  at  Salem,  for  their  exertions  in  rescuing 
many  things  of  interest  and  importance  that  were  fast  sweeping 
down  the  tide  to  oblivion.] 

I  have  given  the  names  of  more  than  three  hundred  of  the 
early  settlers,  with  short  sketches  of  the  lives  of  many.  [And 
to  these,  in  the  present  edition,  a  large  number  have  been 
added.]     I  have  also  collected  the  names  of  many  Indians  and 


GENERAL    REMARKS.  13 

their  sagamores,  the  fragments  of  whose  history  have  become 
so  interesting.  This  is  the  first  attempt,  in  any  town,  to  collect 
the  names  all  the  early  settlers,  with  those  of  the  Indians  who 
were  contemporary  with  them.  I  trust  that  no  person  who  is 
an  inhabitant  of  Lynn,  or  interested  in  the  details  of  antiquity, 
will  think  that  I  have  been  too  particular.  A  proper  attention 
to  dates  and  minuteness  of  circumstance,  constitutes  the  charm 
of  history.  And  the  actions  and  manners  of  men  can  never 
cease  to  be  interesting. 

[These  initiatory  remarks  of  Mr.  Lewis  have  been  considered 
by  some  as  giving  altogether  too  deep  a  coloring  to  the  igno- 
rance that  prevailed  regarding  our  fathers,  before  he  undertook 
his  work,  and  as  unduly  magnifying  his  own  labors.  But  it  is 
eminently  true  that  the  public  in  general  were  very  deficient 
in  anything  like  exact  knowledge  of  our  history.  And  it  is 
astonishing  how  much  of  that  ignorance  still  exists.  Multitudes 
who  profess  great  interest  in  the  study  of  the  past,  rest  satis- 
fied with  knowledge  in  a  most  crude  and  loose  form,  and  find 
themselves  quite  incompetent  to  impart  anything  like  accurate 
information  to  the  inquirer.  The  local  historian  is  perhaps 
most  constantly  baffled  in  pursuing  family  connections ;  for  it 
is  not  uncommon  to  find  respectable  people  who  do  not  know 
the  names  of  their  grandfathers.  This  will  scarcely  be  believed; 
but  any  one  may  relieve  himself  of  doubt  by  experimenting 
among  his  neighbors.  Those  who  have  had  experience  like 
that  of  Mr.  Lewis  can  w^ell  comprehend  the  moving  cause  of 
his  expressions.  And  any  of  us  would  be  better  employed  in 
studying  than  in  criticising  his  pages.  There  are,  even  in  this 
introductory  chapter,  exquisitely  beautiful  passages  enough  to 
impart  grace  to  an  entire  volume.] 

There  is  something  so  natural  in  inquiring  into  the  history 
of  those  who  have  lived  before  us,  and  particularly  of  those 
with  whom  we  have  any  connection,  either  by  the  ties  of  rela- 
tion or  place,  that  it  is  surprising  any  one  should  be  found  by 
whom  the  subject  is  regarded  with  indifierence.  In  a  govern- 
ment like  ours,  where  every  man  is  required  to  take  part  in  the 
management  of  public  affairs,  an  acquaintance  with  the  past  is 
indispensable  to  an  intelligent  discharge  of  his  duties.  The 
knowledge  of  history  was  considered  so  important  by  the  Mon- 
B 


14  HISTORY  OF   LYNN. 

arch  Bard  of  Israel,  that  he  commenced  a  song  of  praise  for  its 
enjoyment.  And  the  relation  in  which  we  are  placed  cannot 
render  it  less  important  and  interesting  to  us.  To  trace  the 
settlement  and  progress  of  our  native  town  —  to  read  the  his- 
tory of  the  play-place  of  our  early  hours,  and  which  has  been 
the  scene  of  our  maturer  joys  —  to  follow  the  steps  of  our 
fathers  through  the  course  of  centuries,  and  mark  the  gradation 
of  improvement  —  to  learn  who  and  what  they  were  from  whom 
we  are  descended  —  and  still  further,  to  be  informed  of  the 
people  who  were  here  before  them,  and  who  are  now  vanished 
like  a  dream  of  childhood  —  and  all  these  in  their  connection 
with  the  history  of  the  world  and  of  man  —  must  certainly  be 
objects  of  peculiar  interest  to  every  inquisitive  mind.  And 
though,  in  the  pursuit  of  these  objects,  we  meet  with  much  that 
calls  forth  the  tear  of  sympathy  and  the  expression  of  regret, 
we  yet  derive  a  high  degree  of  pleasure  from  being  enabled  to 
sit  with  our  fathers  in  the  shade  of  the  oaks  and  pines  of  '^  olden 
time,"  and  hear  them  relate  the  stories  of  days  which  have  gone 
by.  One  of  the  most  useful  faculties  of  the  mind  is  the  mem- 
ory ;  and  history  enables  us  to  treasure  up  the  memories  of 
those  who  have  lived  before  us.  What  would  not  any  curious 
mind  give  to  have  a  complete  knowledge  of  the  Indian  race  ? 
And  what  a  painful  want  should  we  suffer,  were  the  history  of 
our  fathers  a  blank,  and  we  could  know  no  more  of  them  than 
of  the  aborigines?  Our  existence  might  indeed  be  regarded  as 
incomplete,  if  we  could  not  command  the  record  of  past  time, 
as  well  as  enjoy  the  present,  and  hope  for  the  happiness  of  the 
future.  Reality  must  ever  possess  a  stronger  power  over  the 
minds  of  reasonable  and  reflecting  men,  than  imagination ;  and 
though  fiction  frequently  asserts,  and  sometimes  acquires  the 
ascendancy,  it  is  generally  when  she  appears  dressed  in  the 
habiliments  of  probability  and  historical  truth. 

Among  the  pleasures  of  the  mind,  there  are  few  which  afford 
more  unalloyed  gratification  than  that  which  arises  from  the 
remembrance  of  the  loved  and  familiar  objects  of  home,  com- 
bined with  the  memory  of  the  innocent  delights  of  our  child- 
hood. This  is  one  of  the  few  pleasures  of  which  the  heart 
cannot  be  deprived  —  which  the  darkest  shades  of  misfortune 
serve  to  bring  out  into  fuller  relief — and  which  the  uninter- 


GENERAL   REMARKS.  15 

rupted  passage  of  the  current  of  time  tends  only  to  polish  and 
to  brighten.  When  wearied  with  the  tumult  of  the  world,  and 
sick  of  the  anxieties  and  sorrows  of  life,  the  thoughts  may 
return  with  delight  to  the  pleasures  of  childhood,  and  banquet 
unsated  on  the  recollections  of  youth.  Who  does  not  remem- 
ber the  companions  of  his  early  years  —  and  the  mother  who 
watched  over  his  dangers  —  and  the  father  who  counselled 
him  —  and  the  teacher  who  instructed  him  —  and  the  sister 
whose  sweet  voice  reproved  his  wildness?  Who  does  not  re- 
member the  tree  under  which  he  played  —  and  the  house  in 
which  he  lived  —  and  even  the  moonbeam  that  slept  upon  his 
bed?  Who  has  not  returned,  in  sunlight  and  in  sleep,  to  the 
scenes  of  his  earliest  and  purest  joys ;  and  to  the  green  and 
humble  mounds  where  his  sorrows  have  gone  forth  over  the 
loved  and  the  lost  who  were  dear  to  his  soul?  And  who  does 
not  love  to  indulge  these  remembrances,  though  they  bring 
swelling  tides  to  his  heart  and  tears  to  his  eyes  ?  And  whose 
ideas  are  so  limited  that  he  does  not  extend  his  thoughts  to  the 
days  and  the  dwellings  of  his  ancestors;  until  he  seems  to 
become  a  portion  of  the  mountain  and  the  stream,  and  to  pro- 
long his  existence  through  the  centuries  which  are  past?  0, 
the  love  of  home  I  it  was  implanted  in  the  breast  of  man  as  a 
germ  of  hope,  that  should  grow  up  into  a  fragrant  flower,  to 
win  his  heart  from  the  ambitions  and  the  vanities  of  his  life, 
and  woo  him  back  to  the  innocent  delights  of  his  morning 
bourse  Sweet  Spirit  of  Home  !  thou  guardian  angel  of  the 
good ;  thou  earliest,  kindest,  latest,  friend  of  man !  how  nume- 
rous are  thy  votaries,  how  many  are  the  hearts  that  bow  before 
thy  sway  I  What  tears  of  sorrow  hast  thou  dried ;  what  tears 
of  recollection,  of  anticipation,  of  enjoyment,  hast  thou  caused 
to  flow?  To  all  bosoms  thou  art  grateful;  to  all  climes  conge- 
nial. No  heart  that  is  innocent  but  has  a  temple  for  thee ;  no 
mind,  however  depraved,  but  acknowledges  the  power  which 
presides  over  thy  shrine  ! 

The  advancement  of  the  American  colonies  has  been  unpar- 
alleled in  the  annals  of  the  world.  Two  hundred  years  have 
scarcely  circled  their  luminous  flight  over  this  now  cultivated 
region,  since  the  most  populous  towns  of  New  England  were  a 
wilderness.     No  sound  was  heard  in  the  morning  but  the  voice 


16  HISTORY    OF   LYTSIN. 

of  the  Indian,  and  the  notes  of  the  wild  birds,  as  they  woke 
their  early  hymn  to  their  Creator;  and  at  evening,  no  praise 
went  up  to  heaven,  but  the  desolate  howl  of  the  wolf,  and  the 
sweet  but  mournful  song  of  the  whip-poor-wilL  The  wild  powah 
of  the  savage  sometimes  broke  into  the  silence  of  nature,  like 
the  wailing  for  the  dead;  but  the  prayer  of  the  Christian  was 
never  heard  to  ascend  from  the  melancholy  waste.  The  moun- 
tains that  lifted  their  sunny  tops  above  the  clouds,  and  the 
rivers,  which  for  thousands  of  miles  rolled  their  murmuring 
waters  through  the  deserts,  were  unbeheld  by  an  eye  which 
could  perceive  the  true  majesty  of  God,  or  a  heart  that  could 
frame  language  to  his  praise.  At  length  the  emigrants  from 
England  arrived,  and  the  western  shore  of  the  Atlantic  began 
to  hear  the  more  cheerful  voices  of  civilization  and  refinement. 
Pleasant  villages  were  seen  in  the  midst  of  the  wide  wilderness  ; 
and  houses  for  the  worship  of  God,  and  schools  for  the  instruc- 
tion of  children  arose,  where  the  wild  beast  had  his  lair.  The 
men  of  those  days  were  compelled  to  endure  privations,  and  to 
overcome  difficulties,  which  exist  to  us  only  on  the  page  of  his- 
tory. In  passing  through  the  forest,  if  they  turned  from  the 
bear,  it  was  to  meet  the  wolf;  and  if  they  fled  from  the  wolf,  it 
was  to  encounter  the  deadly  spring  of  the  insidious  catamount. 
At  some  periods,  the  planter  could  not  travel  from  one  settle- 
ment to  another,  without  the  dread  of  being  shot  by  the  silent 
arrow  of  the  unseen  Indian;  nor  could  his  children  pursue  their 
sports  in  the  shady  woods,  or  gather  berries  in  the  gre^n  pas- 
tures, without  danger  of  treading  on  the  coiled  rattlesnake  or 
being  carried  away  by  the  remorseless  enemy.  The  little  ham- 
lets, and  the  lonely  dwellings,  which  rose,  at  long  intervals,  over 
the  plains  and  among  the  forests,  were  frequently  alarmed  by 
the  howl  of  the  wolf  and  the  yell  of  the  savage ;  and  often  were 
their  thresholds  drenched  in  the  blood  of  the  beautiful  and  the 
innocent.  The  dangers  of  those  days  have  passed  away,  with 
the  men  who  sustained  them,  and  we  enjoy  the  fruit  of  their 
industry  and  peril.  They  have  toiled,  and  fought,  and  bled  for 
our  repose.  Scarcely  a  spot  of  New  England  can  be  found, 
which  has  not  been  fertilized  by  the  sweat  or  the  blood  of  our 
ancestors.  How  greatful  should  we  be  to  that  good  Being  who 
has  bestowed  on  us  the  reward  of  their  enterprise! 


GENERAL    REMARKS.  17 

Historians  aud  poets  have  written  much  in  commendation  of 
the  fathers  of  New  England ;  but  what  shall  be  said  in  praise 
of  those  brave,  noble,  and  virtuous  women,  the  mothers  of  New 
England,  who  left  their  homes,  and  friends,  and  every  thing 
that  was  naturally  dear  to  them,  in  a  country  where  every  lux- 
ury was  at  command,  to  brave  the  perils  of  a  voyage  of  three 
thousand  miles  over  a  stormy  ocean,  and  the  privations  of  an 
approaching  winter,  in  a  country  inhabited  by  savages  and  wild 
beasts  ?  If  we  are  under  obligation  to  our  fathers,  for  their 
exertions,  we  are  also  indebted  to  our  mothers  for  their  virtues. 

The  day  on  which  the  May  Flower  landed  her  passengers  on 
the  Rock  of  Plymouth,  was  a  fatal  one  for  the  aborigines  of 
America.  From  that  day,  the  towns  of  New  England  began  to 
spring  up  among  their  wigwams,  and  along  their  hunting- 
grounds;  and  though  sickness,  and  want,  and  the  tomahawk, 
made  frequent  and  fearful  incursions  on  the  little  bands  of  the 
planters,  yet  their  numbers  continued  to  increase,  till  they  have 
become  a  great  and  powerful  community.  It  is  indeed  a  pleas- 
ing and  interesting  employment,  to  trace  the  progress  of  the 
primitive  colonies  —  for  each  town  was  in  itself  a  little  colony, 
a  miniature  republic,  and  the  history  of  one  is  almost  the  his- 
tory of  all —  to  behold  them  contending  with  the  storms  and 
inclemencies  of  an  unfriendly  climate,  and  with  the  repeated 
depredations  of  a  hostile  and  uncivilized  people,  till  we  find 
them  emerging  into  a  state  of  political  prosperity,  unsurpassed 
by  any  nation  upon  earth.  But  it  is  painful  to  reflect,  that  in 
the  accomplishment  of  this  great  purpose,  the  nations  of  the 
wilderness,  who  constituted  a  separate  race,  have  been  nearly 
destroyed.  At  more  than  one  period,  the  white  people  seem  to 
have  been  in  danger  of  extermination  by  the  warlike  and  exas- 
perated Indians ;  but  in  a  few  years,  the  independent  Sassacus, 
and  the  noble  Miantonimo,  and  the  princely  Pometacora,  saw 
their  once  populous  and  powerful  nations  gradually  wasting 
away  and-  disappearing.  In  vain  did  they  sharpen  their  toma- 
hawks, and  point  their  arrows  anew  for  the  breasts  of  the  white 
men.  In  vain  did  the  valiant  Wampanoag  despatch  his  trusty 
warriors  two  hundred  miles  across  the  forest,  to  invite  the  Ta- 
ratines  to  lend  their  aid  in  exterminating  the  English.  The 
days  of  their  prosperity  had  passed  away.  The  time  had  come 
B*  2 


18  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

when  a  great  people  were  to  be  driven  from  the  place  of  their 
nativity  —  when  the  long  line  of  sachems,  who  had  ruled  over 
the  wilderness  for  unknown  ages,  was  to  be  broken,  and  their 
fires  extinguished.  Darkness,  like  that  which  precedes  the 
light  of  morning,  fell  over  them;  and  the  sunrise  of  refinement 
has  dawned  upon  another  people.  The  pestilence  had  destroyed 
thousands  of  the  bravest  of  their  warriors,  and  left  the  remain- 
der feeble  and  disheartened.  Feuds  and  dissensions  prevailed 
among  the. tribes ;  and  though  they  made  frequent  depredations 
upon  the  defenseless  settlements,  and  burnt  many  dwellings, 
and  destroyed  many  lives,  yet  the  immigrants  soon  became  the 
ascendants  in  number  and  in  power ;  and  the  feeble  remnant 
of  the  red  men,  wearied  and  exhausted  by  unsuccessful  conflicts, 
relinquished  thfe  long  possession  of  their  native  soil,  and  retired 
into  the  pathless  forests  of  the  west. 

Much  has  been  written  to  free  the  white  people  from  the 
charge  of  aggression,  and  much  to  extenuate  the  implacability 
of  the  Indians.  We  should  be  cautious  in  censuring  the  con- 
duct of  men  through  whose  energies  we  have  received  many 
of  our  dearest  privileges.  And  they  who  condemn  the  first 
settlers  of  New  England  as  destitute  of  all  true  principle,  err 
as  much  as  they  who  laud  their  conduct  with  indiscriminate 
applause.  Passionate  opinion  and  violent  action  were  the  gen- 
eral faults  of  their  time.  And  when  they  saw  that  one  principle 
was  overstrained  in  its  efiect,  they  scarcely  thought  themselves 
safe  until  they  had  vacillated  to  the  opposite  extreme.  Regard- 
ing themselves,  like  the  Israelites,  as  a  peculiar  people,  they 
imagined  that  they  had  a  right  to  destroy  the  red  men  as  hea- 
then. The  arms  which  at  first  they  took  up  with  the  idea  that 
they  were  requisite  for  self-defense,  were  soon  employed  in  a 
war  of  extermination.  And  the  generous  mind  is  grieved  to 
think,  that  instead  of  endeavoring  to  conciliate  the  Indians  by 
kindness,  they  should  have  deemed  it  expedient  to  determine 
their  destruction. 

The  Indians  had  undoubtedly  good  cause  to  be  jealous  of  the 
arrival  of  another  people,  and  in  some  instances  to  consider 
themselves  injured  by  their  encroachments.  Their  tribes  had 
inhabited  the  wilderness  for  ages,  and  the  country  was  their 
home.     Here  were  the  scenes  of  their  youthful  sports,  and  here 


GENERAL    REMARKS.  19 

were  the  graves  of  their  fathers.  Here  they  had  lived  and 
loved,  here  they  had  warred  and  sung,  and  grown  old  with  the 
hills  and  rocks.  Here  they  had  pursued  the  deer  —  not  those 
"formed  of  clouds,^'  like  the  poetical  creations  of  Ossian  —  but 
the  red,  beautiful,  fleet-footed  creatures  of  the  wilderness.  Over 
the  glad  waters  that  encircle  Nahant,  they  had  bounded  in  their 
birch  canoes ;  and  in  the  streams  and  along  the  sandy  shore, 
they  had  spread  their  nets  to  gather  the  treasures  of  the  deep. 
Their  daughters  did  not  adjust  their  locks  before  pierglasses, 
nor  copy  beautiful  stanzas  into  gilt  albums ;  but  they  saw  their 
graceful  forms  reflected  in  the  clear  waters,  and  their  poetry 
was  written  in  living  characters  on  the  green  hills,  and  the  sil- 
ver beach,  and  the  black  rocks  of  Nahant.  Their  brave  sachems 
wore  not  the  glittering  epaulets  of  modern  warfare,  nor  did 
the  eagle  banner  of  white  men  wave  in  their  ranks;  but  the 
untamed  eagle  of  the  woods  soared  over  their  heads,  and  be- 
neath their  feet  was  the  soil  of  freemen,  which  had  never  been 
sulHed  by  the  foot  of  a  slave. 

The  red  men  were  indeed  cruel  and  implacable  in  their  re- 
venge ;  and  if  history  be  true,  so  have  white  men  been  in  all 
ages.  I  know  of  no  cruelty  practised  by  Indians,  which  white 
men  have  not  even  exceeded  in  their  refinements  of  torture. 
The  delineation  of  Indian  barbarities  presents  awful  pictures 
of  blood  ;  but  it  should  be  remembered  that  those  cruelties  were 
committed  at  a  time  when  the  murder  of  six  or  eight  hundred 
of  the  red  people,  sleeping  around  their  own  fires,  in  the  silent 
repose  of  night,  was  deemed  a  meritorious  service.  In  resist- 
ing to  the  last,  they  fought  for  their  country,  for  freedom,  for 
life  —  they  contended  for  the  safety  and  happiness  of  their 
wives  and  children ;  for  all  that  brave  and  high-minded  men  can 
hold  dear.  But  they  were  subdued ;  and  the  few  who  were  not 
either  killed  or  made  prisoners,  sought  refuge  in  the  darker 
recesses  of  their  native  woods.  The  ocean,  in  which  they  had 
so  often  bathed,  and  the  streams  which  had  yielded  their  boun- 
tiful supplies  of  fish,  were  abandoned  in  silent  grief;  and  the 
free  and  fearless  Indian,  who  once  wandered  in  all  the  pride 
of  unsubdued  nature,  over  our  fields  and  among  our  forests, 
was  driven  from  his  home,  and  compelled  to  look  with  regret  to 
the  shores  of  the  sea,  and  the  pleasant  abodes  of  his  youth. 


20  HISTORY   OF   LYNN. 

A  few,  indeed,  continued  for  some  3^ears  to  linger  around  the 
shores  of  their  ancient  habitations ;  but  they  were  like  the 
spirits  whom  the  Bard  of  Morven  has  described,  "  sighing  in 
the  wind  around  the  dwellings  of  their  former  greatness." 
They  are  gone.  And  over  the  greater  part  of  New  England 
the  voice  of  the  Indian  is  heard  no  more.  We  listen  in  silent 
regret  to  the  last  faint  echo  of  their  reluctant  steps  in  their 
sorrowful  journey  over  the  prairies  of  the  west.  We  see  their 
long  and  faint  sliadows  cast  by  the  setting  sun,  as  they  thread 
the  defiles  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  in  their  despairing  march 
toward  the  far-off  Pacific.  A  few  years,  and  they  may  have 
plunged  into  that  ocean  from  which  there  is  no  return,  and  the 
dweller  of  a  future  age  may  wonder  what  manner  of  men  they 
were  of  That  they  were  originally  a  noble  race,  is  shown  by 
the  grandeur  of  their  language,  and  by  their  mellifluous  and 
highly  poetical  names  of  places  —  the  yet  proud  appellations 
of  many  of  our  mountains,  lakes,  and  rivers.  It  would  have 
been  gratifying  to  the  lover  of  nature,  if  all  the  Indian  names  of 
places  had  been  preserved,  for  they  all  had  a  meaning,  applicable 
to  scenery  or  event.  ''  Change  not  barbarous  names,"  said  the 
Persian  sage,  "  for  they  are  given  of  God,  apd  have  inexpressi- 
ble efficacy."  The  names  of  Saugus,  Swampscot,  and  Nahant 
remain ;  and  may  they  continue  to  remain,  the  imperishable 
memorials  of  a  race  which  has  long  since  passed  away. 

[The  thought  here  expressed,  in  relation  to  the  language  of 
the  Indians,  is  one  that  seems  to  have  delighted  other  writers 
as  well  as  Mr.  Lewis.  But  is  it  not  rather  fanciful  than  deep, 
considering  that  words  themselves  are  arbitrary  and  valueless 
excepting  in  their  external  relations?  Any  people  with  know- 
ledge as  limited  as  that  of  the  Indians  would  necessarily  use  a 
simple  language  and  one  that  would  be  most  directly  illustrated 
by  familiar  objects  and  events.  The  language  of  the  red  men 
abounded  in  illustrations  from  nature,  and  hence  to  the  lover 
of  nature  possessed  many  charms,  suggesting,  it  may  be,  to 
the  mind  of  the  cultivated  hearer  poetical  ideas,  when  none 
existed  in  the  mind  of  him  who  used  it.  Our  more  extended 
knowledge  supplies  a  language  of  greater  scope,  one  that  con- 
tains all  the  simplicity  and  poetry  of  theirs  with  the  additions  that 
flow  from  science,  art,  history,  and  numerous  other  sources  not 


GENERAL   REMARKS. 


21 


open  to  them,  and  hence  may  not  be  suggestive  of  poetical 
ideas  alone,  but  ideas  in  all  other  shapes  recognized  by  the 
cultivated  mind.  How  much  has  been  heard  of  the  picturesque 
manner  in  which  the  Indians  were  accustomed  to  indicate  mul- 
titudes, by  comparing  them  to  the  stars  of  heaven,  the  sands  on 
the  shore,  the  leaves  on  the  trees,  and  so  forth.  But  in  these 
comparisons  there  was  to  them  no  poetical  idea  involved.  Be- 
ing ignorant  of  arithmetic,  actually  unable  to  count,  they  were 
compelled  to  resort  to  some  such  mode  of  expression,  where 
the  white  man  would  have  expressed  himself  in  exact  t-erms. 
Again,  for  example,  the  Indians  called  a  certain  island  in  Boston 
harbor.  The  Twins,  but  the  white  people  called  it  Spectacle 
Island.  In  one  case  the  name  was  drawn  from  a  semblance  in 
nature ;  in  the  other,  from  a  semblance  in  art.  Both  are  apt 
enough,  and  about  equally  poetical.  Yet  the  Indian  name  has 
been  lauded  as  expressive  a,nd  picturesque  far  above  the  other.] 
In  contemplating  the  destruction  of  a  great  people,  the  reflect- 
ing mind  is  naturally  disposed  to  inquire  into  the  causes  of  their 
decay,  in  order  to  educe  motives  for  a  better  conduct,  that  their 
wrongs  may  be  in  some  degree  repaired,  and  a  similar  fate 
avoided.  If  dissension  weakened  the  power  of  the  tribes  of  the 
forest,  why  should  it  not  impair  the  energies  of  our  free  states? 
If  the  red  men  have  fallen  through  the  neglect  of  moral  and 
religious  improvement,  to  make  way  for  a  more  refined  state 
of  society,  and  the  emanations  of  a  purer  worship,  how  great,  is 
the  reason  to  fear  that  we  also  may  be  suffered  to  wander  in 
our  own  ways,  because  we  will  not  know  the  ways  of  God,  and 
to  fall  into  doubt,  disunion,  and  strife,  till  our  country  shall  be 
given  to  others,  as  it  has  been  given  to  us.  He  who  took  the 
sceptre  from  the  most  illustrious  and  powerful  of  ancient  na- 
tions, and  caused  the  tide  of  their  prosperity  and  refinement  to 
flow  back  and  stagnate  in  the  pools  of  ignorance,  obscurity,  and 
servitude,  possesses  ample  means  to  humble  the  pride  of  any 
nation,  when  it  shall  cease  to  be  guided  by  his  counsels.  Al- 
ready have  evils  of  the  most  alarming  consequences  passed  far 
on  their  march  of  desolation.  Already  has  the  spirit  of  Discord, 
with  his  dark  shadow,  dimmed  the  brightness  of  our  great  coun- 
cil fire  I  Already  has  the  fondness  for  strong  drink  seized  on 
thousands  of  our  people,  bringing  the  young  to  untimely  graves, 


22  HISTORY   OF   LYNN. 

sapping  the  foundations  of  health  and  moral  excellence,  and 
pulling  down  the  glory  of  our  country.  Already  has  a  disregard 
for  the  Sabbath  and  for  divine  institutions,  begun  openly  to 
manifest  itself;  the  concomitant  of  infidelity,  and  the  harbinger 
of  spiritual  ruin.  If  we  may  trust  the  appearances  in  our  west- 
ern regions,  our  land  was  once  inhabited  by  civilized  men,  who 
must  have  disappeared  long  before  the  arrival  of  our  fathers. 
May  Heaven  avert  their  destiny  from  us,  to  evince  to  the  world 
how  virtuous  a  people  may  be,  on  whom  the  blessing  of  civil 
liberty  has  fallen  as  an  inheritance. 

The  political  system  of  our  nation  is  probably  the  best  which 
was  ever  devised  by  man  for  the  common  good ;  but  it  practi- 
cally embraces  one  evil  too  obvious  to  be  disregarded.  While 
it  advances  the  principle  that  all  men  have  by  nature  the  same 
civil  rights,  it  retains,  with  strange  inconsistency,  one  sixth 
of  the  whole  population  in  a  state  of  abject  bodily  and  mental 
servitude.  On  its  own  principles,  our  government  has  no  right 
to  enslave  any  portion  of  its  subjects ;  and  I  am  constrained,  in 
the  name  of  God-  and  truth  to  say,  that  they  must  be  free. 
Christia-nity  and  political  expediency  both  demand  their  eman- 
cipation, nor  will  they  always  remain  unheard.  Many  generous 
minds  are  already  convinced  of  the  importance  of  attention  to 
this  subject ;  and  many  more  might  speak  in  its  behalf,  in  places 
where  they  could  not  be  disregarded.  Where  are  the  ministers 
of  our  holy  religion,  that  their  prayers  are  not  preferred  for  the 
liberation  and  enlightenment  of  men  with  souls  as  immortal  as 
their  own?  Where  are  the  senators  and  representatives  of  our 
free  states,  that  their  voices  are  not  heard  in  behalf  of  that 
most  injured  race?  Let  all  who  have  talents,  and  power,  and 
influence,  exert  them  to  free  the  slaves  from  their  wrongs,  and 
raise  them  to  the  rank  and  privileges  of  men.  That  the  colored 
people  possess  mental  powers  capable  of  extensive  cultivation, 
has  been  sufficiently  evinced  in  the  instances  of  Gustavus  Yasa, 
Ignatius  Sancho,  Lislet,  Capitein,  Fuller,  Phillis  Wheatley,  and 
many  others.  [And  the  reader  will  not  fail  to  recognize  many 
note-worthy  examples  presented  through  the  agency  of  the 
American  rebellion ;  examples  in  which  individuals  of  that  op- 
pressed race  have  exhibited  rare  judgment,  skill,  and  valor  in 
the  field ;  a  clear  perception  of  the  principles  and  responsibilities 


GENERAL    REMARKS.  23 

of  liberty;  true  generosity  of  character;  ardent  longing  for 
culture  and  advancement.]  And  the  period  may  arrive  when 
the  lights  of  freedom  and  science  shall  shine  much  more  exten- 
sively on  these  dark  children  of  bondage  —  when  the  knowledge 
of  the  true  faith  shall  awaken  the  nobler  principles  of  their 
minds,  and  its  practice  place  them  in  moral  excellence  far  above 
those  who  are  now  trampling  them  in  the  dust.  How  will  the 
spirit  of  regret  then  sadden  over  the  brightness  of  our  country's 
fame,  when  the  muse  of  History  shall  lead  their  pens  to  trace 
the  annals  of  their  ancestors,  and  the  inspiration  of  Poetry 
instruct  their  youthful  bards  to  sing  the  oppression  of  their 
fathers  in  the  land  of  Freedom  ! 

I  trust  the  time  will  come,  when  on  the  annals  of  our  country 
shall  be  inscribed  the  abolition  of  slavery  —  when  the  inhuman 
custom  of  war  shall  be  viewed  with  abhorrence  —  when  human- 
ity shall  no  longer  be  outraged  by  the  exhibition  of  capital 
punishments  —  when  the  one  great  principle  of  love  shall  per- 
vade all  classes  —  when  the  poor  shall  be  furnished  with  em- 
ployment and  ample  remuneration  —  when  men  shall  unite  their 
exertions  for  the  promotion  of  those  plans  which  embrace  the 
welfare  of  the  whole  —  that  the  unqualified  approbation  of 
Heaven  may  be  secured  to  our  country,  and  '^  that  glory  may 
dwell  in  our  land." 

[But  the  unqualified  approbation  of  Heaven  can  rest  only 
where  things  are  done  according  to  the  will  of  Heaven.  And 
when  will  the  inhabitants  of  earth  attain  to  perfect  obedience? 
Had  Mr.  Lewis  lived  but  a  few  months  longer,  he  would  have 
been  startled  from  his  hopeful  dreams  by  the  thunders  of  a  war 
more  to  be  deplored,  in  some  respects,  than  any  which  ever 
before  shook  the  world  —  the  war  of  the  great  American  Rebel- 
lion. He  would  have  beheld  enlightened  myriads,  hosts  of 
professing  Christians,  going  forth  heroically  to  battle  for  the 
perpetuation  of  slavery,  and  offering  up  to  the  God  of  peace 
thanksgivings  for  their  bloody  achievements.  And  would  he 
have  seen  their  evil  machinations  met  in  that  spirit  of  universal 
LOVE,  so  delightful  to  him  to  contemplate?  Alas,  no.  He 
would  have  seen  here  in  Lynn,  on  the  open  Common,  and  on 
the  Lord's  day,  vicegerents  of  the  Prince  of  peace,  whose 
church  doors  had  been  closed  that  they  might  appear  before  the 


24  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

multitude  to  lift  up  their  voices  for  war  —  war,  as  a  necessity,  to 
shield  against  evils  still  more  terrible.  Blessed  were  his  eyes 
in  that  they  were  closed  by  death  without  beholding  those 
scenes  which  would  at  once  have  swept  away  all  his  bright  anti. 
cipations,  and  left  him  despairing  that  the  time  would  ever 
arrive  when  the  heart  of  man  would  become  so  sanctified  that 
the  temporal  and  selfish  would  not  assert  their  overwhelming 
power  —  those  scenes  which  would  with  force  irresistible  have 
taught  that  earth  was  not  the  place  to  search  for  heaven's 
beatitude.] 

In  delineating  the  annals  of  a  single  town,  it  can  scarcely  be 
expected  that  so  good  an  opportunity  will  be  afforded  for  vari- 
ety of  description  and  diffusiveness  of  remark,  as  in  a  work  of  a 
more  general  nature.  It  is  also  proper  to  observe  that  this 
compilation  was  begun  without  any  view  to  publication ;  but 
simply  to  gratify  that  natural  curiosity  which  must  arise  in  the 
mind  of  every  one  who  extends  his  thoughts  beyond  the  per- 
sons and  incidents  which  immediately  surround  him.  I  may, 
however,  be  permitted  to  hope,  that  an  attempt  to  delineate 
with  accuracy  the  principal  events  which  have  transpired  within 
my  native  town,  for  the  space  of  two  hundred  years,  will  be 
interesting  to  many,  though  presented  without  any  endeavor  to 
adorn  them  with  the  graces  of  artificial  ornament.  M}^  endeavor 
has  been  to  ascertain  facts,  and  to  st-ate  them  correctly.  I  have 
preferred  the  form  of  annals  for  a  local  histor}^ ;  for  thus  every 
thing  is  found  in  its  time  and  place.  The  labor  and  expense 
of  making  so  small  a  book  has  been  immense,  and  can  never  be 
appreciated  by  the  reader,  until  he  shall  undertake  to  write  a 
faithful  history  of  one  of  our  early  towns,  after  its  records  have 
been  lost.  I  could  have  written  many  volumes  of  romance  or 
of  general  history,  while  preparing  this  volume  ;  and  I  have 
endeavored  to  make  it  so  complete,  as  to  leave  little  for  those 
who  come  after  me,  except  to  continue  the  work. 

[Since  Mr.  Lewis  closed  his  labors,  however,  antiquarian 
research  has  opened  many  sources  of  information.  It  would  be 
singular  indeed  if  an  enterprising  and  important  community  like 
that  of  Lynn,  should,  during  her  history  of  more  than  two  hun- 
dred years,  furnish  nothing  worthy  of  note  beyond  what  might 
be  recorded  in  an  octavo  volume  of  three  hundred  pages.     The 


EARLY  VOYAGES    AND    DISCOVERIES.  25 

present  edition  will  show  something  of  the  multitude  of  inter- 
esting matters  that  escaped  his  careful  eye.  And  it  is  not  to 
be  doubted  that  many  valuable  documents  of  the  olden  time  yet 
remain  in  ancient  garrets,  permeated  by  herby  odors,  and  per- 
haps  at  present  used  by  motherly  mice  as  bedding  for  their 
young,  which  may  somewhere  in  the  future  come  to  light  to 
the  great  joy  of  the  student  of  the  past.] 

It  should  be  remembered  that  previous  to  the  change  of  the 
style,  in  1752,  the  year  began  in  March  ;  consequently  February 
was  the  twelfth  month.  Ten  days  also  are  to  be  added  to  the 
date  in  the  sixteenth  century,  and  eleven  in  the  seventeenth,  to 
bring  the  dates  to  the  present  style.  Thus,  "  12  mo.  25,  1629," 
instead  of  being  Christmas-day,  as  some  might  suppose,  would 
be  March  8th,  1630.  In  the  following  pages,  I  have  corrected 
the  years  and  months,  but  have  left  the  days  undisturbed. 

EARLY  VOYAGES   AND    DISCOVERIES. 

It  would  be  extremely  gratifying,  if  we  could  roll  back  the 
veil  of  oblivion  which  shrouds  the  early  history  of  the  American 
continent,  and  through  the  sunlight  which  must  once  have 
illumined  those  regions  of  now  impenetrable  darkness,  behold 
the  scenery,  and  trace  the  events,  which  occupied  that  long 
space  of  silence  or  activity.  Has  one  half  of  this  great  globe 
slumbered  in  unprofitable  and  inglorious  repose  since  the  morn- 
ing of  the  creation,  serving  no  other  purpose  than  to  balance 
the  opposite  portion  in  its  revolutions  through  unvarying  ages? 
Or  has  it  been  peopled  by  innumerable  nations,  enjoying  all  the 
vicissitudes  of  animal  and  intellectual  life  ?  [We  have  the  high 
authority  of  Agassiz  for  claiming  that  the  American  continent  is 
the  oldest  of  the  great  divisions  of  the  globe,  and  that  it  existed, 
under  its  present  formation,  while  Europe  was  but  an  extensive 
group  of  scattered  islands.  Ever  since  the  coal  period  America 
has  been  above  water.] 

The  most  strenuous  advocates  of  the  priority  of  the  claim  of 
Columbus  to  the  discovery  of  America,  admit  that  he  found 
people  here  —  and  we  can  look  back  with  certainty  to  no  period, 
however  remote,  in  which  we  do  not  find  the  continent  inhab- 
ited. How  came  those  people  here?  Were  they  the  descend- 
ants of  a  cis-Atlantic  Adam?  Or  did  they  find  their  way,  by 
C 


26  HISTOEY   OF   LYNN. 

accident  or  design,  from  the  eastern  continent?  If  the  latter 
supposition  be  the  more  probable,  then  a  corresponding  accident 
or  design  might  have  returned  some  of  those  daring  adventur- 
ers to  their  homes,  and  thus  a  knowledge  have  been  conveyed 
of  the  existence  of  another  continent.  Nor  are  the  diflSculties 
of  a  passage,  either  from  Europe  or  Asia,  so  great  as  may  at 
first  be  supposed.  The  continent  of  Asia  approaches  within 
fifty  miles  of  the  northwest  coast  of  America;  [or,  as  some  nav- 
igators say,  within  thirty-five  miles,  either  continent  being  at 
times  plainly  in  sight  from  the  other;]  and  ships  which  traded 
from  Iceland  to  the  Levant,  might  easily  have  sailed  from 
Greenland  along  the  shore  of  New  England.  People  vv^ere 
much  more  venturous  in  early  days  than  we  are  generally  wil- 
ling to  allow.  And  canoes  might  have  passed  across  the  ocean 
from  Japan,  and  even  by  the  isles  of  the  Pacific  —  as  it  is  evi- 
dent they  must  have  done,  to  people  those  islands.  When 
Captain  Blighe  was  cast  adrift  by  Christian,  he  passed  twelve 
hundred  miles  in  an  open  boat  with  safety.  Why  might  not 
such  an  event  have  happened  three  thousand  years  ago  as  well 
as  yesterday  ? 

The  Scandinavian  manuscripts  inform  us  that  in  the  year 
986,  Eric  the  Red,  an  Icelandic  prince,  emigrated  to  Greenland. 
In  his  company  was  Bardson,  whose  son  Biarne  was  then  on  a 
voj^age  to  Norway.  On  his  return,  going  in  search  of  his  father, 
he  was  driven  far  to  sea,  and  discovered  an  unknown  country. 
In  the  year  1000,  Leif,  a  son  of  Eric,  pursued  the  discovery  of 
the  new  country,  and  sailed  along  the  coast  as  far  as  Rhode 
Island,  where  he  made  a  settlement;  and  because  he  found 
grapes  there,  he  called  it  Vineland.  In  1002,  Thorwald,  his 
brother,  went  to  Vineland,  where  he  remained  two  years. 

It  is  very  reasonable  to  suppose  that  these  voyagers,  in  sail- 
ing along  the  coast,  discovered  Lynn,  and  it  is  even  probable 
that  they  landed  at  Nahant.  In  1004,  we  are  informed  that 
Thorwald,  leaving  Vineland,  or  Rhode  Island,  ''■  sailed  eastward, 
and  then  northward,  past  a  remarkable  headland,  enclosing  a 
bay,  and  which  was  opposite  to  another  headland.  They  called 
it  Kialarnes,  or  Keel-cape,'-  from  its  resemblance  to  the  keel  of  a 
ship.  There  is  no  doubt  that  this  was  Cape  Cod.  And  as  they 
had  no  map,  and  could  not  see  Cape  Ann,  it  is  probable  that  the 


EARLY  VOYAGES   AND   DISCOVERIES.  27 

other  headland  was  the  Gurnet.  "  From  thence,  they  sailed 
along  the  eastern  coast  of  the  land  to  a  promontory  which  there 
projected  —  probably  Nahant  —  and  which  was  everywhere  cov- 
ered with  wood.  Here  Thorwald  went  ashore,  with  all  his 
companions.  He  was  so  pleased  with  the  place,  that  he  ex- 
claimed—  'Here  it  is  beautiful!  and  here  I  should  like  to  fix 
my  dwelling ! '  Afterwards,  when  they  were  prepared  to  go  on 
board,  they  observed  on  the  sandy  beach,  within  the  promon- 
tory, three  hillocks.  They  repaired  thither,  and  found  three 
canoes,  and  under  each  three  Skrellings,  (Indians.)  They  came 
to  blows  with  them,  and  killed  eight  of  them,  but  the  ninth 
escaped  in  his  canoe.  Afterward  a  countless  multitude  of  them 
came  out  from  the  interior  of  the  bay  against  them.  They 
endeavored  to  protect  themselves  by  raising  battle-screens  on 
the  ship's  side.  The  Skrellings  continued  shooting  at  them  for 
a  while  and  then  retired.  Thorwald  had  been  wounded  by  an 
arrow  under  the  arm.  When  he  found  that  the  wound  was 
mortal,  he  said,  '  I  now  advise  you  to  prepare  for  your  depar- 
ture as  soon  as  possible ;  but  me  ye  shall  bring  to  the  promon- 
tory where  I  thought  it  good  to  dwell.  It  may  be  that  it  was 
a  prophetic  word  which  fell  from  my  mouth,  about  my  abiding 
there  for  a  season.  There  ye  shall  bury  me ;  and  plant  a  cross 
at  my  head  and  also  at  my  feet,  and  call  the  place  Krossanes  — 
[the  Cape  of  the  Cross] — in  all  time  coming.'  He  died,  and 
they  did  as  he  had  ordered ;  afterward  they  returned."  (Anti- 
quitates  Americanas,  xxx.) 

The  question  has  arisen  whether  Krossanes,  was  Nahant  or 
Gurnet  Point.  There  is  nothing  remarkable  about  the  latter 
place,  and  though  so  long  a  time  has  passed,  no  person  has 
thought  it  desirable  to  dwell  there,  but  it  is  used  as  a  sheep 
pasture.  It  is  far  otherwise  with  Nahant,  which  answers  to  the 
description  well.  An  early  writer  says  that  it  was  "  well 
wooded  with  oaks,  pines,  and  cedars ; "  and  it  has  a  "  sandy 
beach  within  the  promontory."  Thousands  also,  on  visiting  it, 
have  borne  witness  to  the  appropriateness  of  Thorwald's  excla- 
mation—  "Here  it  is  beautiful!  and  here  I  should  like  to  fix 
my  dwelling ! " 

If  the  authenticity  of  the  Scandinavian  manuscripts  be  admit- 
ted, the  Northmen,  as  the  people   of  Norway,  Denmark,  and 


28  HISTORY   OF   LYNN. 

Sweden  are  called,  visited  this  country  repeatedly,  in  the  elev- 
enth and  twelfth  centuries ;  but  if  they  made  any  settlements, 
they  were  probably  destroyed  in  some  of  the  numerous  wars 
of  the  aborigines.  The  Welch  Triads  and  Chronicles,  those 
treasures  of  historic  and  bardic  lore,  inform  us,  that  in  1170, 
Madoc,  Prince  of  Wales,  on  the  tyrannous  usurpation  of  his 
brother  David,  came  to  America  with  a  party  of  his  followers, 
and  settled  a  colony.  I  see  no  reason  to  doubt  this  record  — 
but  if  there  were  no  descendants  of  Welchmen  in  America  then, 
there  are  plenty  now.  [In  the  language  of  several  of  the  ancient 
tribes,  Welch  words  were  distinctly  recognized.  It  has  hence 
been  supposed  the  colonists,  by  intermarriage,  became  merged 
in  the  tribes  around  them.] 

Alonzo  Sanchez,  of  Huelva,  in  Spain,  in  a  small  vessel  with 
seventeen  men,  as  we  are  informed  by  De  la  Vega,  was  driven 
on  the  American  coast  in  1487.  He  returned  with  only  five 
men,  and  died  at  the  house  of  Columbus. 

In  1492,  the  immortal  Columbus  made  his  first  voyage  to 
South  America,  but  he  did  not  come  to  North  America  until 
1498.  [Mr.  Lewis  makes  a  slight  trip  here.  Columbus,  on  his 
first  voyage,  discovered  land  11  October,  1492.  And  that  land 
was  one  of  the  Bahama  islands,  which  he  named  St.  Salvador. 
On  the  28th  of  the  same  month  he  discovered  Cuba.  Can  these 
islands  be  called  in  South  America?] 

In  1497,  Sebastian  Cabot,  a  bold  and  enterprising  English- 
man  visited  the  coast  of  North  America,  and  took  possession 
of  it  in  the  name  of  his  king,  Henr}^  VII. 

In  1602,  Bartholomew  G-osnold  visited  our  shores.  He  dis- 
covered land  on  Friday,  14  May,  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
according  to  Purchas's  Pilgrim,  vol.  4,  p.  1647.  Sailing  along 
by  the  shore,  at  noon,  he  anchored  near  a  place  which  he  called 
Savage  Rock,  and  which  many  have  supposed  to  have  been 
Nahant.  (Bancroft's  U.  S.,  vol.  1,  p.  112.)  A  sail-boat  went  off  to 
them,  containing  eight  Indians,  dressed  in  deer-skins,  excepting 
their  chief,  who  wore  a  complete  suit  of  English  clothes,  which 
he  had  obtained  by  trading  at  the  eastward.  The  Indians 
treated  them  kindly,  and  desired  their  longer  stay;  but  they 
left,  about  three  in  the  afternoon,  (Mass.  Hist.  Coll.  vol.  27.) 
and   sailing   southerly,    "  sixteen   leagues,"    the   next   morning 


EARLY   VOYAGES   AND    DISCO YERIES.  29 

they  found  themselves  just  within  Cape  Cod.  Archer's  account 
of  the  voyage  says,  "The  Coast  we  left  was  full  of  goodly 
Woods,  faire  Plaines,  with  little  green,  round  Hils  above  the 
Cliffs  appearing  unto  vs,  which  are  indifferently  raised,  but  all 
Rockie,  and  of  shining  stones,  which  might  have  perswaded  vs 
a  longer  stay  there."  This  answers  well  to  the  appearances  at 
Nahant ;  but  some  have  supposed  Savage  Rock  to  be  some- 
where on  the  coast  of  Maine.  There  is,  however,  no  spot  on 
that  coast  which  answers  exactly  to  the  description ;  and  Judge 
Williamson,  the  historian  of  Maine,  says,  "  we  have  doubts 
whether  Gosnold  ever  saw  any  land  of  ours.  (Hist.  Maine, 
vol.  1,  p.  185.)  [It  seems  now  quite  certain  that  Gosnold  an- 
chored at  a  point  not  farther  east  than  Cape  Ann  nor  farther 
west  than  Nahant.] 

In  1603,  Martin  Pring  came  over  with  two  vessels,  the  Speed- 
well and  the  Discoverer,  to  obtain  medicinal  plants.  He  says, 
"  Coming  to  the  Maine,  in  latitude  43  degrees,  we  ranged  the 
same  to  the  southwest.  Meeting  with  no  sassafras,  we  left 
those  places,  with  all  the  aforesaid  islands,  shaping  our  course 
for  Savage  Rocke,  discovered  the  yeare  before  by  Captain 
Gosnold  ;  where,  going  upon  the  Mayne,  we  found  people,  with 
whom  we  had  no  long  conversation,  because  we  could  find  no 
sassafras.  Departing  thence,  we  bear  into  that  great  gulf, 
(Cape  Cod  Bay,)  which  Captain  Gosnold  overshot  the  yeare 
before,  coasting  and  finding  people  on  the  north  side  thereof; 
yet  not  satisfied  with  our  expectation,  we  left  them  and  sailed 
over,  and  came  to  anchor  on  the  south  side.''  (Purchas,  vol.  4, 
p.  1654.)  Other  voyagers,  doubtless,  visited  our  coast,  but  as 
places  were  unnamed,  and  the  language  of  the  natives  unknown, 
little  information  can  be  gained  from  their  descriptions.  [And 
it  is  astonishing  what  absurdities  some  of  the  superstitious  old 
voyagers  were  accustomed  to  relate.  Even  the  comparatively 
late  voyager  John  Josselyn,  in  his  account  of  an  expedition 
hither,  gravely  asserts  that  he  discovered  icebergs  on  which  he 
saw  foxes  and  devils.  Had  he  reflected  a  moment,  he  must 
have  concluded  that  the  devils,  at  least,  would  not  have  chosen 
such  a  place  for  their  sports.  If  he  saw  any  living  beings  they 
were  probably  seals.  But  devils,  at  that  period,  were  under- 
stood to  perform  very  wonderful  exploits,  and  to  have  a  direct 
C* 


30  HISTORY   OF   LYNN. 

hand  ir  all  sorts  of  mischief  that  could  harm  and  tease  men. 
Modern  culture  has  relieved  the  brimstone  gentry  of  most 
of*their  importance  arising  from  visible  interference  in  human 
affairs.  But  yet,  unnatural  events  enough  are  daily  transpiring 
to  induce  the  apprehension  that  they  may  be  still,  though  cov- 
ertly, pursuing  their  mischievous  enterprises.] 

NAHANT  —  GRANT    TO    CAPTAIN   GORGES. 

The  next  white  man  who  appears  at  Nahant,  [if  we  consider 
it  established  that  the  peninsula  was  visited  by  Europeans  before 
1614,]  was  that  dauntless  hero  and  enterprising  statesman  Capt. 
John  Smith.  Having  established  the  colony  of  Virginia,  he 
came  north,  in  1614,  made  a  survey  of  the  whole  coast,  and 
published  a  map.  In  his  description  of  the  islands  of  Massachu- 
setts Bay,  proceeding  westward  from  Naumkeag,  now  Salem, 
he  says,  ''  The  next  I  can  remember  by  name  are  the  Matta- 
hunts,  two  pleasant  Isles  of  Groves,  Gardens  and  Cornfields,  a 
league  in  the  sea  from  the  Maine.  The  Isles  of  Mattahunts  are 
on  the  west  side  of  this  bay,  where  are  many  Isles,  and  some 
Rocks,  that  appear  a  great  height  above  the  water,  like  the 
Pieramides  of  Egypt."  It  is  evident  that  by  the  Mattahunts  he 
meant  the  Nahants,  the  pronunciation  of  which,  perhaps,  he 
imperfectly  '^  remembered."  His  delineation  of  these  islands  on 
the  map,  though  very  small,  is  very  correct;  and  he  named 
them  the  ''  Fullerton  Islands,"  probably  from  the  name  of  the 
surveyor,  or  some  other  friend.  He  appears  to  have  examined 
the  islands  and  shores  attentively.  He  says,  "  The  coast  of 
Massachusetts  is  so  indifferently  mixed  with  high  clay  or  sandy 
cliffs  in  one  place,  and  the  tracts  of  large,  long  ledges  of  divers 
sorts,  and  quarries  of  stones  in  other  places,  so  strangely  divided 
with  tinctured  veins  of  divers  colours,  as  free  stone  for  building, 
slate  for  tyling,  smooth  stone  for  making  Furnaces  and  Forges 
for  Glasse  and  Iron,  and  Iron  ore  sufficient  conveniently  to 
melt  in  them  ....  who  will  undertake  the  rectifying  of  an 
Iron  Forge,  in  my  opinion  cannot  lose."  (Smith's  N.  E.)  As 
the  beds  of  Iron  in  Saugus  had  not  then  been  discovered,  he 
probably  mistook  the  hornblende  ledge  on  the  north  of  Nahant 
for  a  mine  of  iron  ore. 

The  Nahants  appear  to  have  been  admired  and  coveted  by 


NAHANT  —  GRANT  TO  CAPTAIN  GORGES.  31 

all  who  visited  them.  On  the  20th  of  December,  1622,  we  find 
them  granted  by  the  Council  in  England,  to  Captain  Robert 
Gorges.  He  came  over  in  1623,  took  possession  of  his  lands, 
and  probably  commenced  a  settlement  at  Winnisimet,  which  was 
also  included  in  his  grant.  The  following  appears  in  the  Massa- 
chusetts Archives : 

The  said  Councill  grant  unto  Robert  Gorges,  youngest  son  of  Sii*  Fernando 
Gorges,  Knight,  and  his  hekes,  all  that  part  of  the  Maine  land  in  New  Eng- 
land, commonly  called  and  known  by  the  name  of  the  Massachusetts,  scytuate 
and  lyeing  vpon  the  North  East  side  of  the  Bay,  called  and  known  by  the 
name  of  the  Massachusetts,  or  by  whatever  name  or  names  whatsoever  called, 
with  all  coastes  and  shoares  along  the  Sea  for  Ten  English  miles  in  a  straight 
line  towards  the  North  East,  accounting  seventeen  hundi'ed  and  sixty  yards  to 
the  mile ;  and  30  English  miles,  after  the  same  rate,  into  the  Mayne  Land, 
through  all  the  breadth  aforesaid;  togeather  with  all  Islands  so  lyemg  withm 
3  miles  of  any  part  of  the  said  land. 

RobeiTGorges  dyes  without  issue ;  the  said  lands  descend  to  John  Gorges, 
his  eldest  brother.  John  Gorges  by  deed  bearmg  date  20  Januaiy,  1628-9, 
(4  Car.  I.)  grants  to  Sir  William  Brereton,  of  Handforth,  in  the  County  of 
Chester,  Baronet,  and  his  heu-es,  all  the  lande,  in  breadth,  lyeinge  from  the 
East  side  of  Charles  River  to  the  Easterly  parte  of  the  Cape  called  Nahannte, 
and  all  the  lands  lyeinge  in  length  20  miles  northeast  into  the  Maine  land  from 
the  mouth  of  the  said  Charles  River,  lyeinge  also  m  length  20  miles  into  the 
Maine  land  from  the  said  Cape  Nahannte :  also  two  Islands  lyeinge  next  unto 
the  shoare  between  Nahannte  and  Charles  River,  the  bigger  called  Brereton, 
and  the  lesser  Susamia.     [East  Boston  and  Belle  Isle.] 

Sir  William  Brereton  dyes,  leaving  Thomas,  his  only  son,  afterward  Sir 
Thomas,  and  Susamia  his  daughter.  Su'  Thomas  dyes  without  issue.  Su- 
sanna marries  Edward  Lenthall,  Esq.  and  dyes,  leaving  Maiy,  her  only  daugh- 
ter and  lieu-e.  Mary  is  married  to  Mr.  Leavitt  of  the  Inner  Temple,  who 
claymes  the  said  Lands  in  right  of  Maiy  his  wife,  who  is  heke  to  Su-  William 
Brereton  and  Su*  Thomas  Brereton. 

Sir  William  Brereton  sent  over  Severall  familyes  and  Servants,  who  pos- 
sessed and  Improved  severall  Large  tracts  of  the  said  Lands,  and  made  Severall 
Leases,  as  appeares  by  the  said  deedes. 

A  portion  of  these  lands  was  granted  by  Captain  Gorges  to 
John  Oldham,  including  Nahant  and  part  of  Saugus.  In  a  let- 
ter from  the  Council  in  England  to  Governor  Endicott,  dated 
17  April,  1629,  we  find  as  follows:  ''Mr.  Oldham's  grant  from 
Mr.  Gorges,  is  to  him  and  John  Dorrel,  for  all  the  lands  within 
Massachusetts  Bay,  between  Charles  River  and  Abousett  River; 
Containing  in  length  by  streight  lyne  5  Miles  vp  the  Charles 
River  into  the  Maine  Land,  northeast  from  the  border  of  said 


32  HISTORY   OF  LYNN. 

Bay,  iucluding  all  Creekes  and  PoiDts  by  the  way,  and  3  Myles 
in  Length  from  the  Mouth  of  the  aforesaid  River  Abousett,  vp 
into  the  Maine  Land  N.  W.  including  all  Creekes  and  Points, 
and  all  the  Land  in  Breadth  and  Length  between  the  foresaid 
Rivers,  with  all  prerogatives,  royall  Mynes  excepted.  (Haz- 
ard's Collections.)  The  writer  of  this  letter,  in  reference  to 
the  claim  of  Oldham,  says,  "  I  hold  it  void  in  law,"  and  advises 
Mr  Endicott  to  take  possession.  Such  possession  was  taken 
of  the  Nahants,  as  will  be  seen  in  proceeding ;  and  though  the 
heirs  of  Gorges  afterward  renewed  their  claim,  the  colony  de- 
clined either  to  relinquish  or  pay ;  because  Gorges,  after  being 
appointed  to  the  government,  had  relinquished  the  possession 
and  returned  to  England. 

THE    INDIANS. 

Before  proceeding  with  the  history  of  the  Whites,  it  will  be 
interesting  to  learn  something  more  respecting  the  Red  Men. 

The  emigrants  from  England  found  the  country  inhabited  by 
a  people  who  were  called  Indians,  because  when  first  discovered 
the  country  was  supposed  to  be  a  part  of  India.  They  were 
divided  into  several  great  nations,  each  of  which  consisted  of 
many  tribes.  Lechford  says,  "  They  were  governed  by  sachems, 
kings  and  sagamores,  petty  lords;"  but  Smith,  who  was  here 
before  him,  calls  them  "  sagamos ; "  and  as  the  Indians,  in  this 
neighborhood  at  least,  had  no  R  in  their  language,  he  is  probably 
correct.  The  word  sachem^  pronounced  sawhum  by  the  Indians, 
is  a  word  meaning  great  strength,  or  power;  and  the  word 
sachemo,  or  sagamo,  evidently  has  the  same  derivation.  Their 
plural  was  formed  in  uog;  Sagamore  Hill,  therefore,  is  the 
same  as  Sachemuog  Hill,  or  the  Hill  of  Kings. 

There  appear  to  have  been  as  many  as  seven  nations  in  New 
England.  The  ever-warring  Taratines  inhabited  the  eastern 
part  of  Maine,  beyond  the  Penobscot  river;  and  their  great 
sachem  was  Nultonanit.  From  the  Penobscot  to  the  Piscata- 
qua  were  the  Chur-churs,  formerly  governed  by  a  mighty  chief, 
called  a  Bashaba.  The  Pawtuckets  had  a  great  dominion, 
reaching  from  the  Piscataqua  to  the  river  Charles,  and  extend- 
ing north  as  far  as  Concord  on  the  Merrimac.  Their  name  is 
preserved  in  Pawtucket  Falls,  at  Lowell.     They  were  governed 


THE   INDIANS.  33 

by  Nanapashemet,  who  sometime  lived  at  Lynn,  and,  according 
to  Gookin,  could  raise  three  thousand  warriors.  The  Mas- 
sachusetts, so  named  from  the  Blue  Hills  at  Milton,  were  gov- 
erned by  Chickataubut,  who  also  commanded  three  thousand 
men.  His  dominion  was  bounded  on  the  north  and  west  by 
Charles  river,  and  on  the  south  extended  to  Weymouth  and 
Canton.  The  Wampanoags  occupied  the  southeastern  part  of 
Massachusetts,  from  Cape  Cod  to  Narraganset  Bay.  They  were 
ruled  by  Massasoit,  whose  chief  residence  was  at  Pokanoket, 
now  Bristol,  in  Rhode  Island.  He  was  a  sachem  of  great 
power,  having  dominion  over  thirty-two  tribes,  and  could  have 
brought  three  thousand  warriors  into  the  field,  by  a  word ;  yet 
he  was  a  man  of  peace,  and  a  friend  to  the  English,  and  during 
all  the  provocations  and  disturbances  of  that  earl}^  period,  he 
governed  his  nation  in  tranquillity  for  more  thaji  forty  years, 
leaving  an  example  of  wisdom  to  future  ages.  The  Narragan- 
sets,  on  the  west  of  Narraganset  Bay,  in  Rhode  Island,  num- 
bered five  thousand  warriors,  and  were  governed  by  two 
sachems,  Canonicus  and  his  nephew  Miantonimo,  who  ruled 
together  in  harmony.  The  Pequots  occupied  Connecticut,  and 
were  governed  by  Sassacus,  a  name  of  terror,  who  commanded 
four  thousand  fighting  men,  and  whose  residence  was  at  New 
London.  Besides  these,  there  were  the  Nipmucks  in  the  interior 
of  Massachusetts,  who  had  no  great  sachem,  but  united  with 
the  other  nations  in  their  wars,  according  to  their  inclination. 
The  Pequots  and  the  Taratines  were  ever  at  war  with  some 
of  the  other  nations,  and  were  the  Goths  and  Vandals  of  abo- 
riginal New  England. 

The  Indians  were  very  numerous,  until  they  were  reduced 
by  a  great  war,  and  by  a  devastating  sickness.     All  the  early 
voyagers  speak  of  ''  multitudes,"  and  "  countless  multitudes." 
y^'^  *B  m  itlvwjio__tool£jii^^ 

a  Ktte  boat,  says,  "The  seacoast  as_yjou_  pass,  shows  j^^ou_all 
atongTlHTge-Corne  fields,  and  greaTtroupes  of  well  proportioned, 
peopTep^and  adds  tFat  there  were  three  thousand  on  the  islands 
in  Boston  harbor.  Gookin  has  enumerated  eighteen  thousand 
warriors  in  five  nations,  and  if  the  remainder  were  as  populous, 
there  must  have  been  twenty-five  thousand  fighting  men,  and 
at  least  one  hundred  thousand  people,  in  New  England.     [But 

3 


34  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

could  that  be  called  a  large  population  for  such  an  extent  of 
territory  ?  a  population  equal  to  but  half  that  of  Boston  at  this 
time.  Nomadic  and  all  unsettled  branches  of  our  race  are 
usually  small  in  numbers.  And  the  stories  told  by  some  of  the 
early  comers,  so  magnifying  the  Indian  populations,  are  no 
more  worthy  of  credit  than  the  fanciful  chapters  of  those  mod- 
ern writers  who  laud  their  virtues  to  a  degree  hardly  within 
the  range  of  mortal  attainment.  A  page  or  two  hence  it  is 
stated  that  Sagamore  James  resided  at  Lynn.  He  was  a  ruler 
of  some  note.  Aud  yet,  as  further  evidence  that  there  could 
have  been  but  a  small  Indian  population  hereabout,  at  that  time, 
it  may  be  added  that  Rev.  Mr.  Higginson  says  that  he  command- 
ed '^  not  above  thirty  or  forty  men,  for  aught  I  can  learn."]  In 
the  spring  of  1615,  some  provocation  was  given  by  the  western 
Indians  to  the  Taratines,  who,  with  a  vindictive  spirit,  resolved 
upon  retaliation ;  and  they  carried  their  revenge  to  an  extent 
scarcely  paralleled  in  the  dreadful  history  of  human  warfare. 
They  killed  the  great  Bashaba  of  Penobscot,  murdered  his 
women  and  children,  and  overran  the  whole  country  from  Pe- 
nobscot to  the  Blue  Hills.  Their  death-word  was  "  cram ! 
cram!" — kill!  kill!  —  and  so  effectually  did  they  ^^suit  the 
action  to  the  word,"  and  so  many  thousands  on  thousands  did 
they  slaughter,  that,  as  Gorges  says,  it  was  '^  horrible  to  be 
spoken  of"  In  1617,  commenced  a  great  sickness,  which  some 
have  supposed  was  the  plague,  others  the  small  pox  or  yellow 
fever.  This  sickness  made  such  dreadful  devastation  among 
those  whom  the  tomahawk  had  not  reached,  tliat  when  the  Eng 
lish  arrived,  the  land  was  literally  covered  with  human  bones. 
Still  the  vengeance  of  the  Taratines  was  unsatiated,  and  we 
find  them  hunting  for  the  lives  of  the  few  sagamores  who 
remained. 

Nanapashemet,  or  the  New  Moon,  was  one  of  the  greatest 
sachems  in  New  England,  ruling  over  a  larger  extent  of  country 
than  any  other.  He  swayed,  at  one  time,  all  the  tribes  north 
and  east  of  the  Charles  river,  to  the  river  Piscataqua.  The 
Nipmucks  acknowdedged  his  dominion,  as  far  as  Pocontocook, 
now  Deerfield,  on  the  Connecticut;  and  after  his  death  they 
had  no  great  sachem.  (Smith,  Gookin,  Hubbard.  See  also 
Samuel  G.  Drake's  interesting  Book  of  the  Indians,  Vv-herein  he 


THE   INDIANS.  35 

has  accumulated  a  vast  amount  of  facts  respecting  the  Sons  of 
the  Forest.)     Nanapashemet,  like  the  orb  of  night,  whose  name 
he  bore,  had  risen  and  shone   in  splendor.     But  his  moon  was 
now  full,  and  had  begun  to  wane.     He  resided  at  Lynn  until 
the   great  war  of  the  Taratines,  in  1615.     He  then   retreated 
to   a  hill   on   the  borders  of  Mistick  river,  where  he  built  a 
house,  and  fortified  himself  in  the  best  manner  possible.     He 
survived  the  desolating  sickness  of  1617 ;  but  the  deadly  ven- 
geance of  the  Taratines,  which  induced  them  to  stop  at  nothing- 
short  of  his  death,  pursued  him  to  his  retreat,  and  there  he  w^as 
killed  by  them  in  1619.     In  September,  1621,  a  party  of  the 
Plymouth  people,  having  made  a  visit  to   Obatinua,  sachem  of 
Boston,  went   up  to   Medford.     Mr.  Winslow   says,  ''  Having 
gone  three  miles,  we  came  to  a  place  where   corn  had  been 
newly  gathered,  a  house  pulled  down,  and  the  people  gone. 
A  mile  from  hence,  Nanapashemet,  their  king,  in  his  lifetime 
had  lived.     His  house  was  not  like  others ;  but  a  scaffold  was 
largely   built,  with   poles   and   planks,  some  six  foot  from   the 
ground,  and  the  house  upon  that,  being  situated  upon  the  top 
of  a  hill.     Not  far  from  hence,  in  a  bottom,  we  came  to  a  fort, 
built  by  their  deceased  king  —  the  manner  thus:  There  were 
poles,  some  thirty  or  forty  feet  long,  stuck  in  the  ground,  as 
thick  as  they  could  be  set  one  by  another,  and  with  those  they 
enclosed  a  ring  some  forty  or  fifty  feet  over.     A  trench,  breast 
high,  was  digged  on  each  side ;  one  way  there  was  to  get  into 
it  with  a  bridge.     In  the  midst  of  this  palisade  stood  the  frame 
of  a  house,  wherein,  being  dead,  he  lay  buried.     About  a  mile 
from  hence  we  came  to  such  another,  but  seated  on  the  top 
of  a  hill.     Here  Nanapashemet  was  killed,  none  dwelling  in  it 
since  the  time  of  his  death."     The  care  which  the  great  Moon 
Chief  took  to  fortify  himself,  shows  the  fear  which  he  felt  for 
his  mortal  enemy.     With  his  death,  the  vengeance  of  the  Tara- 
tines seems  in  some  degree  to  have  abated ;  and  his  sons,  re- 
turning to  the  shore,  collected  the  scattered  remnants  of  their 
tribes,  over  whom  they  ruled  as  sagamores  on  the  arrival  of  our 
fathers.     The  general  government  was  continued  by  the  sauuks, 
or  queen   of  Nanapashemet,  who   was   called  Squaw  Sachem. 
She  married  Webbacowet,  who  was  the  great  physician  of  her 
nation.     On  the  fourtli   of  September,  1640,  she  sold  Mistick 


36  HISTORY   OF    LYNN. 

Ponds  and  a  large  tract  of  land  now  included  in  Somerville,  to 
Jotham  Gibbons,  of  Boston.  On  the  eighth  of  March,  1644,  she 
submitted  to  the  government  of  the  whites,  and  consented  to 
have  her  subjects  instructed  in  the  Bible.  She  died  in  1667, 
being  then  old  and  blind.  Nanapashemet  had  three  sons  — 
Wonohaquaham,  Montowampate,  and  Wenepoykin,  all  of  whom 
became  sagamores ;  and  a  daughter  Yawata. 

Wonohaquaham,  was  sagamore  on  Mistick  river,  including 
Winnisimet.  In  1627  he  gave  the  whites  liberty  to  settle  at 
Charlestown,  and  on  the  records  of  that  town  he  is  called  a 
chief  "  of  gentle  and  good  disposition."  He  was  called  by 
the  English,  John,  and  died  in  1633,  according  to  the  best 
authorities. 

Montowampate,  sagamore  of  Lynn,  was  born  in  the  year 
1609.  He  lived  on  Sagamore  Hill,  near  the  northern  end  of 
Long  Beach.  He  had  jurisdiction  of  Saugus,  Naumkeag,  and 
Masabequash  ;  or  Lynn,  Salem,  and  Marblehead.  He  was  called 
by  the  white  people,  James.  Mr.  Dudley  in  his  letter  to  the 
Countess  of  Lincoln,  says,  ^'  Yppon  the  river  of  Mistick  is  seated 
Saggamore  John,  and  vppon  the  river  of  Saugus  Sagamore 
James,  both  soe  named  from  the  English.  The  elder  brother, 
John,  is  a  handsome  young  ....  (one  line  wanting)  .... 
conversant  with  us,  affecting  English  apparel  and  houses,  and 
speaking  well  of  our  God.  His  brother  James  is  of  a  far  worse 
disposition,  yet  repaireth  to  us  often."  He  married  Wenuchus, 
a  daughter  of  Passaconaway,  the  great  powah,  or  priest  of  the 
nation,  whose  chief  residence  was  at  Penacook,  now  Concord, 
on  the  Merrimac.  This  venerable,  and  in  some  respects  won- 
derful man,  died  about  the  year  1673,  when  he  was  oue  hundred 
and  twenty  years  of  age.  On  his  death  bed,  he  called  his  friends 
around,  and  told  them  that  he  was  going  to  the  land  of  spirits, 
to  see  them  no  more.  He  said  he  had  been  opposed  to  the 
English  at  their  first  coming,  and  sought  to  prevent  their  settle- 
ment ;  but  now  he  advised  them  to  oppose  the  white  men  no 
more,  or  they  would  all  be  destroyed.  The  marriage  of  Monto- 
wampate took  place  in  the  year  1629,  when  he  was  twenty 
years  of  age ;  and  it  gave  him  an  opportunity  to  manifest  his 
high  sense  of  the  dignity  which  appertained  to  a  sachem. 
Thomas  Morton,  who  was  in  the  country  at  the  time,  and  wrote 


THE   INDIANS.  37 

a  work  entitled  the  New  English  Canaan,  furnishes  us  with  the 
following  interesting  particulars : 

The  sachem  or  sagamore  of  Sagus,  made  choice,  when  he  came  to  man's 
estate,  of  a  lady  of  noble  descent,  daughter  of  Papasiqumeo,  the  sachem  or 
sagamore  of  the  territories  near  Merrimack  river ;  a  man  of  the  best  note  m 
all  those  parts,  and,  as  my  comitiyman,  Mr.  Wood,  declares,  m  his  Prospect, 
a  gi*eat  nigromancer.  This  lady,  the  young  sachem,  with  the  consent  and 
good  lildng  of  her  father,  marries,  and  takes  for  his  wife.  Great  entertainment 
hee  and  his  received  in  those  parts,  at  her  father's  hands,  wheare  they  were 
fested  in  the  best  manner  that  might  be  expected,  according  to  the  custome 
of  then-  nation,  with  reveling,  and  such  other  solemnities  as  is  usual  amongst 
them.  The  solemnity  being  ended,  Papasiquineo  caused  a  selected  number 
of  his  men  to  waite  on  his  daughter  home  mto  those  parts  that  did  properly 
belong  to  her  lord  and  husband ;  where  the  attendants  had  entertainment  by 
the  sachem  of  Sagus  and  his  countrymen.  The  solemnity  being  ended,  the 
attendants  were  gratified. 

Not  long  after,  the  new  married  lady  had  a  great  desire  to  see  her  father 
and  her  native  countiy,  from  whence  she  came.  Her  lord  was  willing  to 
pleasure  her,  and  not  deny  her  request,  amongst  them  thought  to  be  reason- 
able, commanded  a  select  number  of  his  own  men  to  conduct  his  lady  to  her 
father,  where  wdth  great  respect  they  brought  her ;  and  havmg  feasted  there 
awhile,  returned  to  their  own  country  agame,  leaving  the  lady  to  continue 
there  at  her  owne  pleasure,  amongst  her  friends  and  old  acquaintance,  where 
she  passed  away  the  time  for  awhile,  and  in  the  end  desired  to  returne  to  her 
lord  againe.  Her  father,  the  old  Papasiquineo,  having  notice  of  her  intent, 
sent  some  of  his  men  on  ambassage  to  the  young  sachem,  his  sonne  in  law,  to 
let  him  understand  that  his  daughter  was  not  willing  to  absent  herself  from 
his  coinpany  any  longer;  and  therefore,  as  the  messengers  had  in  charge, 
desired  the  young  lord  to  send  a  convoy  for  her;  but  he,  standing  upon 
tearmes  of  honor,  and  the  mamtaining  of  his  reputation,  returned  to  his  father 
in  law  this  answer :  "  That  when  she  departed  from  him,  hee  caused  his  men 
to  waite  upon  her  to  her  father's  territories  as  it  did  become  him ;  but  now  she 
had  an  intent  to  returne,  it  did  become  her  father  to  send  her  back  with  a 
convoy  of  his  own  people ;  and  that  it  stood  not  with  his  reputation  to  make 
himself  or  his  men  so  sei-vile  as  to  fetch  her  againe." 

The  old  sachem  Papasiquineo,  having  this  message  returned,  was  inraged 
to  think  that  his  young  son  in  law  did  not  esteem  him  at  a  higher  rate  than  to 
capitulate  with  him  about  the  matter,  and  returned  him  this  sharp  reply: 
"  That  his  daughter's  blood  and  birth  desei-ved  more  respect  than  to  be  slighted, 
and  therefore,  if  he  would  have  her  company,  he  were  best  to  send  or  come 
for  her." 

The  young  sachem,  not  wilHng  to  undei-value  himself,  and  being  a  man  of  a 
stout  spirit,  did  not  stick  to  say,  "  That  he  should  either  send  her  by  his  own 
convoy,  or  keepe  her ;  for  he  was  determined  not  to  stoope  so  lowe." 

So  much  these  two  sachems  stood  upon  tearmes  of  reputation  with  each 
other,  the  one  would  not  send  for  her,  lest  it  should  be  any  diminisliing  of 
D 


38  HISTORY    OF   LYNN. 

honor  ou  his  part  that  should  seeme  to  comply,  that  the  lady,  when  I  catiie 
out  of  the  countiy,  remained  still  ^^^th  her  father ;  which  is  a  thing  worth  the 
noting,  that  salvage  people  should  seek  to  maintaine  then-  reputation  so  much 
as  they  doe. 

A  chief  who  couid  treat  a  lady  so  discourteously  deserved  to 
lose  her.  Montowampate  had  not  the  felicity  to  read  the  Fairy 
Queen,  or  he  ^vould  have  thought  with  Spenser : 

"  "What  vertue  is  so  fitting  for  a  Knight, 
Or  for  a  Ladie  whom  a  knight  should  love, 
As  curtesie." 

My  lady  readers  will  undoubtedly  be  anxious  to  know  if  the 
separation  was  final.  I  am  happy  to  inform  them  that  it  was 
not ;  as  we  find  the  Princess  of  Penacook  enjoying  the  luxuries 
of  the  shores  and  the  sea  breezes  at  Lynn,  the  next  summer. 
How  they  met  without  compromiting  the  dignity  of  the  proud 
sagamore,  history  does  not  inform  us ;  but  probably,  as  ladies 
are  fertile  in  expedients,  she  met  him  half  way.  In  1631  she 
was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Taratines,  as  will  hereafter  be  related. 
Montowampate  died  in  1633.  Wenuchus  returned  to  her  father; 
and  in  1686,  we  find  mention  made  of  her  grand-daughter  Pah- 
pocksit.  Other  interesting  incidents  in  the  life  of  Montowam- 
pate will  be  found  in  the  following  pages. 

Wenepoykin,  erroneously  called  Winnepurkit,  was  the  young- 
est son  of  Nanapashemet.  His  name  was  pronounced  with  an 
accent  and  a  lingering  on  the  third  syllable,  We-ne-pawwe-kin. 
He  was  born  in  1616,  and  w^as  a  little  boy,  thirteen  years  of  age, 
when  the  white  men  came.  The  Rev.  John  Higginson,  of  Salem, 
says :  "  To  the  best  of  my  remembrance,  when  I  came  over  with 
my  father,  to  this  place,  there  was  in  these  parts  a  widow  wo- 
man, called  Squaw  Sachem,  who  had  three  sons ;  Sagamore 
John  kept  at  Mistick,  Sagamore  James  at  Saugus,  and  Sagamore 
George  here  at  Naumkeke.  Whether  he  was  actual  sachem 
here  I  cannot  say,  for  he  w^as  then  young,  about  my  age,  and  I 
think  there  was  an  elder  man  that  was  at  least  his  guardian." 
On  the  death  of  his  brothers,  in  1633,  he  became  sagamore  of 
L^^nn  and  Chelsea;  and  after  the  death  of  his  mother,  in  1667, 
he  was  sachem  of  all  that  part  of  Massachusetts  which  is  north 
and  east  of  Charles  river.  He  was  the  proprietor  of  Deer 
Island,  which  he   sold  to  Boston.     He   was    called  Sagamore 


THE   INDIANS.  39 

George,  aud  George  Rumney  Marsh;  [also  Sagamore  George 
No-Nose.]  Until  the  year  1738,  the  limits  of  Boston  extended 
to  Sangus,  including  Chelsea,  which  was  called  Rumney  Marsh. 
Part  of  this  great  marsh  is  now  in  Chelsea  and  part  in  Saugus. 
The  Indians  living  on  the  borders  of  this  marsh  in  Lynn  and 
Saugus,  were  sometimes  called  the  Rumney  Marsh  Indians. 
Weiiepoykin  was  taken  prisoner  in  the  Wampanoag  war,  in 
1676,  and  died  in  1684.  He  married  Ahawayet,  daughter  of 
Poquanum,  who  lived  on  Nahant.  She  presented  him  with  one 
son,  Manatahqua,  and  three  daughters,  Petagunsk,  Wattaquat- 
tinusk,  and  Petagoonaquah,  who,  if  early  historians  are  correct 
in  their  descriptions,  were  as  beautiful,  almost,  as  the  lovely 
forms  which  have  wandered  on  the  rocks  of  Nahant  in  later 
times.  They  were  called  Wanapanaquin,  or  the  plumed  ones. 
This  word  is  but  another  spelling  of  Wenepoykin,  their  father's 
name,  which  signifies  a  wing,  or  a  feather.  I  suppose  they  were 
the  belles  of  the  forest,  in  their  day,  and  wore  finer  plumes  than 
any  of  their  tribe.  Petagunsk  was  called  Cicely.  [In  the  In- 
dian deed  of  Lynn,  she  is  described  as  '^  Cicily  alias  Su  George, 
the  reputed  daughter  of  old  Sagamore  George  No-Nose."]  She 
had  a  son  Tontoquon,  called  John.  Wattaquattinusk,  or  the 
Little  Walnut,  was  called  Sarah ;  and  Petagoonaquah  was  named 
Susanna.  Manatahqua  had  two  sons,  Nonupanohow,  called  Dar 
vid  [Kunkshamooshaw]  and  Wuttanoh,  which  means  a  staff, 
called  Samuel.  The  family  of  Wenepoykin  left  Lynn  about 
the  time  of  the  Wampanoag  war,  and  went  to  Wameset,  or 
Chelmsford,  now  Lowell,  where  they  settled  near  Pawtucket 
falls.  On  the  16th  of  September,  1684,  immediately  after  the 
death  of  Wenepoykin,  the  people  of  Marblehead  embraced  the 
opportunity  of  obtaining  a  deed  of  their  town.  It  was  signed 
by  Ahawayet,  and  many  others,  her  relatives.  She  is  called 
"  Joane  Ahawayet,  Squawe,  relict,  widow  of  George  Saggamore, 
alias  Wenepawweekin."  (Essex  Reg.  Deeds,  11,  132.)  She 
survived  her  husband  about  a  year,  and  died  in  1685.  On  the 
19th  of  March,  1685,  David  Nonupanohow,  "heir  of  Sagamore 
George,  and  in  his  right  having  some  claim  to  Deer  Island,  doth 
hereby,  for  just  consideration,  relinquish  his  right,  to  the  town 
of  Boston.'^  (Suffolk  Records.)  On  the  11th  of  October,  1686, 
the  people  of  Salem  obtained  a  deed  of  their  town,  which  was 


40  HISTORY    OF   LYNN. 

signed  by  the  relatives  of  Wenepoykin.  [And  on  the  4Lli  of 
September,  of  the  same  year,  the  people  of  Lynn  likewise  ob- 
tained a  deed  of  their  territory,  from  the  heirs  of  Wenepoykin, 
a  copy  of  which  may  be  found  on  page  51,  et  seq.] 

Yawata,  daughter  of  Nanapashemet,  and  sister  of  the  three 
sagamores,  married  Oonsumog.  She  lived  to  sign  the  deed  of 
Salem,  in  1686,  and  died  at  Natick.  She  had  a  son,  Mumin- 
quash,  born  in  1636,  and  called  James  Rumney  Marsh,  who  also 
removed  to  Natick.  There  is  great  softness  and  euphony  in  the 
name  of  this  Indess.  Ya-wa-ta ;  six  letters,  and  only  one  hard 
consonant.  Probably  her  heart  was  as  delicate  and  feminine  as 
her  name.  The  early  settlers  indicated  their  poetic  taste  by 
calling  her  Abigail.  [The  wife  of  David  Kunkshamooshaw,  who 
was  a  grandson  of  Yawata's  brother  Wenepoykin,  was  also 
called  Abigail.  This  last  was  the  Abigail  who  signed  the  deed 
of  Lynn.  And  it  seems  as  if  Mr.  Lewis  may  have  confounded 
the  two  Abigails.  Yet,  Yawata  might  have  signed  the  Salem 
deed,  in  1686,  though  she  must  then  have  been  quite  old.] 

PoQUANUM,  or  Dark  Skin,  was  sachem  of  Nahant.  Wood,  in 
his  New  England's  Prospect,  calls  him  Duke  William;  and  it 
appears  by  depositions  in  Salem  Court  Records,  that  he  was 
known  by  the  familiar  appellation  of  Black  Will.  He  was  con- 
temporary with  Nanapashemet.  Li  1630  he  sold  Nahant  to 
Thomas  Dexter  for  a  suit  of  clothes.  It  is  probable  that  he 
was  the  chief  who  welcomed  Gosnold,  in  1602,  and  who  is 
represented  to  have  been  dressed  in  a  complete  suit  of  English 
clothes.  If  he  were  the  same,  that  may  have  been  the  reason 
why  he  was  so  desirous  to  possess  another  suit.  He  was  killed 
in  1633,  as  will  be  found  under  that  date.  He  had  two  chil- 
dren—  Ahawayet,  who  married  Wenepoykin;  and  Queakussen, 
commonly  cahed  Captain  Tom,  or  Thomas  Poquanum,  who 
was  born  in  1611.  Mr.  Gookin,  in  1686,  says,  "  He  is  an  Indian 
of  good  repute,  and  professeth  the  Christian  religion."  Probabl}^ 
he  is  the  one  alluded  to  by  Rev.  John  Eliot,  in  his  letter,  No- 
vember 13, 1649,  in  which  he  says :  ^'  Linn  Indians  are  all  naught, 
save  one,  who  sometimes  cometh  to  hear  the  word,  and  telleth 
me  that  he  prayeth  to  God ;  and  the  reason  why  they  are  bad 
is  partly  and  principally  because  their  sachem  is  naught,  and 
careth  not  to  pray  to   God."     There  is  a  confession  of  faith, 


THE   INDIANS.  41 

preserved  in  Eliot's  "  Tears  of  Repentance,"  by  Poquaniim, 
probably  of  this  same  Indian.  He  signed  the  deed  of  Salem  in 
1686,  and  on  the  17th  of  September,  in  that  year,  he  gave  the 
following  testimony :  •'  Thomas  Queakussen,  alias  Captain  Tom, 
Indian,  now  living  at  Wamesit,  neare  Patucket  Falls,  aged  about 
seventy-five  years,  testifieth  and  saith.  That  man}^  yeares  since, 
when  he  was  a  youth,  he  lived  with  his  father,  deceased,  named 
Poquannum,  who  some  time  lived  at  Sawgust,  now  called  Linn ; 
he  married  a  second  wife,  and  lived  at  Nahant ;  and  himself  in 
after  time  lived  about  Mistick,  and  that  he  well  knew  all  these 
parts  about  Salem,  Marblehead  and  Linn ;  and  that  Salem  and 
the  river  running  up  between  that  neck  of  land  and  Bass  river 
was  called  Naumkeke,  and  the  river  between  Salem  and  Marble- 
head  was  called  Massabequash ;  also  he  says  he  well  knew 
Sagamore  George,  who  married  the  Deponent's  Owne  Sister, 
named  Joane,  who  died  about  a  yeare  since ;  and  Sagamore 
George  left  two  daughters,  name  Sicilye  and  Sarah,  and  two 
grand-children  by  his  son ;  Nonumpanumhow  the  one  called 
David,  and  the  other  Wuttanoh ;  and  I  myself  am  one  of  their 
kindred  as  before ;  and  James  Rumney  Marsh's  mother  is  one 
of  Sagamore  George  his  kindred;  and  I  knew  two  squawes 
more  living  now  about  Pennecooke,  one  named  Pahpocksitt, 
and  the  other's  name  I  know  not ;  and  I  knew  the  grandmother 
of  these  two  squawes  named  Wenuchus ;  she  was  a  principal 
proprietor  of  these  lands  about  Naumkege,  now  Salem ;  all 
these  persons  above  named  are  concerned  in  the  antient  pro- 
perty of  the  lands  above  mentioned."  Wabaquin  also  testified, 
that  David  was  the  grandson  of  Sagamore  George  —  by  his 
father,  deceased  Manatahqua.     (Essex  Reg.  Deeds,  11,  131.) 

Nahanton  was  born  about  the  year  1600.  On  the  7th  of  April, 
1635,  Nahanton  was  ordered  by  the  Court  to  pay  Rev.  William 
Blackstone,  of  Boston,  two  beaver  skins,  for  damage  done  to 
his  swine  by  setting  traps.  In  a  deposition  taken  at  Natick, 
August  15,  1672,  he  is  called  "  Old  Ahaton  of  Punkapog,  aged 
about  seaventy  yeares;"  and  in  a  deposition  at  Cambridge, 
October  7, 1686,  he  is  called  ''Old  Mahanton,  aged  about  ninety 
years."  In  the  same  deposition  he  is  called  Nahanton.  He 
testifies  concerning  the  right  of  the  heirs  of  Wenepoykin  to 
sell  the  lands  of  Salem,  and  declares  himself  a  relative  of  Saga- 
D* 


42  HISTORY   OF   LYNN. 

more  George.  He  signed  the  deed  of  Quincy,  August  5,  16G5, 
and  in  that  deed  is  called  "  Old  Nahatun,"  one  of  the  "  wise 
men  "  of  Sagamore  Wampatuck.  He  also  signed  a  quit-claim 
deed  to  *'  the  proprietated  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Boston," 
March  19,  1685.     (Suffolk  Records.) 

QuANOPKONAT,  called  John,  was  another  relative  of  Wenepoy- 
kin.  His  widow  Joan,  and  his  son  James,  signed  the  deed  of 
Salem,  in  1686.  Masconomo  was  sagamore  of  Agawam,  now 
Ipswich.  Dudley  says,  "  he  was  tributary  to  Sagamore  James." 
From  the  intimacy  which  subsisted  between  them,  he  was  prob- 
ably a  relative.  He  died  March  8,  1658,  and  his  gun  and  other 
implements  were  buried  with  him.     (Felt's  Hist.  Ipswich.) 

The  names  of  the  Indians  are  variously  spelled  in  records 
and  depositions,  as  they  were  imperfectly  understood  from  their 
nasal  pronunciation.  Some  of  them  were  known  by  different 
names,  and  as  they  had  no  baptism,  or  ceremony  of  naming 
their  children,  they  commonly  received  no  name  until  it  was 
fixed  by  some  great  exploit,  or  some  remarkable  circumstance. 

The  Indians  have  been  admirably  described  by  William  Wood, 
who  resided  at  Lynn,  at  the  first  settlement.  ^'  They  were  black 
haired,  out  nosed,  broad  shouldered,  brawn}^  armed,  long  and 
slender  handed,  out  breasted,  small  waisted,  lank  bellied,  well 
thighed,  flat  kneed,  handsome  grown  legs,  and  small  feet.  In  a 
word,  they  were  more  amiable  to  behold,  though  only  in  Adam's 
livery,  than  man}^  a  compounded  fantastic  in  the  newest  fash- 
ion." In  another  place  he  speaks  of  "  their  unparalleled  beauty." 
Jossel3^n,  in  his  New  England  Rarities,  says:  '^  The  women,  many 
of  them,  have  very  good  features,  seldome  without  a  come-to-me 
in  their  countenance,  all  of  them  black  eyed,  having  even,  short 
teeth  and  very  white,  their  hair  black,  thick  and  long,  broad 
breasted,  handsome,  straight  bodies  and  slender,  their  limbs 
cleanly,  straight,  generall}^  plump  as  a  partridge,  and  saving 
now  and  then  one,  of  a  modest  deportment."  Lechford  says: 
^'  The  Indesses  that  are  young,  are  some  of  them  very  comely, 
having  good  features.  Many  prettie  Brownettos  and  spider 
fingered  lasses  may  be  seen  among  them."  After  such  graphic 
and  beautiful  descriptions,  nothing  need  be  added  to  complete 
the  idea  that  their  forms  were  exquisitely  perfect,  superb,  and 
voluptuous.     [But  is  not  this  superlative  language,  as  applied 


THE   INDIANS.  43 

to  Indian  squaws,  rather  intense?  Mr.  Lewis,  however,  is  well 
known  to  have  entertained  more  than  ordinary  veneration  for 
the  aborigines.  It  is  believed  that  a  more  just  estimate  may 
be  found  in  the  volume  published  here  in  1862,  under  the  title 
"Lin:  or,  Jewels  of  the  Third  Plantation.''] 

The  dress  of  the  men  was  the  skin  of  a  deer  or  seal  tied  round 
the  waist,  and  in  winter  a  bear  or  wolf  skin  thrown  over  the 
shoulders,  with  moccasons  or  shoes  of  moose  hide.  The  women 
wore  robes  of  beaver  skins,  with  sleeves  of  deer  skin  drest,  and 
drawn  with  lines  of  different  colors  into  ornamental  figures. 
Some  wore  a  short  mantle  of  trading  cloth,  blue  or  red,  fastened 
with  a  knot  under  the  chin,  and  girt  around  the  waist  with  a 
zone  ;  their  buskins  fringed  with  feathers,  and  a  fillet  round 
their  heads,  which  were  often  adorned  with  plumes. 

Their  money  was  made  of  shells,  gathered  on  the  beaches, 
and  was  of  two  kinds.  The  one  was  called  wampum-peag,  or 
white  money,  and  was  made  of  the  twisted  part  of  the  cockle 
strung  together  like  beads.  Six  of  these  passed  for  a  penny, 
and  a  foot  for  about  a  shilling.  The  other  was  called  suckauhoc, 
or  black  money,  and  was  made  of  the  hinge  of  the  poquahoc 
clam,  bored  with  a  sharp  stone.  The  value  of  this  money  was 
double  that  of  the  white.  These  shells  were  also  very  curiously 
wrought  into  pendants,  bracelets,  and  belts  of  wampum,  several 
inches  in  breadth  and  several  feet  in  length,  with  figures  of 
animals  and  flowers.  Their  sachems  were  profusely  adorned 
with  it,  and  some  of  the  princely  females  wore  dresses  worth 
fifty  or  a  hundred  dollars.  It  passed  for  beaver  and  other 
commodities  as  currently  as  silver. 

Their  weapons  were  bows,  arrows  and  tomahawks.  Their 
bows  were  made  of  walnut,  or  some  other  elastic  wood,  and 
strung  with  sinews  of  deer  or  moose.  Their  arrows  were  made 
of  elder,  and  feathered  with  the  quills  of  eagles.  They  were 
headed  with  a  long,  sharp  stone  of  porphyry  or  jasper,  tied  to  a 
short  stick,  which  was  thrust  into  the  pith  of  the  elder.  Their 
tomahawks  were  made  of  a  flat  stone^  sharpened  to  an  edge, 
with  a  groove  round  the  middle.  This  was  inserted  in  a  bent 
walnut  stick,  the  ends  of  which  were  tied  together.  The  flinty 
heads  of  their  arrows  and  axes,  their  stone  gouges  and  pestles, 
have  been  frequently  found  in  the  fields. 


44  HISTORY   OF    LYNN. 

Tlieir  favorite  places  of  residence  hereabout,  appear  to  have 
been  in  the  neighborhood  of  Sagamore  Hill  and  High  Rock,  at 
Swarapscot  and  Nahant.  One  of  their  burial  places  was  on  the 
hill  near  the  eastern  end  of  Mount  Vernon  street.  In  Saugus, 
many  indications  of  their  dwellings  have  been  found  on  the 
old  Boston  road,  for  about  half  a  mile  from  the  hotel,  westward ; 
and  beneath  the  house  of  Mr.  Ephraim  Rhodes  was  a  burying 
ground.  On  the  road  which  runs  north  from  Charles  Sweetser's, 
was  another  Indian  village  on  a  plain,  defended  by  a  hill.  Na- 
ture here  formed  a  lovely  spot,  and  nature's  children  occupied 
it.  [The  localities  here  referred  to  lie  between  East  Saugus 
and  Cliftondale.]  They  usually  buried  their  dead  on  the  sides 
of  hills  next  the  sun.  This  was  both  natural  and  beautiful.  It 
was  the  wish  of  Seattle's  Minstrel. 

"  Where  a  gi*een  grassy  turf  is  all  I  crave, 
And  many  an  evening  sun  shine  sweetly  cm  my  grave." 

The  Indians  had  but  few  arts,  and  only  such  as  were  requisite 
for  their  subsistence.  Their  houses,  called  wigwams,  were  rude 
structures,  made  of  poles  set  round  in  the  form  of  a  cone,  and 
covered  by  bark  or  mats.  In  winter,  one  great  house,  built 
with  more  care,  with  a  fire  in  the  middle,  served  for  the  accom- 
modation of  many.  They  had  two  kinds  of  boats,  called  canoes  ; 
the  one  made  of  a  pine  log,  twenty  to  sixty  feet  in  length,  burnt 
and  scraped  out  with  shells;  the  other  made  of  birch  bark,  very 
light  and  elegant.  They  made  fishing  lines  of  wild  hemp,  equal 
to  the  finest  twine,  and  used  fish  bones  for  hooks.  Their  meth- 
od of  catching  deer  was  by  making  two  fences  of  trees,  half  a 
mile  in  extent,  in  the  form  of  an  angle,  with  a  snare  at  the  place 
of  meeting,  in  which  they  frequently  took  the  deer  alive. 

Their  chief  ol^jects  of  cultivation  were  corn,  beans,  pumpkins, 
squashes  and  melons,  which  were  all  indigenous  plants.  Their 
fields  were  cleared  by  burning  the  trees  in  the  autumn.  Their 
season  for  planting  was  when  the  leaves  of  the  oak  were  as 
large  as  the  ear  of  a  mouse.  From  this  observation  was  formed 
the  rule  of  the  first  settlers. 

When  the  white  oak  trees  look  goslui  gray, 
Plant  then,  be  it  April,  June,  or  May. 

The  corn  was  hoed  with  large  clam  shells,  and  harvested  in 
cellars   dug  in   the    ground,  and    enclosed   with  mats.     When 


THE   INDIANS.  45 

boiled  in  kernels  it  was  called  samp ;  when  parched  and  pound- 
ed in  stone  mortars  it  was  termed  nokehike  ;  and  when  pounded 
and  boiled,  it  was  called  hominy.  They  also  boiled  corn  and 
beans  together,  which  they  called  succatash.  They  formed 
earthen  vessels  in  which  they  cooked.  They  made  an  excellent 
cake  by  mixing  strawberries  with  parched  corn.  Whortleberries 
were  employed  in  a  similar  manner.  Some  of  their  dishes  are 
still  well  known  and  highly  relished  —  their  samp,  their  hominy 
or  hasty  pudding,  their  stewed  beans  or  succatash,  their  baked 
pumpkins,  their  parched  corn,  their  boiled  and  roast  ears  of 
corn,  and  their  whortleberry  cake  —  dishes  which,  when  well 
prepared,  are  good  enough  for  any  body.  And  when  to  these 
Avere  added  the  whole  range  of  field  and  flood,  at  a  time  when 
wild  fowl  and  venison  were  more  than  abundant,  it  will  be  seen 
that  the  Indians  lived  well. 

The  woods  were  filled  with  wild  animals  —  foxes,  bears, 
wolves,  deer,  moose,  beaver,  racoons,  rabbits,  woodchucks,  and 
squirrels  —  most  of  which  have  long  since  departed.  One  of 
the  most  troublesome  animals  was  the  catamount,  one  of  the 
numerous  varieties  of  the  cat  kind,  which  has  never  been  par- 
ticularly described.  It  was  from  three  to  six  feet  in  length, 
and  commonly  of  a  cinnamon  color.  Many  stories  are  related 
of  its  attacks  upon  the  early  settlers,  by  climbing  trees  and 
leaping  upon  them  when  traveling  through  the  forest.  An 
Indian  in  passing  through  the  woods  one  day,  heard  a  rustling 
in  the  boughs  overhead,  and  looking  up,  saw  a  catamount  pre- 
paring to  spring  upon  him.  He  said  he  "  cry  all  one  soosuck"  — 
that  is,  like  a  child  —  knowing  that  if  he  did  not  kill  the  cata- 
mount, he  must  lose  his  own  life.  He  fired  as  the  animal  was 
in  the  act  of  springing,  which  met  the  ball  and  fell  dead  at 
his  feet. 

The  wild  pigeons  are  represented  to  have  been  so  numerous 
that  they  passed  in  flocks  so  large  as  to  "  obscure  the  light." 
Dudley  says,  "  it  passeth  credit  if  but  the  truth  should  be 
known ; "  and  Wood  says,  they  continued  flying  for  four  or 
five  hours  together,  to  such  an  extent  that  one  could  see  "  nei- 
ther beginning  nor  ending,  length  nor  breadth,  of  these  millions 
of  millions."  When  they  alighted  in  the  woods,  they  frequently 
broke  down  large  limbs  of  trees  by  their  weight,  and  the  crash- 


46  HISTORY   OP  LYNN. 

ing  was  heard  at  a  great  distance.  A  single  family  has  been 
known  to  have  killed  more  than  one  hundred  dozen  in  one 
night,  with  poles  and  other  weapons ;  and  they  were  often 
taken  in  such  numbers  that  they  were  thrown  into  piles,  and 
kept  to  feed  the  swine.  The  Indians  called  the  pigeon  wusco- 
wan,  a  word  signifying  a  wanderer.  The  wild  fowl  w^ere  so 
numerous  in  the  waters,  that  persons  sometimes  killed  "  50 
duckes  at  a  shot." 

The  Indians  appear  to  have  been  very  fond  of  amusements. 
The  tribes,  even  from  a  great  distance,  were  accustomed  to 
challenge  each  other,  and  to  assemble  upon  Lynn  Beach  to 
decide  their  contests.  Here  they  sometimes  passed  many  days 
in  the  exercises  of  running,  leaping,  wrestling,  shooting,  and 
other  diversions.  Before  they  began  their  sports,  they  drew  a 
line  in  the  sand,  across  which  the  parties  shook  hands  in  evi- 
dence of  friendship,  and  they  sometimes  painted  their  faces,  to 
prevent  revenge.  A  tall  pole  was  then  planted  in  the  beach, 
on  which  were  hung  beaver  skins,  wampum,  and  other  articles, 
for  which  they  contended ;  and  frequently,  all  they  were  worth 
was  ventured  in  the  play.  One  of  their  games  was  foot-ball. 
Another  was  called  puim,  which  was  played  by  shuffling  to- 
gether  a  large  number  of  small  sticks,  and  contending  for  them. 
Another  game  was  played  with  five  flat  pieces  of  bone,  black 
on  one  side  and  white  on  the  other.  These  were  put  into  a 
wooden  bowl,  which  was  struck  on  the  ground,  causing  the 
bones  to  bound  aloft,  and  as  they  fell  white  or  black,  the  game 
was  decided.  During  this  play,  the  Indians  sat  in  a  circle, 
making  a  great  noise,  by  the  constant  repetition  of  the  word 
huh,  hub,  —  come,  come  —  from  which  it  was  called  hubbub  ;  a 
word,  the  derivation  of  which  seems  greatly  to  have  puzzled 
Dr.  Johnson. 

The  Indians  believed  in  a  Great  Spirit,  whom  they  called 
Kichtan,  who  made  all  the  other  gods,  and  one  man  and  woman. 
The  evil  spirit  they  called  Hobamock.  They  endured  the  most 
acute  pains  without  a  murmur,  and  seldom  laughed  loud.  They 
cultivated  a  kind  of  natural  music,  and  had  their  war  and  death 
songs.  The  women  had  lullabies  and  melodies  for  their  children, 
and  modulated  their  voices  by  the  songs  of  birds.  Some  early 
writers    represent   the   voices    of   their   females,    when   heard 


THE   INDIANS.  47 

through  the  shadowy  woods,  to  have  been  exquisitely  harmoni- 
ous. It  has  been  said  they  had  no  poets;  but  their  whole  lan- 
guage was  a  poem.  What  more  poetical  than  calling  the  roar 
of  the  ocean  on  the  beach,  sawhiss,  or  great  panting?  —  literally, 
the  noise  which  a  tired  animal  makes  when  spent  in  the  chase. 
What  more  poetical  than  naming  a  boy  Poquanum,  or  Dark 
Skin ;  and  a  girl  Wanapaquin,  a  Plume  ?  Every  word  of  the 
Indians  was  expressive,  and  had  a  meaning.  Such  is  natural 
poetry  in  all  ages.  The  Welch  called  their  great  king  Arthur, 
from  aruthr,  terribly  fair;  and  such  was  Alonzo,  the  name  of  the 
Moorish  kings  of  Spain,  from  an  Arabic  word,  signifying  the 
fountain  of  beauty.  When  we  give  our  children  the  names  of 
gems  and  flowers  —  when  we  use  language  half  as  designative 
as  that  of  the  Indians,  we  may  begin  to  talk  of  poetry.  ^'  I  am 
an  aged  hemlock,'^  said  one,  '^  whose  head  has  been  whitened 
by  eighty  snows  !"  '^  We  will  brighten  the  chain  of  our  friend- 
ship with  you,''  said  the  chiefs  in  their  treaties.  ["  You  are 
the  rising  sun,  we  are  the  setting,"  said  an  old  chief,  sadly,  on 
seeing  the  prosperity  of  the  whites.  G-ookin  says  that  when 
the  Quakers  tried  to  convince  certain  Indians  of  the  truth  of 
their  doctrines,  advising  them  not  to  listen  to  the  ministers,  and 
telling  them  that  they  had  "  a  light  within,  which  was  a  suffi- 
cient guide,"  they  replied,  ''  We  have  long  looked  within,  and 
find  it  very  dark."]  The  Indians  reckoned  their  time  by  snows 
and  moons.  A  snow  was  a  winter;  and  thus,  a  man  who  had 
seen  eighty  snows,  was  eighty  years  of  age.  A  moon  was  a 
month  ;  thus  they  had  the  harvest  moon,  the  hunting  moon,  and 
the  moon  of  flowers.  A  sleep  was  a  night;  and  seven  sleeps 
were  seven  days.  This  figurative  language  is  in  the  highest 
degree  poetical  and  beautiful. 

The  Indians  have  ever  been  distinguished  for  friendship,  jus- 
tice, magnanimity,  and  a  high  sense  of  honor.  They  have  been 
represented  by  some  as  insensible  and  brutish,  but,  with  the 
exception  of  their  revenge,  they  were  not  an  insensate  race. 
The  old  chief,  who  requested  permission  of  the  white  people  to 
smoke  one  more  whiff  before  he  was  slaughtered,  was  thought 
to  be  an  unfeeling  wretch ;  but  he  expressed  more  than  he  could 
have  done  by  the  most  eloquent  speech.  The  red  people  re- 
ceived th^  immigrants  in  a  friendly  manner,  and  taught  them 


48  fltSTORY   OP   LYNN. 

how  to  plant ;  and  when  any  of  the  whites  traveled  through  the 
woods,  they  entertained  them  with  more  kindness  than  compH- 
ments,  kept  them  freely  many  days,  and  often  went  ten,  and 
even  twenty  miles,  to  conduct  them  on  their  way.  The  Rev. 
Roger  Williams  says :  "  They  were  remarkably  free  and  cour- 
teous to  invite  all  strangers  in.  I  have  reaped  kindness  again 
from  msiny,  seven  years  after,  whom  I  myself  had  forgotten.  It 
is  a  strange  truth,  that  a  man  shall  generally  find  more  free 
entertainment  and  refreshment  among  these  barbarians,  than 
among  thousands  that  call  themselves  Christians. 

The  scene  which  presented  itself  to  the  first  settlers,  must 
have  been  in  the  highest  degree  interesting  and  beautiful.  The 
light  birchen  canoes  of  the  red  men  were  seen  gracefully  swim- 
ming over  the  surface  of  the  bright  blue  ocean ;  the  half  clad 
females  were  beheld,  bathing  their  olive  limbs  in  the  lucid  flood, 
or  sporting  on  the  smooth  beach,  and  gathering  the  spotted 
eggs  from  their  little  hollows  in  the  sands,  or  the  beautiful 
shells  which  abounded  among  the  pebbles,  to  string  into  beads 
or  weave  into  wampum,  for  the  adornment  of  their  necks  and 
arms.  At  one  time  an  Indian  was  seen  with  his  bow,  silently 
endeavoring  to  transfix  the  wild  duck  or  the  brant,  as  they  rose 
and  sunk  on  the  alternate  waves ;  and  at  another,  a  glance  was 
caught  of  the  timid  wild  deer,  rushing  through  the  shadow  of 
the  dark  green  oaks  ;  or  the  sly  fox,  bounding  from  rock  to  rock 
among  the  high  cliffs  of  Nahant,  and  stealing  along  the  shore  to 
find  his  evening  repast,  which  the  tide  had  left  upon  the  beach. 
The  little  sand-pipers  darted  along  the  thin  edge  of  the  wave  — 
the  white  gulls  in  hundreds  soared  screaming  overhead  —  and 
the  curlews  filled  the  echoes  of  the  rocks  with  their  wild  and 
watery  music.  This  is  no  imaginary  picture,  wrought  up  for 
the  embellishment  of  a  fanciful  tale,  but  the  delineation  of 
an  actual  scene,  which  presented  itself  to  the  eyes  of  our 
fatliers. 

An  incident  respecting  the  Indians,  about  a  year  before  the 
settlement  of  Lynn,  is  related  by  Rev.  Thomas  Cobbett,  in  a 
letter  to  Increase  Mather.  ^' About  the  year  1628,  when  those 
few  that  came  over  with  Colonel  Indicot  and  begun  to  settle  at 
Nahumkeeck,  now  called  Salem,  and  in  a  manner  all  so  sick  of 
their  journey,  that  though  they  had  both  small  and  great  guns. 


INDIAN   DEED    OF   LYNN.  49 

and  powder  and  bullets  for  them,  yet  had  not  strength  to  man- 
age them,  if  suddenly  put  upon  it;  and  tidings  being  certainly 
brought  them,  on  a  Lord's  day  morning,  that  a  thousand  Indians 
from  Saugust,  (now  called  Lyn,)  were  coming  against  them  to 
cut  them  off,  they  had  much  ado  amongst  them  all  to  charge 
two  or  three  of  theyre  great  guns,  and  traile  them  to  a  place 
of  advantage,  where  the  Indians  must  pass  to  them,  and  there 
to  shoot  them  off;  when  they  heard  by  theyre  noise  which  they 
made  in  the  woods,  that  the  Indians  drew  neare,  the  noise  of 
which  great  artillery,  to  which  the  Indians  were  never  wonted 
before,  did  occasionally,  by  the  good  hand  of  God,  strike  such 
dread  into  them,  that  by  some  lads  who  lay  as  scouts  in  the 
woods,  they  were  heard  to  reiterate  that  confused  outcrie,  (0 
Hobbamock,  much  Hoggery,)  and  then  fled  confusedly  back 
with  all  speed,  when  none  pursued  them.  One  old  Button, 
lately  living  at  Haverhill,  who  was  then  almost  the  only  haile 
man  left  of  that  company,  confirmed  this  to  be  so  to  me,  accord- 
ingly as  I  had  been  informed  of  it."  This  old  Button  was  Mat- 
thias Button,  a  Dutchman,  who  lived  in  a  thatched  house  in 
Haverhill,  in  1670,  says  Joshua  Coffin.  [And  this  same  Button 
is  acknowledged  to  have  communicated  to  Mr.  Cobbett  a  part 
of  the  interesting  facts  supplied  to  Dr.  Increase  Mather,  regard- 
ing the  early  difficulties  with  the  Indkins.  He  came  over  with 
Endicot^,  in  1628,  and  died  in  1672.] 

INDIAN   DEED    OF   LYNN. 

[By  recurring  to  page  39,  it  will  be  observed  that  Mr.  Lewis 
speaks  of  the  Indian  deeds  of  Marblehead  and  Salem.  And  it  is 
a  little  remarkable  that  while  doing  so  he  did  not  suspect  that 
there  might  also  have  been  one  of  Lynn,  for  it  appears  as  if 
such  a  suspicion  would  have  put  him  upon  that  thorough  search 
which  must  have  resulted  in  its  discovery.  Such  a  deed,  bear- 
ing date  4  Sept.,  1686,  may  be  found  among  the  records  at  Salem. 
And  this  seems  an  appropriate  place  for  its  introduction,  as  it 
contains,  aside  from  its  more  direct  purpose,  divers  statements 
regarding  some  of  the  Indians  of  whom  brief  biographies  have 
been  given.  It  is  true  that  in  one  or  two  points  it  somewhat 
tarnishes  the  romantic  gloss  which  has  so  delighted  us.  But  it 
is  not  unwholesome  now  and  then  to  interpose  a  slight  check  to 
E  -  4 


50  HISTORY   OF   LYNN. 

the  imaginary  flights  to  which  tlie  lover  of  the  people  and 
things  of  old  is  ever  prone. 

[It  should  not,  however,  be  concluded  that  the  first  purchase 
from  the  Indians  was  made  at  the  date  of  this  deed.  Separate 
tracts  had  been  purchased  at  different  times,  before,  and  this 
was  merely  intended  as  a  release  or  quit-claim  of  all  the  rights 
of  the  grantors  in  all  the  territory  now  constituting  Lynn,  Lynn- 
field,  Nahant,  Saugus,  and  Swampscot,  and  parts  of  Danvers, 
Reading  and  South  Reading.  At  the  time  this  deed  was  given, 
in  reality  not  a  third  of  the  territory  was  occupied  by  the 
settlers ;  but  there  was  a  prospect  that  it  would  presently  come 
in  use.  The  Indians  had  mostly  retired,  and  it  was  important 
that  their  title,  if  any  existed,  should  be  extinguished.  The 
small  consideration  named  is  some  indication  that  it  was  not 
considered  that  the  Indians  had  any  very  valuable  remaining 
interest.  Other  value,  however,  may  have  been  given.  It  was 
often  the  case,  that  the  consideration  expressed  in  a  deed  was 
quite  different  from  the  real  one,  the  custom  of  indulging  in 
a  little  innocent  deception  being  as  prevalent  then  as  now. 
And  it  was  not  unfrequently  an  object  with  the  shrewd  settlers 
to  have  it  appear  that  the  prices  paid  for  lands  were  low,  even 
when  the  old  sagamores  had  succeeded  in  making  good  bargains. 

[And  taking  into  account  the  time  at  which  this  deed  was 
given,  I  am  persuaded  that  the  procuring  of  it  was  deemed  a 
matter  of  much  importance,  inasmuch  as  it  would  constitute 
written  evidence  that  the  natives  had  parted  with  the  title  to 
their  lands  for  a  satisfactory  consideration —  the  previous  deeds, 
if  there  were  any,  having  been  unrecorded  and  lost.  The  peo- 
ple were  extremely  suspicious  that  under  James  the  crown 
agents  would  pay  little  regard  to  titles  that  did  not  rest  upon 
some  clear  and  unimpeachable  evidence.  And  though  Andros 
pretended  to  have  no  more  regard  for  the  signature  of  an  In- 
dian than  for  the  scratch  of  a  bear's  claw,  he  yet  sometimes 
found  the  barbarous  autographs  very  serious  impediments  in 
the  way  of  his  tyrannous  assumptions.  As  a  precautionary 
step,  the  procuring  of  this  deed  shows  the  wariness  of  our 
good  fathers.  It  will  be  observed  that  the  Indian  deeds  of 
Marblehead,  Salem,  and  one  or  two  other  places  were  procured 
almost  simultaneously  with  that  of  Lynn.     And  in  March,  1689, 


INDIAN    DEED    OF    LYNN.  51 

Aiidros  asked  Rev.  Mr.  Higginson  whether  New  England  was 
the  king's  territory.  The  reply  was,  that  it  belonged  to  the 
colonists,  because  they  had  held  it  by  just  occupation  and  pur- 
chase from  the  Indians.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  deed, 
which,  though  it  may  not  furnish  much  entertainment  to  the 
general  reader,  will  be  appreciated  by  the  antiquarian. 

To  ALL  Christian  People,  to  whom  this  present  Deed  of  Confirmation, 
Ratification  and  Ahenation  shall  come,  David  Kunkshamooshaw,  who  by  credi- 
ble intelligence  is  grandson  to  old  Sagamore  George  No-Nose,  so  called,  alias 
Wenepawweekin,  sometime  of  Rmimey  Marsh,  and  sometimes  at  or  about 
Chelmsford  of  ye  collony  of  ye  Massachyets,  so  called,  sometimes  here  and 
sometimes  there,  but  deceased,  y®  said  David,  grandson  to  ye  said  old  Saga- 
more George  No-Nose,  deceased,  and  Abigail  Kunkshamooshaw,  ye  w^ife  of 
David,  and  Cicely,  alias  Su  George,  y®  reputed  daughter  of  said  old  Sagamore 
George,  and  James  Quonopohit  of  Natick  alias  Rumney  Marsh,  and  Mary  his 
wife,  send  greeting,  &c. 

Know  Yee,  that  the  said  David  Kunkshamooshaw  and  Abigail  his  wife,  and 
Cicely  alias  Su  George  aforesaid  and  James  Quonopoiiit  aforesaid  with  Jiis 
wife  Mary  who  are  ye  nearest  of  kin  and  legall  successors  of  ye  aforesaid 
George  No-Nose  alias  Wenepavrweekin  whom  wee  afiirme  was  the  true  and 
sole  owner  of  ye  land  that  ye  towns  of  Lynn  and  Reading  aforesaid  stand  upon, 
and  notwithstanding  ye  possession  of  ye  English  dwelling  in  those  townships 
of  Lynn  and  Reading  aforesaid,  wee,  ye  said  David  Kunkshamooshaw,  Cicely 
alias  Su  George,  James  Quonopoiiit,  &c.,  the  rest  aforesaid  Indians,  doe  lay 
claime  to  ye  lands  that  these  two  townes  aforesaid,  Lynn  and  Reading,  stand 
upon,  and  the  dwellers  thereof  possess,  that  ye  right  and  title  thereto  is  ours  and 
belong  to  us  and  ours ;  but,  howsoever,  the  townships  of  Lyn  and  Reading 
having  been  long  possessed  by  the  English,  and  although  wee  make  our  clayme 
and  ye  selectmen  and  trustees  for  both  townes  aforesaid  pleading  title  by 
graunts  of  courts  and  purchase  of  old  of  our  predecessor,  George  Sagamore,  and 
such  like  matters,  &c.,  wee,  ye  claymers  aforenamed,  viz.  David  Kunksha- 
mooshaw and  Abigail  his  Squaw,  Cicely  alias  Su  George  the  reputed  daughter 
of  old  Sagamore  George  No-Nose,  and  James  Quonopoiiit  and  Mary  his  Squaw, 
they  being  of  the  kindi-ed  as  of  claymers,  considering  the  arguments  of  ye  se- 
lectmen in  both  townes,  are  not  willing  to  make  trouble  to  ourselves  nor  old 
neighbors  in  those  two  townes  aforesaid  of  Lynn  and  Reading,  &c.,  wee  there- 
fore, the  clayming  Lidians  aforesaid,  viz.  David  Kunkshamooshaw  and  Abigail 
his  wife  and  Cicely  alias  Su  George  the  reputed  daughter  of  old  Sagamore 
George  alias  Wenepawweekin  and  James  Quonopohit  and  Mary  his  wife,  all 
and  every  of  us,  as  aforesaid,  and  jointly  together,  for  and  in  consideration  of  ye 
summe  of  sixteen  poundes  of  currant  sterling  money  of  silver  in  hand  paid 
to  us  Lidians  clayming,  viz.  David  Kunkshamooshaw,  &c.,  at  or  before  ye  en- 
sealing and  delivery  of  these  presents,  by  M^"  Ralph  King,  William  Bassett, 
sen'r,  Mathew  Farrington,  sen'r,   John  Burrill,  sen'r,   Robert  Potter,  sen'r, 


52  HISTORY   OF   LYNN. 

Samuel  Johoson,  and  Olliver  Purchas,  selectmen  in  Lynn,  in  ye  county  of 
Essex,  in  New  England,  trustees  and  prudentials  for  and  in  behalf  of  ye  pur- 
chasers and  now  proprietors  of  y^  To^vnships  of  Lynn  and  Reading,  well  and 
truly  payd,  y®  receipt  whereof  we,  viz.  David  Kunkshamooshaw,  Abigail  his 
wife,  Cicely  alias  Su  George  y®  reputed  daughter  of  old  Sagamore  George,  and 
James  Conopohit,  of  Natick,  alias  Rumney  Marsh,  and  Mary  his  wife,  doe 
hereby  acknowledge  themselves  theremth  to  be  fully  satisfied  and  contented, 
and  thereof  and  of  eveiy  part  thereof,  doe  hereby  acquit,  exhouerate,  and 
discharge  ye  said  M^"  Ralph  King,  William  Bassett,  seu'r,  with  all  and  eveiy  of  ye 
selectmen  aforesaid,  trustees  and  prudentials,  together  with  ye  purchasers  and 
now  proprietors  of  ye  said  townships  of  Lyn  and  of  Reading,  then*  heirs,  execu- 
tors, admuaisti'ators,  and  assigns,  forever,  by  these  presents  have  given,  granted 
and  bargained  a  full  and  a  firme  confii'mation  and  ratification  of  all  grants  of 
courts  and  any  former  alienation  made  by  our  predecessor  or  predecessors 
and  our  own  right,  title  and  interest,  clayme  and  demand  whatsoever,  and  by 
these  presents  doe  fully,  freely,  clearly,  and  absolutely,  give  and  grant  a  full  and 
firm  confii'mation  and  ratification  of  all  grants  of  com'ts,  and  any  sort  of  ahena- 
tion  formerly  made  by  our  predecessor  or  predecessors,  as  alsoe  all  our  owne 
clajTue  of  right,  title,  interest  and  demand  unto  them,  ye  said  M^"  Ralph  King, 
Wilham  Bassett,  and  the  rest,  selectmen  forenamed,  ti-ustees  and  prudentials 
for  ye  towne  of  Lyn,  ye  worshipfuU  M^  John  Browne,  Capt.  Jeremiah  Sweyn, 
and  Leiut.  William  Harsey,  trustees  and  prudentials  for  ye  to^vne  of  Reading, 
to  then-  heu-s  and  assigns  forever,  to  and  for  ye  sole  use,  benefit  and  behoof  of 
ye  purchasers  and  now  proprietors  of  ye  townships  of  Lyim  and  Reading  afore- 
said and  all  ye  said  townships  of  Lynn  and  Reading  jojTiing  one  to  another, 
even  from  the  sea,  where  ye  line  beginneth  between  Lyn  and  Marblehead, 
and  so  between  Lynn  and  Salem,  as  it  is  stated  by  those  townes  and  marked, 
and  so  to  Ipswich  River,  and  so  from  thence  as  it  is  stated  betwixt  Salem  and 
Reading,  and  as  ye  line  is  stated  and  runne  betwixt  Wills  hill,  and  as  is  stated 
and  runne  betwixt  Reading  and  Andover  and  as  it  is  stated  bet^vixt  Obm*ne 
and  Reading,  and  as  it  is  stated  and  rimn  betwixt  Charlestowne,  Maiden,  Lynn 
and  Reading,  and  upon  the  sea  from  ye  line  that  begmneth  at  Lynn,  and  Mar- 
blehead, and  Salem,  to  divide  the  towns  aforesaid,  so  as  well  from  thence  to 
ye  t^vo  Nahants,  viz.  the  httle  Nahant  and  ye  great  Nahant,  as  ye  sea  compass- 
eth  it  almost  round  and  soe  to  ye  river  called  Lynn  River  or  Rumney  Marsh 
River  or  Creeke  vnto  ye  line  from  Brides  Brook  to  ye  said  Creek,  answering 
ye  fine  that  is  stated  between  Lynn  and  Boston,  from  ye  said  Brides  Brook  up 
to  Reading  —  This  said  tract  of  land,  described  as  aforesaid,  together  with 
all  houses,  edifices,  buildings,  lands,  yards,  orchards,  gardens,  meadows, 
marrishes,  fieedings,  grounds,  rocks,  stones,  beach  fflats,  pastures,  commons 
and  commons  of  pasture,  woods,  underwoods,  swamps,  waters,  water- 
com'ses,  damms,  ponds,  fishings,  Sowings,  ways,  easements,  profits,  privileges, 
rights,  commodities,  royalliug,  hereditaments,  and  appurtenances  whatsoever, 
to  y^  said  townslups  of  Lyim  and  Reading  and  other  ye  premises  belonging, 
or  in  any  wise  appertaining,  or  by  them  now  used,  occupied  and  injoyed  as 
part,  parcel  or  member  thereof;  and  also  all  rents,  arrearages  of  rents,  quit 


INDIAN   DEED    OF   LYNN.  53 

rents,  rights  and  appm-tenances  whatsoever,  nothmg  excepted  or  resei-ved,  and 
also  all  deeds,  ^vi-itings,  and  evidences  whatsoever,  touchhig  ye  premises  or 
any  part  or  parcell  thereofl 

To  Have  and  to  Hold  all  ye  said  townships  of  Lynn  and  Reading,  as 
well  as  the  Two  Nahants  aforesaid,  ye  little  and  ye  great  Nahant,  as  they  are 
encompassed  by  ye  sea  with  then*  beaches  from  ye  great  Nahant  to  ye  little, 
and  from  the  little  Nahant  homeward  where  Richard  Hood  now  dwelleth,  and 
so  to  Mr  Kings,  with  all  ye  above  granted  premises,  with  their  and  eveiy  of 
their  rights,  members  and  appurtenances,  and  every  part  and  parcell  thereof, 
hereby  given,  granted  confirmed,  ratified,  unto  y®  said  M^^  Ralph  King,  WiUiam 
Bassett  and  ye  rest  selectmen  in  behalf  of  Lynn,  and  ye  worshipfuU  M^  John 
Browne  and  ye  rest  aforenamed,  for  Reading,  all  trustees  and  prudentials  for 
ye  townships  of  Lyn  and  Reading,  to  them  and  then*  heirs  and  assigns  forever, 
to  and  for  ye  sole  vse,  benefit  and  behoof  of  ye  purchasers  and  now  proprietors 
of  ye  said  townships  of  Lynn  and  Reading;  and  they,  ye  said  David  Kunksha- 
mooshaw  and  Abigail  his  wife,  and  Cicely  alias  Su  George,  the  reputed  daugh 
ter  of  George  No-Nose,  deceased,  and  James  Quonopohit  and  Maiy  his  wife, 
Indians  aforesaid,  for  themselves,  then*  heirs,  executors,  administrators,  and 
assigns,  jointly,  severally,  and  respectively,  doe  hereby  covenant,  promise,  and 
grant  to  and  with  ye  said  Mr  I^ng,  William  Bassett,  sen'r,  and  ye  rest  of  Lynn, 
and  the  worshipfull  Mr  John  Browne  and  ye  rest  of  Readmg,  trustees  and  pru- 
dentials for  ye  townes  of  Lynn  and  Readmg,  as  aforesaid,  then*  heirs  and 
assigns,  and  to  the  pm'chasers  and  now  proprietors  of  ye  said  tovraships  of 
Lyn  and  Reading,  &c.,  in  manner  and  forme  following,  (that  is  to  say,)  that  at 
ye  time  of  this  gi*aunt,  confii-mation  and  alienation  and  untill  the  ensealing  and 
delivery  of  these  presents,  their  ancestor  and  ancestors  and  they,  the  above- 
named  David  and  Abigail  his  now  wife,  and  Cicely  alias  Su  George,  and  ye 
rest  aforenamed  Indians,  were  the  true,  sole,  and  lawful!  owners  of  all  ye  afore- 
bargained,  confirmed,  and  aliened  premises,  and  were  lawfully  seized  off  and 
in  ye  same  and  every  part  thereof  in  their  own  propper  right,  and  have  m  them- 
selves full  power,  good  right,  and  lawfuU  authority  to  grant,  aliene,  confii'm, 
and  assure  ye  same  as  is  afore  described  in  this  deed,  vnto  M^^  Ralph  King, 
William  Bassett,  sen'r,  and  ye  rest  selectmen  of  Lynn,  and  ye  worshipfull  M"^ 
John  Browne  and  ye  rest  aforenamed,  agents  for  Reading,  all  trustees  and 
prudentials  for  ye  two  townships  of  Lyn  and  Reading,  to  them,  their  heks  and 
assigns  forever,  for  ye  use  aforesaid,  viz.  the  benefit  and  behoof  of  ye  purchas- 
ers and  now  proprietors  of  ye  two  townships  aforesaid,  as  a  good,  perfect  and 
absolute  estate  of  inheritance  m  fee  simple  without  any  manner  of  condition, 
reversion  or  limitation  whatsoever,  so  as  to  alter,  change,  or  make  void  y^ 
same,  and  that  ye  said  trustees  aforesaid,  and  ye  purchasers  and  now  proprie 
tors  of  ye  said  townships  of  Lynn  and  Reading,  their  heirs  and  assigns,  shall 
and  may,  by  vertue  and  force  of  these  presents,  from  time  to  time  and  at  all 
times  forever  hereafter,  lawfully,  peaceably,  and  quietly,  have,  hold,  use,  oceu 
py,  possess,  and  injoy,  ye  above  granted,  aliened,  and  confirmed  premises, 
with  ye  appurtenances  and  benefits  thereof,  and  every  part  and  parcell  thereof, 
free  and  clear,  and  clearly  acquitted  and  discharged  off  and  from  all  and  all 


54  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

manner  of  other  gifts,  graunts,  bargaines,  sales,  leases,  mortgages,  jointures, 
dowers,  judgments,  executions,  fibrfeitures,  and  off  and  from  all  other  titles, 
troubles,  charges,  incumbrances,  whatsoever,  had,  made,  committed,  done  or 
suffered  to  be  done  by  the  said  David  and  Abigail  his  wife,  Cicely  alias  Su 
George  and  y^  rest  Indians  aforenamed,  them  or  any  of  them,  or  any  of  their 
heirs  or  assigns,  or  any  of  their  ancestors,  at  any  time  or  times.  And  further, 
that  ye  said  David  Kunkshamoosliaw  and  Abigail  his  wife,  Su  George,  James 
Quonopohit  and  Mary  his  wife,  &c.,  then*  heirs,  executors  and  administrators, 
&c.,  jointly  and  severally  will  and  shall  by  these  presents,  from  time  to  time 
and  at  all  times  hereafter,  warrant  and  defend  their  foregi-anted  and  coniii-med 
premises,  with  their  benefits  and  appurtenances  and  eveiy  part  and  parcell 
thereof,  unto  the  said  trustees  or  prudentials  forenamed  for  y^  townships  of 
Lyn  and  Readmg,  and  their  hehs  and  assigns  forever,  to  and  for  the  sole  use 
and  benefit  of  y^  purchasers  and  now  proprietors  in  and  off  ye  said  townships 
of  Lynn  and  Readmg,  against  all  and  every  person  or  persons  whatsoever  any 
waies  lawfully  clayming  or  demanding  ye  same  or  any  part  or^parcell  thereof. 
And  lastly,  that  they,  ye  said  Da\dd,  and  Su  George,  and  James  Quonopohit, 
&c.,  then-  wives  or  any  of  then-  heirs,  executors,  or  admm'rs,  shall  and  will 
from  time  to  time  and  at  all  times  hereafter,  when  therevnto  requu'ed,  at 
ye  cost  and  charges  of  y^  aforesaid  trustees  and  prudentials,  their  heirs  or 
assigns,  or  y®  purchasers  and  proprietors  of  y"  townships  of  Lynn  and  Read- 
ing, &c.,  doe  make,  acknowledge,  suffer,  all  and  every  such  further  act  and 
acts,  thing  and  things,  assurances  and  conveyances  in  y^  law,  whatsoever,  for 
ye  further  more  better  surety  and  sure  making  of  ye  abovesaid  townships  of 
Ljnin  and  Reading,  with  y®  rights,  hereditaments,  benefits  and  appurtenances 
above  by  these  presents  mentioned  to  be  bargained,  aliened,  confu*med,  vnto 
ye  aforesaid  ti'ustees  and  prudentials,  their  heirs  and  assigns,  for  y^  vse  afore- 
said, as  by  the  said  trustees  aforesaid,  their  heirs  or  assigns,  or  y®  said  proprie- 
tors, or  by  then-  couucill  learned  m  y^  law,  shall  be  reasonably  devised,  advised 
or  requhed. 

In  Witness  Whereof,  y^  said  David  Kunkshamooshaw  and  Abigail  his 
wife,  and  Cicely  alias  Su  George  and  James  Quonopohit  and  Maiy  his  wife, 
have  hereunto  set  then  hands  and  seals,  y^  day  of  ye  date,  being  ye  fomth  day 
of  September,  one  thousand,  six  hundi-ed  eighty  and  six,  annoque  regni  regis 
Jacobus  Secundi  Anglice. 

[This  deed,  it  will  be  seen,  was  intended  to  confirm  and  ratify 
previous  alienations,  as  well  as  to  operate  as  a  release  or  quit- 
claim of  all  the  interest  remaining  in  the  grantors.  The  virtue 
of  the  conveyance,  however,  must  have  existed  mainly  in  the 
release.  But  the  purpose  was  accomplished  in  the  old-fashion 
way,  and  shows  that,  as  before  stated,  there  were  earlier  con- 
veyances. To  this  deed  the  Indian  grantors  affixed  their  marks 
and  seals.  The  marks  of  David  and  Abigail  Kunkshamooshaw, 
are  rude  representations  of  a  bow  and  arrow.     Cicely  alias  Su 


INDIAN    DEED    OF   LYNN.  55 

George  indulges  in  a  modest  flourish.  And  Mary  Ponham,  alias 
Quonopohit,  dashes  off  with  a  figure  that  somewhat  resembles 
an  intoxicated  X,  but  which  may  have  been  intended  for  a  dis- 
guised cross.  The  more  learned  James  Quonopohit  writes  his 
name  in  full.  On  the  whole,  the  signatures  do  not  indicate 
remarkable  accomplishment  in  the  use  of  the  pen ;  but  fortu- 
nately the  value  of  a  sign  manual  does  not  depend  on  the 
chirography.  It  is  not  wonderful  that  such  signatures  put 
Andros  in  mind  of  scratches  of  a  bear's  claw.  A  slip  or  two 
from  the  modern  rules  of  grammar,  may  have  been  noticed ; 
but  it  is  a  wise  provision  that  bad  grammar  shall  not  damage 
a  legal  instrument  if  the  meaning  is  apparent.  Fac-similes  of 
the  marks  are  here  introduced.  They  were  traced  from  the 
record,  which  appears  to  give  very  careful  imitations  of  the 
originals. 


T  "^  07 


INDIAN    SIGNATURES    TO    THE    DEED    OF    LYNN. 

[The  certificate  of  "  Bartho.  Gedney,  one  of  y®  Council,"  says, 
"  All  y®  persons  hereunto  subscribed,  acknowledged  the  within 
written  to  be  their  act  and  deed,  this  31  May,  1687." 

[Since  page  49  was  made  ready,  it  has  occurred  to  me  that 
Mr.  Lewis,  many  year^  ago,  stated  in  one  of  the  papers  that  an 
ancient  Indian  deed  of  Lynn  lands  was  in  possession  of  the  Hart 
family,  as  late  as  1800.  If  he  meant  the  family  of  my  grand- 
father, Joseph  Hart,  who  lived  in  the  old  house  still  standing 
on  Boston  street,  west  corner  of  North  Federal  —  the  same  in 
which  his  unworthy  grandson  first  opened  his  eyes  on  this 
troublous  world  —  it  can  readily  be  imagined  what  may  have 
been  its  fate  ;  as  I  very  well  remember  that  in  my  boyhood  there 
was  in  the  garret  a  large  collection  of  old  papers,  to  which  the 
boys  had  free  access.  The  precious  document,  may,  therefore, 
have  ended  its  career  of  usefulness  in  the  merry  guise  of  a  kite 
tail.  Many  and  many  an  important  document  has  come  to  an 
end  as  inglorious.  And  there  are  doubtless  numbers  still  in 
existence  ordained  to  a  similar  fate.] 


5G  HISTOIJY    OF    LYNN. 

TOPOGRAPHY   AND    PHENOMENA 

Theee  were  but  few  towns  planted  in  Massacbu^setts  before 
the  settlement  of  Lynn.  In  1622,  a  plantation  was  begun  at 
Wejmoutb.  In  1624,  the  Eev.  William  Blackstone,  with  his 
family,  established  himself  at  Boston.  [And  in  the  same  year, 
a  fishing  and  planting  station  was  commenced  at  Cape  Ann. 
The  famous  Roger  Conant  was  appointed  overseer,  in  1625. 
The  settlement,  however,  was  broken  up  in  the  autumn  of  1626, 
and  Conant,  with  most  of  the  company,  removed  from  the  cape, 
and  commenced  the  settlement  of  Salem.  He  brought  up  his 
habitation ;  and  intelligent  antiquarians  aflSrm  that  its  frame  is 
still  doing  service  in  the  quaint  old  edifice  standing  on  the  east 
side  of  Washington  street,  corner  of  Church.]  In  1625,  a 
settlement  was  begun  at  Braintree ;  and  in  1627,  at  Charles" 
town.  On  the  19th  of  March,  1628,  the  Council  in  England  sold 
all  that  part  of  Massachusetts,  between  three  miles  north  of 
Merrimack  River,  and  three  miles  south  of  Charles  River,  to  six 
gentlemen,  one  of  whom  was  Mr.  John  Humfrey,  who  after- 
ward came  to  Lynn. 

Lynn  is  pleasantly  situated  on  tlie  northern  shore  of  Massa- 
chusetts Bay,  between  the  cities  of  Salem  and  Boston.  It 
extends  six  miles  on  the  sea  shore  and  five  miles  into  the  woods. 
[It  will  be  borne  in  mind  that  this  was  w^ritten  while  Nahant 
and  Swampscot  remained  parts  of  Lynn.]  The  southern  por- 
tion of  the  town  is  a  long,  narrow  prairie,  defended  on  the  north 
by  a  chain  of  high,  rocky  hills,  beyond  which  is  an  extensive 
range  of  woodland.  It  is  surrounded  by  abundance  of  water, 
having  the  river  of  Saugus  on  the  west,  the  harbor  on  the  south, 
the  ocean  on  the  southeast,  and  the  lakes  of  Lynn  on  the  north. 
From  the  centre  of  the  southern  side,  a  beach  of  sand  extends 
two  miles  into  the  ocean,  at  the  end  of  which  are  the  two 
peninsular  islands  called  the  Nahants.  This  beach  forms  one 
side  of  the  harbor,  and  protects  it  from  the  ocean.  When  great 
storms  beat  on  this  beach,  and  on  the  cliffs  of  Nahant,  they 
make  a  roaring  which  may  be  heard  six  miles. 

Lynn  is  emphatically  a  region  of  romance  and  beaut3\  Her 
wide-spread  and  variegated  shores  —  her  extended  beaches  — 
her  beautiful  Nahant  —  her  craggy  cHffs,  that  overhang  the 
sea  —  her  hills  of  porphyry  —  her  woodland  lakes  —  her  wild, 


TOPOGRAPHY   AND    PHENOMENA.  57 

secluded  vales  —  her  lovely  groves,  where  sings  the  whip-poor- 
will  —  furnish  fruitful  themes  for  inexhaustible  description ; 
while  the  legends  of  her  forest  kings  and  their  vast  tribes  — 
"  their  feather-cinctured  chiefs  and  dusky  loves/'  will  be  rich 
themes  of  song  a  hundred  ages  hence. 

L^^nn,  as  it  now  exists,  is  much  smaller  than  it  was  before  the 
towns  of  Saugus,  Lynnfield,  Reading,  and  South  Reading  were 
separated  from  it.  It  is  now,  [1844,]  bounded  on  the  west  by 
Saugus,  on  the  northwest  by  Lynnfield,  on  the  north  and  east 
by  Danvers  and  Salem.  The  old  county  road  passes  through 
the  northern  part,  the  Salem  Turnpike  through  the  centre,  and 
the  rail  road  from  Portland  to  Boston  through  the  southern 
part.  The  distance  to  Salem,  on  the  northeast,  is  five  miles ; 
to  Boston,  on  the  southwest,  nine  miles.  It  contains  9360 
acres,  or  fourteen  square  miles ;  and  the  boundary  line  meas 
ures  thirty-four  miles.  It  presents  a  bold  and  rocky  shore, 
consisting  of  craggy  and  precipitous  clifi"s,  interspersed  with 
numerous  bays,  coves,  and  beaches,  which  furnish  a  pleasing 
and  picturesque  variety.  Above  these  rise  little  verdant  mounds 
and  loft}^,  barren  rocks,  and  high  hills,  clothed  with  woods  of 
evergreen.  The  first  settlers  found  the  town,  including  Nahant, 
chiefly  covered  by  forests  of  aged  trees,  which  had  never  been 
disturbed  but  by  the  storms  of  centuries.  On  the  tops  of  an- 
cient oaks,  which  grew  upon  the  0110*8,  the  eagles  built  their 
nests ;  the  wild-cat  and  the  bear  rested  in  their  branches ;  and 
the  fox  and  the  wolf  prowled  beneath.  The  squirrel  made  his 
home  undisturbed  in  the  nut-tree ;  the  wood-pigeon  murmured 
his  sweet  notes  in  the  glen ;  and  the  beaver  constructed  his 
dam  across  the  wild  brook.  The  ponds  and  streams  were  filled 
with  fish ;  and  the  harbor  was  covered  by  sea-fowl,  which  laid 
their  eggs  on  the  cliffs  and  on  the  sands  of  the  beach. 

The  Indian  name  of  the  town  was  Saugus ;  and  by  that  name 
it  was  known  for  eight  years.  The  root  of  this  word  signifies 
great,  or  extended;  and  it  was  probably  applied  to  the  Long 
Beach.  Wood,  in  his  early  map  of  New  England,  places  the 
word  ^'  Sagus  "  on  Sagamore  Hill.  The  river  on  the  west  was 
called  by  the  lud'vdus  Abousett  —  the  word  Saugus  being  applied 
to  it  by  the  white  men.  It  was  called  the  river  at  Saugus,  and 
the  river  of  Saugus,  and  finally  the  Saugus  river;  the   original 


58  HISTORY   OF  LYNN. 

name  "  Abousett "  being  lost  until  I  had  the  pleasure  of  restor- 
ing it.  This  riv^er  has  its  source  in  Reading  Pond,  about  ten 
miles  from  the  sea.  For  the  first  half  of  its  course,  it  is  only 
sufficient  for  a  mill  stream,  but  becomes  broader  towards  its 
mouth,  where  it  is  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  wide.  It  is 
crossed  by  four  bridges  —  that  at  the  Iron  Works  being  about 
60  feet  in  length,  that  on  the  old  Boston  road  about  200,  that 
on  the  Turnpike  480,  and  that  on  the  Eastern  Rail  Road  1550. 
It  is  very  crooked  in  its  course,  flowing  three  miles  in  the  dis- 
tance of  one.  In  several  places,  after  making  a  circuitous  route 
of  half  a  mile,  it  returns  to  within  a  few  rods  of  the  place  whence 
it  deviated.  The  harbor,  into  which  it  flows,  is  spacious,  but 
shoal,  and  does  not  easily  admit  large  vessels. 

Nahaxt,  [which  was  incorporated  as  a  separate  town  in  1853,] 
is  the  original  name  of  the  peninsula  on  the  south  of  Lynn, 
which  has  become  so  celebrated.  [For  some  account  of  the 
early  visits  to  Nahant,  see  pages  27 — 30.]  This  is  probably 
the  Indian  term  Nalianteau,  a  dual  word  signifying  two  united, 
or  twins.  This  name  is  peculiarly  appropriate,  and  is  an 
instance  of  the  felicity  of  Indian  appellations ;  for  the  two 
islands,  like  the  Siamese  twins,  are  not  only  connected  together 
by  the  short  beach,  but  both  are  chained  to  the  main  land  by 
the  long  beach.  [I  have  found  it  elsewhere  stated  that  Nahant, 
in  the  Indian  language,  signified  ''  lover's  walk."]  When  the 
early  settlers  spoke  of  the  larger  promontory,  they  called  it 
Nahant;  but  more  commonly  after  the  manner  of  the  Indians, 
who  talked  of  both  together,  they  called  them  '*'  the  Nahants." 

Great  Nahant  is  two  miles  in  length,  and  about  half  a  mile  in 
breadth,  containing  five  hundred  acres,  and  is  six  and  one  quar- 
ter miles  in  circumference.  It  is  surrounded  by  steep,  craggy 
clifi's,  rising  from  twenty  to  sixty  feet  above  the  tide,  with  a 
considerable  depth  of  water  below.  The  rocks  present  a  great 
variety  of  color  —  white,  green,  blue,  red,  purple,  and  gray  — 
and  in  some  places  ver}^  black  and  shining,  having  the  appear- 
ance of  iron.  The  clifi's  are  pierced  by  many  deep  fissures, 
caverns  and  grottos ;  and  between  these  are  numerous  coves, 
and  beaches  of  fine,  shining,  silvery  sand,  crowned  by  ridges 
of  various  colored  pebbles,  interspersed  with  sea-shells.  Above 
the  clifi's,  the  promontory  sw^ells  into  mounds  from  sixty  to  ninety 


IRE.Ni-:  S    Gilo  i  TO. 


TOPOGRAPHY    AND    PHENOMENA.  —  (NAHANT.)  59 

feet  in  Leight.  There  are  many  remarkable  cliffs  and  caves 
around  Nahant,  which  are  very  interesting  to  the  lovers  of 
natural  curiosities. 

The  Swallows'  Cave  is  a  passage  beneath  a  high  cliff,  on  the 
southeastern  part  of  Nahant.  The  entrance  is  eight  feet  high 
and  ten  wide.  Inside,  it  is  fourteen  feet  wide,  and  nearly  twen- 
ty feet  in  height.  Toward  the  centre  it  becomes  narrower,  and 
at  the  distance  of  seventy-two  feet,  opens  into  the  sea.  It  may 
be  entered  about  half  tide,  and  passing  through,  you  may  ascend 
to  the  height  above,  without  returning  through  the  cave.  At 
high  tide  the  water  rushes  through  with  great  fury.  The  swal- 
lows formerly  inhabited  this  cave  in  great  numbers,  and  built 
their  nests  on  the  irregularities  of  the  rock  above ;  but  the 
multitude  of  visitors  have  frightened  them  mostly  away. 

In  delineating  this  delightful  cavern,  majiy  a  vision   of  early 

romance  rises  lovelily  before  me, 

And  presses  forward  to  be  in  my  song, 
But  must  not  now. 

It  is  not  allowable  for  a  serious  historian  to  indulge  in  discur- 
sions  of  fancy,  else  might  I  record  many  a  legend  of  love  and 
constancy,  which  has  been  transmitted  down  from  the  olden 
time,  in  connection  with  this  rude  and  romantic  scenery.  Here 
came  the  Indian  maid,  in  all  her  artlessness  of  beauty,  to  lave 
her  limbs  in  the  enamored  water.  Here  came  Wenuchus  and 
Yawata,  and  other  daughters  of  the  forest,  to  indulge  the  guslr 
ings  of  their  love,  which  they  had  learned,  not  in  the  pages  of 
Burns  or  Byron,  but  in  God's  beautiful  book  of  the  unsophisti- 
cated human  heart.  Here,  too,  the  cliffs  now  washed  by  the 
pure  waves,  and  dried  by  many  a  summer  sun,  have  been  pur- 
pled by  the  blood  of  human  slaughter ;  and  perhaps  this  very 
cavern  has  sheltered  some  Indian  mother  or  daughter  from  the 
tomahawk  of  the  remorseless  foe  of  her  nation.  Here  also,  in 
later  times,  have  lovers  pledged  their  warm  and  fond  affections  — 
happy  if  the  succeeding  realities  of  life  have  not  frustrated  the 
vision  of  happiness  here  formed. 

Southward  from  the  Swallows'  Cave  is  Pea  Island,  an  irregu. 
lar  rock,  about  twenty  rods  broad.  It  has  some  soil  on  it,  on 
which  the  sea  pea  grows.  It  is  united  to  the  Swallows'  Cliff 
by  a  little  isthmus,  or  beach  of  sand,  thirteen  rods  long. 


60  HISTORY   OF   LYNN. 

Eastward  from  Pea  Island  are  two  long,  low,  black  ledges, 
lying  in  the  w^ater  and  covered  at  high  tides,  called  the  Shag 
Rocks.     Several  vessels  have  been  wrecked  on  them. 

Passing  from  the  Swallows'  Cave  along  the  rocks,  near  the 
edge  of  the  water,  to  the  western  side  of  the  same  cliff,  you 
come  to  Irene's  Grotto  —  a  tall  arch,  singularly  grotesque  and 
beautiful,  leading  to  a  large  room  in  the  rock.  This  is  one  of 
the  greatest  curiosities  on  Nahant,  and  was  formerly  much  more 
so  until  sacrilegious  hands  broke  down  part  of  the  roof  above, 
to  obtain  stone  for  building. 

Eastward  from  Swallows'  Cave  is  Pulpit  Rock  —  a  vast  block, 
about  thirty  feet  in  height,  and  nearly  twenty  feet  square,  stand- 
ing boldly  out  in  the  tide.  On  the  top  is  an  opening,  forming  a 
seat ;  but  from  the  steepness  of  the  rock  on  all  sides,  it  is  diffi- 
cult of  access.  The  upper  portion  of  the  rock  has  a  striking 
resemblance  to  a  pile  of  great  books.  This  rock  is  so  peculiarly 
unique  in  its  situation  and  character,  that  if  drawings  were  made 
of  it  from  three  sides,  they  would  scarcely  be  supposed  to  rep- 
resent the  same  object. 

The  Natural  Bridge  is  near  Pulpit  Rock.  It  is  a  portion  of 
the  cliff  forming  an  arch  across  a  deep  gorge,  from  which  you 
look  down  upon  the  rocks  and  tide,  twenty  feet  below. 

Near  East  Point  is  a  great  gorge,  overhung  by  a  precipice  on 
either  side,  called  the  Cauldron  Cliff;  in  which,  especially  during 
great  storms,  the  water  boils  with  tremendous  force  and  fury. 
On  the  right  of  this,  descending  another  way,  is  the  Roaring 
Cavern  ;  having  an  aperture  beneath  the  rock,  through  which 
you  hear  the  roaring  of  the  Cauldron  Cliff. 

On  the  northeastern  side  of  Nahant,  at  the  extremity  of  Cedar 
Point,  is  Castle  Rock,  an  immense  pile,  bearing  a  strong  resem- 
blance to  the  ruins  of  an  old  castle.  The  battlements  and  but- 
tresses are  strongly  outlined ;  and  the  square  openings  in  the 
sides,  especially  when  thrown  into  deep  shadow,  appear  like 
doors,  windows,  and  embrasures.  Indeed  the  whole  of  Nahant 
has  the  appearance  of  a  strongly  fortified  place. 

Northwest  from  Castle  Rock  is  the  Spouting  Horn.     It  is  a 

•  winding  fissure  in  the  lower  projecting  bed  of  the  cliff,  in  the 

form  of  a  horn,  passing  into  a  deep  cavern  under  the  rock.     The 

water  is  driven  through  a  tunnel,  formed  by  two  walls  of  rock, 


CAST  I,  E    HO  OX. 


I'tlLPIT   BOCK, 


TOPOGRAPHY    AND    PHENOMENA.  —  (NAHANT.)  61 

about  one  hundred  feet,  and  is  then  forced  into  the  cavern,  from 
which  it  is  spouted,  with  great  violence,  in  foam  and  spray.  In 
a  great  easterly  storm,  at  half  flood,  when  the  tide  is  coming  in 
with  all  its  power,  the  water  is  driven  into  this  opening  with  a 
force  that  seems  to  jar  the  foundations  of  the  solid  rock ;  and 
each  wave  makes  a  sound  like  subterranean  thunder.  The  cliff 
rises  abruptly  forty  feet  above,  but  there  is  a  good  descent  to 
the  mouth  of  the  tunnel. 

Westward  from  the  Spouting  Horn  is  a  large  black  ledge, 
called  the  Iron  Mine,  from  its  great  resemblance  to  that  mineral. 
It  embraces  a  singular  cavity,  called  the  Dashing  Rock. 

At  the  northwestern  extremity  of  Nahant,  is  John's  Peril,  a 
vast  fissure  in  the  cliff,  forty  feet  perpendicular.  It  received  its 
name  from  the  following  anecdote  :  John  Breed,  one  of  the  early 
inhabitants  of  Nahant,  one  day  attempted  to  drive  his  team  be- 
tween a  rock  on  the  hill  and  this  cliff.  The  passage  being 
narrow,  and  finding  his  team  in  great  peril,  he  hastily  unfast- 
ened his  oxen ;  and  the  cart,  falling  down  the  precipice,  was 
dashed  in  pieces  on  the  rocks  below. 

Directly  in  front  of  Nahant,  at  the  distance  of  three-fourths 
of  a  mile,  on  the  east,  is  Egg  Rock,  [which  is  an  extension  of 
the  ledge  on  the  eastern  side  of  Nahant.]  It  rises  abruptly 
from  the  sea,  eighty-six  feet  in  height.  Its  shape  is  oval,  being 
forty-five  rods  in  length,  and  twelve  in  breadth,  containing 
about  three  acres.  Near  the  summit  is  half  an  acre  of  excellent 
soil  covered  with  rank  grass.  The  gulls  lay  their  eggs  here  in 
abundance,  whence  the  rock  derives  its  name.  The  approach 
to  this  rock  is  dangerous,  except  in  calm  weather,  and  there  is 
but  one  good  landing  place,  which  is  on  the  western  side.  Its 
shape  and  colors  are  highly  picturesque.  Viewed  from  the  north 
it  has  the  semblance  of  a  couchant  lion,  lying  out  in  front  of  the 
town,  to  protect  it  from  the*  approach  of  a  foreign  enemy  — 
meet  emblem  of  the  spirit  which  slumbers  on  our  shores.  [Egg 
Rock  was  ceded  to  the  United  States  in  1856,  and  a  light  house 
was  immediately  after  erected  upon  it.  The  light  was  shown 
for  the  first  time  on  the  night  of  15  Sept.  1857.  It  would 
certainly  have  been  more  convenient,  and  perhaps  quite  as  use- 
ful, on  the  point  of  Nahant ;  but  its  appearance  would  not  have 
been  so  picturesque.     The   cost  of  the  building  was   $3,700. 


62  HISTORY   OF   LYNN. 

Mr.  Lewis  exerted  himself  with  a  good  deal  of  zeal  and  pertin- 
acity to  secure  the  establishment  of  this  light  house.] 

South  of  Nahant  is  a  dangerous  rock,  covered  at  high  tide, 
called  Sunk  Rock.  On  the  western  side,  at  the  entrance  of  the 
harbor,  is  a  cluster  of  rocks  called  the  Lobster  Rocks. 

Nahant  has  always  been  a  place  of  interest  to  the  lovers  of 
natural  scenery,  and  has  long  been  visited  in  the  summer  season 
by  parties  of  pleasure,  who,  when  there  were  no  hotels,  cooked 
their  chowders  on  the  rocks.     Few  of  the  numerous  visitors  at 
Nahant  have  any  idea  of  the  place  in  its  primitive  simplicity, 
when  its  advantages  were  known  and  appreciated  by  a  limited 
number  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  metropolis  and  neighboring 
towns.     Accommodations  for  visitors  were  then  circumscribed, 
and  food  was  not  very  abundant.     A  chicken,  knocked  down  by 
a  fishing-pole  in  the  morning,  and  cooked  at  dinner,  served  to 
increase  the  usual  meal  of  fish,  and  was  regarded  as  one  of  the 
luxuries  of  the  place.     But  notwithstanding  the  inconveniences 
to  which  visitors  were   subjected,  several  families  from  Boston 
passed  the  whole  summer  in  the  close  quarters  of  the  village. 
Hon.  James  T.  Austin,  Hon.  William  Sullivan,  Hon.  William  Minot, 
Charles  Bradbury,  Esq.,  Rufus  Amory,  Esq.,  and  Marshall  Prince, 
were  among  those  who  early  and  annually  visited  the  rock-bound 
peninsula  with  their  families.     At   this   time,   Nahant  did   not 
boast  of  a  house  from  Bass  Beach  round  by  East  Point  to  Bass 
Rock.     The  whole  of  the  space  now  dotted  by  luxurious  cot- 
tages and  cultivated  soil,  was  a  barren  waste,  covered  by  short, 
brown  grass,  tenanted  by  grasshoppers  and  snakes.     The  strag- 
gler 'to  East  Point,  Pulpit  Rock,  and  Swallows'  Cave,  found  his 
path  impeded  by  stone   walls  —  while   the  rest  of  the   island, 
excepting  the  road  through  the  village,  was  a  terra  incognita  to 
all,  save  the  old  islanders  and  a  few  constant  visitors.     Subse- 
quently, Rouillard  opened  a  house  in  the  village,  which  accom- 
modated the  numbers  who  were  beginning   to   appreciate  the 
beauties  of  the  place.     At  this  time,  no  artificial  rules  of  society 
marred  the  comfort  of  the  visitors.     There  was  no  dressing  for 
dinners  —  no   ceremonious    calls.     No   belles   brought  a   ward- 
robe, made  up  in  the  latest  fashion  of  the  day ;  and  no  beaux 
confined  and   cramped  their  limbs  with  tight  coats,  strapped 
pants,  and  high-heeled  boots.     Visitors  shook  ofi"  the  restraints 


TOPOGRAPHY  AND  PHENOMENA  —  (NAHANT.)         63 

of  society,  and  assimilated  themselves  in  some  degree  to  the 
rugged  character  of  the  scenery  around  them.  Parties  were 
frequently  made,  and  whole  days  passed  by  them  in  the  Swal- 
lows'Cave  and  on  the  adjacent  rocks  —  the  ladies  with  their 
sewing  and  books,  while  the  men  amused  themselves  in  shooting 
or  fishing,  and  the  children  in  picking  up  pebbles  and  shells  on 
the  beaches.  One  of  the  first  improvements  made  at  Nahant, 
was  a  bathing-house  at  the  southern  extremity  of  Bass  Beach, 
built  under  the  direction  of  James  Magee,  Esq.,  whose  name 
became  associated  with  most  of  the  early  improvements.  Since 
the  citizens  of  Boston  took  Nahant  into  their  patronage,  its 
improvement  has  been  rapid,  and  it  now  presents  the  appear- 
ance of  a  romantic  town,  sparkling  in  the  ocean  waves. 

Among  the  benefactors  of  Nahant,  no  one  is  deserving  of 
higher  commendation  than  Frederic  Tudor,  Esq.,  who  has  built 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  rustic  cottages  in  the  country,  and 
has  expended  many  thousand  dollars  to  improve  and  beautify 
the  place,  by  constructing  side-walks,  and  planting  several  thou- 
sands of  fruit  and  ornamental  trees,  both  on  his  own  grounds, 
and  in  the  public  walks.  He  has  converted  a  barren  hill  into  a 
garden,  which  has  produced  some  of  the  richest  and  most  deli- 
cious fruits  and  vegetables  that  have  been  presented  at  the 
horticultural  exhibitions. 

[In  1860,  Mr.  Tudor  commenced  those  improvements  in  the 
vicinity  of  North  Spring,  or  Cold  Spring,  as  it  has  been  indis- 
criminately called,  which  have  already  added  much  to  its  natural 
attractions.  For  generation  after  generation  this  locality  has 
been  a  favorite  place  of  resort.  The  little  stream  which  gave 
rise  to  the  name  has  never  ceased  to  leap  joj^ously  from  its 
paternal  fountain  somewhere  in  the  bowels  of  the  rocky  hill, 
and  unmurmuringly  trickle  on  to  add  its  mite  to  the  waters  of 
the  craving  ocean — just  as  joyously  when  it  fell  on  the  rough 
bed  of  rock  that  nature  made  ready  for  it,  as  it  now  does  upon 
the  marble  bed,  which  the  hand  of  art  prepared.  And  may  it 
not,  after  these  many  ages  of  small  but  ceaseless  contribution, 
modestly  claim  to  have  performed  some  service  in  the  filling 
up  of  the  great  sea?  Here,  upon  the  rough  rocks,  the  parties 
of  old  were  accustomed  to  cook  their  chowders,  made  of  fish 
caught  from  the  abundance  that  sported  at  their  very  feet  — 


64  HISTORY   OP   LYNN. 

the  drift-wood  at  hand  being  sufficient  for  the  fires,  and  the 
sparkhng  spring  supplying  all  demands  of  thirst.  Under  the 
shade  of  the  few  old  forest  trees  that  still  remained  upon  the 
upland,  the  happy  visitors  partook  of  their  repast,  and  contem- 
plated the  glorious  scene  spread  out  to  view.  But  art  has  come 
in  and  shaken  hands  with  nature.  And  the  Maolis  (Siloam) 
Grounds  have  conveniences,  in  the  unique  erections  and  well- 
ordered  appointments,  to  meet  the  wants  of  a  genteeler  age. 

[The  most  striking  of  the  works  of  art,  in  this  vicinity,  is  the 
Rock  Temple.  It  is  reared  upon  an  elevated  ledge,  a  little 
southeast  of  the  old  North  Spring  road,  and  a  few  rods  above  the 
ever-dashing  waves.  Its  circumference  is  about  a  hundred  and 
twenty  feet,  and  it  consists  of  eight  irregular  columns  of  strati- 
fied rock,  resting  upon  bases  formed  of  ponderous  concrete 
stones,  some  of  several  tons  weight,  supporting  an  octagonal 
roof  of  heavy  timber,  covered  with  bark  and  other  material  in 
keeping  with  the  rugged  appearance  of  the  columns,  which  are, 
including  their  bases,  from  twelve  to  fifteen  feet  in  height, 
varying  according  to  the  inequalities  of  the  surface  on  which 
they  rest.  Sundry  mythological  denizens  of  the  deep,  glisten 
in  gilded  honor  upon  the  gables  and  challenge  the  study  of  the 
curious.     This  attractive  edifice  was  reared  in  1861. 

[The  contemplations  of  visitors  who  seat  themselves  in  the 
Rock  Temple,  must  vary  according  to  their  peculiarities  of  mind, 
habits  of  thought,  and  education.  To  some,  visions  of  classic 
days  will  arise  —  days  when  philosophy  and  poetry  were  taught 
amid  the  inspiring  scenes  of  nature  —  when  the  grove,  the  hill- 
top and  the  sounding  shore  were  schools  —  and,  perhaps,  lost 
in  contemplation,  they  will  glance  around  for  the  appearance 
of  the  robed  sage  appointed  there  to  minister.  To  others, 
weird  visions  may  be  suggested  —  visions  of  old  Druidical  days, 
when  through  the  open  temple  of  rock  the  wild  winds  moaned 
as  if  in  solemn  unison  with  the  wail  of  the  disturbed  spirits 
who  lingered  there  —  and  they,  too,  lost  in  contemplation,  may 
glance  around  for  the  shaven  priest  and  bound  victim. 

[But  all  who  come  hither  with  unstraying  thoughts  may  enjoy 
one  of  the  most  captivating  scenes  that  nature  ever  provided 
for  the  eye  of  man.  In  the  quiet  sleeping  of  the  ocean,  beneath 
a  cloudless  sky  —  her  swelling  bosom  traversed  by  white  sails, 


TOPOGRAPHY  AND  PHENOMENA — (NAHANT.) 


65 


scudding  in  all  directions,  with  the  dark  trains  of  steamers 
fading  away  on  the  horizon,  and  the  sunlight  gilding  her  dan- 
cing ripples  —  he  beholds  a  picture  of  rare  beauty,  the  effect 
of  which  is  vastly  heightened  bj  the  inland  background.  The 
hills,  the  woods,  the  rocks,  the  habitations,  the  towering  church 
spires,  the  sandy  ridge,  the  distant  shore,  all  lend  their  charms. 
And  here  the  visitor  may  also  sit  and  witness  the  stern  gran- 
deur of  the  ocean  storm  —  sit  tremblingly  a-watch,  while  the 
eternal  rocks  themselves  seem  to  recoil  from  the  assaulting 
billows  —  when  by  the  midnight  lightning's  gleam  the  power- 
less ship,  perchance,  may  be  discerned  dashing  furiously  onward 
to  her  doom  among  the  jagged  cliffs.  And  may  it  not  be,  too, 
that  during  years  to  come  this  temple  will  be  resorted  to  by 
lovers  on  their  moonlight  strolls.  Here  may  they  sit  and  whis- 
per their  sweet  dreams,  with  hopes  as  bright  and  souls  as  placid, 
as  the  beams  that  rock  upon  the  wave.  And  may  their  happy 
dreams  prove  verities.] 


BOCK  TEMPLE,  (mAOLIS    GROUNDS,)   NAHANT. 


F* 


66  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

Little  Nahaut,  is  one  hundred  and  forty  rods  long,  and  seventy 
broad,  containing  forty  acres.  It  is  a  hill,  consisting  of  two 
graceful  elevations,  rising  eighty  feet  above  the  sea,  and  defend- 
ed by  great  battlements  of  rock,  from  twenty  to  sixty  feet  in 
height.  On  the  southern  side  are  two  deep  gorges,  called  the 
Great  and  Little  Furnace.  Between  these  is  Mary's  Grotto,  a 
spacious  room,  twenty-four  feet  square,  and  twenty  in  height, 
opening  into  the  sea.  It  was  formerly  completely  roofed  by  a 
great  arched  rock ;  but  some  of  those  persons  who  have  no 
veneration  for  the  sublime  works  of  Nature,  have  broken  down 
a  large  portion  of  it.  On  the  north  side  of  Little  Nahant  is  a 
fissure  called  the  Wolf's  Cave. 

[Interesting  erratic  rocks  have  been  observed  at  Little  Na- 
hant  —  on  the  western  side,  a  boulder  of  fine  pudding  stone, 
twenty-six  feet  in  circumference  ;  a  granite  boulder,  thirty-six 
feet  in  circumference ;  a  brecciated  boulder,  thirty-six  feet  in 
circumference,  half  buried  in  sand  ;  —  on  the  southern  side,  a 
granite  boulder,  thirty-four  feet  in  circumference  ;  a  split  boul- 
der, irregular,  forty-six  feet  in  circumference  ;  an  irregular  brec- 
ciated boulder,  forty-nine  feet  in  circumference,  weighing  about 
a  hundred  and  sixty  tons ;  —  on  the  summit,  near  East  Point,  a 
split  boulder,  forty-six  feet  in  circumference.] 

Little  Nahant  is  connected  to  Great  Nahant  by  Nahant  Beach, 
which  is  somewhat  more  than  half  a  mile  in  length,  of  great 
smoothness  and  beauty. 

Lynn  Beach,  which  connects  the  Nahants  to  the  main  land, 
is  two  miles  in  length  on  the  eastern  side,  and  two  and  a  half 
miles  on  the  western.  It  is  an  isthmus,  or  causeway,  of  fine, 
shining,  gray  sand,  forming  a  curve,  and  rising  so  high  in  the 
centre  as  generally  to  prevent  the  tide  from  passing  over.  On 
the  w^estern  side  it  slopes  to  the  harbor,  and  on  the  eastern  side 
to  the  ocean.  The  ocean  side  is  most  beautiful,  as  here  the  tide 
flows  out  about  thirty-three  rods,  leaving  a  smooth,  polished 
surface  of  compact  sand,  so  hard  that  the  horse's  hoof  scarcely 
makes  a  print,  and  the  wheel  passes  without  sound.  It  fre- 
quently retains  sufficient  lustre  after  the  tide  has  left  it,  to  give 
it  the  appearance  of  a  mirror ;  and  on  a  cloudy  day  the  traveler 
may  see  the  perfect  image  of  his  horse  reflected  beneath,  with 
the  clouds  below,  and  can  easily  imagine  himself  to  be  passing, 


TOPOGRAPHS  AND  PHENOMENA.  67 

like  a  spirit,  through  a  world  of  shadows  —  a  brightly  mirrored 
emblem  of  his  real  existence! 

It  is  difficult,  perhaps  impossible,  to  convey  to  the  mind  of  a 
reader  who  has  never  witnessed  the  prospect,  an  idea  of  the 
beauty  and  sublimity  of  this  beach,  and  of  the  absolute  magnifi- 
cence of  the  surrounding  scenery.  A  floor  of  sand,  two  miles 
in  length,  and  more  than  nine  hundred  feet  in  breadth,  at  low 
tide,  bounded  on  two  sides  by  the  water  and  the  sk}^,  and  pre- 
senting a  surface  so  extensive  that  two  milHons  of  p^^nle  might 
stand  upon  it,  is  certainly  a  view  which  the  universe  cuii...  & 
parallel.  This  beach  is  composed  of  movable  particles  of  sand, 
so  small  that  two  thousand  of  them  would  not  make  a  grain  as 
large  as  the  head  of  a  pin ;  yet  these  movable  atoms  have  with- 
stood the  whole  immense  power  of  the  Atlantic  ocean  for  cen- 
turies, perhaps  from  the  creation  ! 

There  are  five  beaches  on  the  shores  of  Lynn,  [Including 
Swampscot,]  and  sixteen  around  Nahant.  The  names  of  these, 
beginning  at  the  east,  are  Phillips'  —  Whale  —  Swampscot  — 
Humfrey's  —  Lynn  —  Nahant  —  Stoney  —  Bass  —  Canoe  —  Ba- 
thing—  Pea  Island — Joseph's — Curlew — Crystal — Dorothy's — 
Pond  — Lewis's  —  Coral  —  Reed  — Johnson's  —  and  Black  Rock 
beaches.  These  together  have  an  extent  of  nine  miles,  and 
most  of  them  are  smooth  and  beautiful.  Great  quantities  of 
kelp  and  rock  weed  are  thrown  upon  these  beaches  by  storms, 
which  are  gathered  by  the  farmers  for  the  enrichment  of  their 
lands. 

Swampscot  is  the  original  Indian  name  of  the  fishing  village 
at  the  eastern  part  of  the  town.  [It  was  incorporated  as  a 
separate  town,  21  May,  1852.]  This  is  a  place  of  great  natural 
beauty,  bearing  a  strong  resemblance  to  the  Bay  of  Naples.  On 
the  west  of  Swampscot  is  a  pleasant  rock,  called  Black  Will's 
Cliflf,  from  an  Indian  sagamore  who  resided  there.  On  the 
east  is  a  low  and  very  dangerous  ledge  of  rocks  extending  into 
the  sea,  called  Dread  Ledge.  The  clififs,  coves,  and  beaches  at 
Swampscot  are  admirably  picturesque,  and  vie  with  those  of 
Nahant  in  romantic  beauty. 

There  are  numerous  building  sites  of  surpassing  loveliness, 
not  only  at  Nahant  and  Swampscot,  but  throughout  Lynn ;  and 
when  a  better  taste  in  architecture  shall  prevail,  and  the  town 


68  HISTORY   OF   LYNN. 

becomes  as  highly  ornamented  by  art  as  it  has  been  by  nature, 
it  will  perhaps  be  surpassed  by  no  town  in  the  Union.  I  have 
long  endeavored  to  introduce  a  style  of  architecture  which  shall 
be  in  harmony  with  the  wild  and  natural  beauty  of  the  scenery  — 
a  style  in  which  the  cottages  shall  appear  to  grow  out  of  the 
rocks  and  to  be  born  of  the  woods.  In  some  instances  I  have 
succeeded,  but  most  people  have  been  too  busy  in  other  occupa- 
tions to  study  a  cultivated  and  harmonizing  taste.  When  a 
style  of  rural  refinement  shall  prevail  —  when  the  hills  and  cliffs 
shall  be  adorned  with  buildings  in  accordance  with  the  scenery 
around  —  and  when  men,  instead  of  cutting  down  every  tree 
and  shrub,  shall  re-clothe  nature  with  the  drapery  of  her  appro- 
priate foliage,  Lynn  will  appear  much  more  lovely  and  interest- 
ing than  at  present.  [But  Mr.  Lewis  himself  lived  to  see  the 
day  of  better  taste  arrive.  The  style  of  architecture  has  won- 
derfully  improved  within  the  last  twenty  years.  And  could  all 
the  elegant  residences  that  are  now  scattered  in  every  direc- 
tion, be  gathered  into  one  quarter,  they  would  form  an  array 
which  could  be  equalled  by  few  places  out  of  the  leading  cities. 
Our  romantic  hills  are  beginning  to  be  adorned  by  structures 
becoming  in  style  and  challenging  the  admiration  of  the  traveler. 
Some  of  the  most  beautiful  gardens  in  New  England  are  like- 
wise here  to  be  found.  Our  newly-erected  manufactories  are 
on  a  far  more  extensive  and  durable  scale  than  the  old.  And 
our  streets  and  other  public  places  have  been  greatly  beautified 
by  the  planting  of  numerous  ornamental  trees.  In  short,  it 
may  be  fairly  claimed  that  the  external  progress  of  Lynn  has 
kept  pace  with  her  moral  and  intellectual  advancement.] 

The  eminences  in  different  parts  of  the  town,  furnish  a  great 
variety  of  pleasing  prospects.  High  Rock,  near  the  centre  of 
the  town,  is  an  abrupt  cliff,  one  hundred  and  seventy  feet  in 
height.  The  view  from  this  rock  is  very  extensive  and  beauti- 
ful. On  the  east  is  the  pleasant  village  of  Swampscot,  with  its 
cluster  of  slender  masts,  and  its  beaches  covered  with  boats  — 
Baker's  island  with  its  light  —  the  white  towers  of  Marblehead  — 
and  the  distant  headland  of  Cape  Ann.  On  the  right  is  Bunker 
Hill,  with  its  obelisk  of  granite  —  the  majestic  dome,  and  the 
lofty  spires  of  Boston  —  the  beautiful  green  islands,  with  the 
forts  and  light  houses  in  the  Bay  —  and  ftir  beyond,  the  Blue 


TOPOGRAPHY    AND    PHENOMENA.  69 

Hills,  softly  mingling  with  the  sky.  On  the  north  is  a  vast 
range  of  hill  and  forest,  above  which  rises  the  misty  summit  of 
Wachusett.  Before  you  is  the  town  of  Lynn,  with  its  white 
houses  and  green  trees  —  the  rail-road  cars  gliding  as  if  by 
magic  across  the  landscape  —  the  Long  Beach,  stretching  out 
in  its  beauty  —  the  dark  rocks  of  Nahant,  crowned  with  roman- 
tic cottages  —  Egg  Rock,  in  its  solitary  dignity — and  the  vast 
ocean,  spreading  out  in  its  interminable  grandeur.  There  too 
may  be  seen  a  hundred  dories  of  the  fishermen,  skimming  lightly 
over  the  waves  —  the  Swampscot,  jiggers,  bounding  like  sea 
birds  over  the  billows  —  a  hundred  ships,  ploughing  the  deep 
waters — and  the  mighty  steamers  wending  their  way  to  and 
from  England.  The  whole  is  a  splendid  panorama  of  the  mag- 
nificent Bay  of  Massachusetts. 

Lover's  Leap  is  a  beautiful  and  romantic  elevation  near  the 
northern  end  of  Grove  street,  and  a  mile  northwest  from  High 
Rock.  It  is  a  steep  clifi*,  on  the  side  of  a  hill  clothed  with  wood, 
one  hundred  and  thirty-three  feet  in  height  —  that  is,  thirtj^-three 
feet  to  the  base  of  the  hill,  and  one  hundred  feet  above.  It 
furnishes  a  pleasant  view  of  a  large  portion  of  the  town. 

Pine  Hill  is  half  a  mile  west  from  Lover's  Leap.  It  is  two 
hundred  and  twenty-four  feet  in  height.  The  southwestern 
extremity  of  this  hill  is  called  Sadler's  Rock,  which  is  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty-six  feet  high.  A  small  distance  northward  of  this, 
is  a  clifi",  by  the  road  side,  which  was  struck  by  lightning  in  1807, 
when  a  portion  of  the  rock,  about  12  tons  weight,  was  split  off, 
and  thrown  nearly  two  hundred  feet;  the  bolt  leaving  its  deep 
traces  down  the  side  of  the  rock.  A  few  rods  beyond,  where 
the  road  is  crossed  by  a  brook,  is  a  flat  rock,  in  which  is  im- 
pressed the  print  of  a  cloven  foot,  apparently  that  of  a  cow  or 
moose.  A  stone,  lying  near,  bears  the  deep  impress  of  a  child's 
feet. 

Sagamore  Hill  is  a  very  pleasant  eminence  at  the  northern 
end  of  Long  Beach,  sixty-six  feet  in  height.  It  slopes  to  the 
harbor  on  one  side,  and  to  the  ocean  on  the  other,  and  has  the 
town  lying  beautifully  in  the  back  ground.  [Since  this  was 
written  Sagamore  Hill  has  become  covered  by  residences,  some 
of  them  very  fine,  and  affording  charming  landscape  and  marine 
views.]     Haifa  mile  eastward  is  Red  Rock,  which  forms  a  very 


70  HISTORY   OF   LYNX. 

pretty  little  promontory  in  the  ocean.  Many  spots  in  the  hills 
and  forests  of  Lynn  are  beautifully  wild  and  romantic.  There 
is  a  delightful  walk  on  the  eastern  bank  of  Saugus  River,  which 
passes  through  one  of  the  loveliest  pine  groves  imaginable.  On 
the  eastern  side  of  this  river  also  is  the  Pirates'  Glen,  respecting 
which  a  legend  will  be  found  under  date  1658.  The  view  from 
Round  Hill,  in  Saugus,  is  delightful. 

There  are  seven  ponds  in  Lynn,  several  of  which  are  large, 
having  the  appearance  of  little  lakes.  Their  names  are  Cedar  — 
Tomlins's  —  Flax  —  Lily  —  Floating  Bridge  —  Phillips^s  —  In- 
galls's.  And  there  is  Bear  Pond,  on  Nahant.  The  first  three 
of  these  are  connected  with  Saugus  River  by  Strawberry  Brook, 
on  which  are  many  mills  and  factories.  The  margins  of  some 
of  these  lakes  are  very  pleasant,  and  will  probably,  at  some  more 
tasteful  period,  be  adorned  with  beautiful  villas  and  delightful 
cottages.  The  water  in  Tomlins's  Pond  is  sixty  feet  above  the 
ocean.  Floating  Bridge  Pond  is  crossed  by  a  bridge  which 
floats  on  the  water.  It  is  four  hundred  and  fifty-six  feet  in 
length,  and  is  quite  a  curiosity,  reminding  one  of  the  Persian 
bridge  of  boats  across  the  Hellespont. 

Springs,  are  abundant  —  some  of  them  exceedingly  cold  and 
pure,  and  good  water  is  easily  obtained.  [William  Wood,  the 
early  Lynn  settler  and  author  of  New  England's  Prospect,  be- 
fore alluded  to,  was  delighted  with  the  water  hereabout.  He 
says,  '^  it  is  farr  different  from  the  waters  of  England,  being  not 
so  sharp  but  of  a  fatter  substance,  and  of  a  more  jettie  color ; 
it  is  thought  there  can  be  no  better  water  in  the  world ;  yet  dare 
I  not  prefer  it  before  good  beere,  as  some  have  done ;  but  any 
man  will  choose  it  before  bad  beere,  whey,  or  buttermilk."] 
There  are  several  fine  springs  at  Nahant,  particularly  North 
Spring,  wdiich  is  remarkably  cold,  flowing  from  an  aperture 
beneath  a  cliff,  into  w^iich  the  sun  never  shines.  [See  page 
63,  for  notice  of  recent  improvements  in  this  neighborhood.] 
One  of  the  early  inhabitants  of  Nahant,  having  a  violent  fever, 
asked  for  water,  which,  as  usual  in  such  cases,  was  denied  him ; 
but,  watching  an  opportunity,  he  escaped  from  his  bed,  ran  half 
a  mile  to  this  spring,  drank  as  much  water  as  he  wanted,  and 
immediately  recovered.  A  curious  boiling  spring,  called  Hol- 
yoke   Spring,   surrounded  by  willows,  is  found  in  a  meadow. 


TOPOGRAPHY   AND    PHENOMENA.  71 

near  the  western  end  of  Holyoke  street.  Another  boiling 
spring  may  be  seen  in  the  clay  meadow,  near  the  centre  of  Sau- 
gus.  There  is  also  a  mineral  spring  in  the  western  part  of  that 
town,  near  the  Maiden  line. 

[But  the  most  noted  mineral  spring  in  this  region  is  that 
near  the  eastern  border  of  the  town,  on  the  margin  of  Spring 
Pond,  which  lies  within  the  limits  of  Salem.  The  waters  are 
impregnated  with  iron  and  sulphur,  and  were  formerly  much 
esteemed  for  their  good  effects  in  scorbutic  and  pulmonary  affec- 
tions. It  has  been  popularly  called  the  Red  Spring,  its  waters 
having  a  reddish  hue,  imparted,  probably,  b}^  the  iron.  About 
the  close  of  century  1600,  Dr.  John  Caspar  Richter  van  Crown- 
inscheldt,  purchased  the  adjacent  lands  and  settled  on  them, 
directing  his  attention  chiefly  to  farming.  He  was  a  gentleman 
widely  known  and  of  good  reputation.  The  present  prominent 
Crowninshield  family  descended  from  him.  At  his  romantic 
retreat  eminent  personages  were  sometimes  entertained.  The 
celebrated  Cotton  Mather,  among  others,  visited  him,  partook 
of  the  waters  of  the  spring,  and  in  one  of  his  elaborate  works 
extols  their  virtues.  The  situation  is  delightful.  The  little 
lake,  which  has  received  the  pretty  name  of  Lynnmere,  nestles 
so  cozily  and  smiles  so  brightly  between  the  thickly  wooded 
hills  that  it  might  almost  be  imagined  there  had  been  a  compact 
that  it  should  be  shielded  from  the  wild  winds  that  would  agitate 
its  bosom,  in  return  for  the  refreshing  exhalations  it  might 
send  up  to  renovate  the  drooping  foliage.  Upon  the  western 
bank,  which  rises  gracefully  to  a  considerable  height,  was  erect- 
ed, in  1810,  the  edifice  long  known  as  Lynn  Mineral  Spring 
Hotel.  It  was  a  favorite  summer  resort ;  and  no  inland  retreat 
could  be  more  charming.  There  was  fishing  in  the  pond,  fowl- 
ing in  the  woods,  and  beautiful  drives  in  all  directions. 

[In  1847,  Richard  S.  Fay,  Esq.,  purchased  the  estate  and  also 
many  acres  of  the  adjoining  territory,  and  made  his  summer 
residence  there.  A  very  large  number  of  foreign  trees  have 
been  planted ;  England  and  France  are  represented ;  the  Black 
Forest  of  Germany ;  and  even  Russia  and  Siberia.  There  is  a 
pleasing  variety  of  grove  and  lawn,  pasture  and  arable  ground, 
woodland  and  meadow.  And  altogether  the  landscape  is  one 
of  uncommon  freshness  and  vigor.     In  traversing  the  grounds 


72  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

one  is  forcibly  reminded  of  feudal  days  and  baronial  domains. 
And  if  the  ivj'ed  walls  of  an  ancient  castle  could  be  discerned 
peering  from  some  rocky  crest  across  the  lake,  the  illusion 
might  be  complete.  There  are  various  historical  foots  of  inter- 
est connected  with  this  pleasant  locality,  some  of  which  will  be 
alluded  to  under  dates  1676,  1682,  and  1700.  At  the  last  date 
Dr.  Crowninscheldt  bought  the  estate  of  Elizabeth  Allen,  of 
Salem,  which  must  have  lain  near  his  previous  purchase,  and 
which  gave  him  quite  an  extensive  area.  Or  else  a  mistake 
has  prevailed  as  to  the  date  of  his  settlement  here,  and  her 
deed  indicates  the  period  of  his  first  coming.  The  deed  men- 
tions buildings,  and  hence  the  inference  that  there  were  settlers 
somewhere  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Pond  before  the  time  of  its 
date.  Mr.  Lewis  elsewhere  remarks  that  Dr.  Crowninscheldt, 
who  was  a  German,  as  his  name  indicates,  was  the  first  white 
man  who  settled  at  the  Spring,  having  built  a  cottage  there, 
about  the  year  1690  ;  and  adds  that  at  the  time  he  wrote,  (1844) 
several  of  the  old  apple  trees,  planted  by  him,  were  still  stand- 
ing in  the  garden.] 

Lynn  furnishes  an  admirable  study  for  the  geologist.  The 
northern  part  of  the  town  abounds  with  rocky  hills,  composed 
of  porphyry,  greenstone,  and  sienite.  Porphyry  commences  at 
Eed  Rock,  and  passing  through  the  town  in  a  curve  toward  the 
northwest,  forms  a  range  of  hills,  including  High  Rock,  Lover's 
Leap,  and  Sadler's  Rock.  The  term  porphyry  is  derived  from 
a  Greek  word  signifying  purple.  It  is  composed  of  feldspar  and 
quartz,  and  is  of  various  colors  —  purple,  red,  gray,  brown,  and 
black.  It  gives  fire  with  steel,  and  is  susceptible  of  a  high 
polish ;  the  best  specimens  being  very  beautiful,  equalling  the 
porphyry  of  the  ancients.  The  western  portion  of  the  town 
comprises  ledges  and  hills  of  brecciated  porphyry ;  that  is,  por- 
phyry which  has  been  broken  into  fragments,  and  then  cemented 
by  a  fluid.  The  porphyry  formation  continues  on  through  Sau- 
gus.  Near  the  Pirates'  Glen  is  a  ledge,  which  is  being  disinte- 
grated into  very  coarse  gravel,  having  the  appearance  of  pumicie 
or  rotten  stone.  Specimens  of  clinkstone  porphyry  are  found, 
which,  when  struck,  give  out  a  metallic  sound.  At  Lover's 
Leap,  and  elsewhere,  the  porphyry  seems  to  be  subsiding  into 
fine  hornstone.     At  Sadler's  Rock,  it  is  of  a  very  delicate  purple. 


TOPOGRAPHY    AND    PEEXO]\rENA.  78 

The  hills  in  the  eastern  section  of  the  town,  including  the 
ledges  and  cliflFs  at  Swampscot,  consist  of  a  coarse-grained 
greenstone,  composed  of  hornblende  and  feldspar.  In  opening 
these  ledges,  dendrites  of  manganese  have  been  found,  beauti- 
fully disposed  in  the  form  of  trees  and  shrubs.  [I  have  found 
numbers  of  very  fine  ones,  in  the  vicinity  of  Sadler's  Rock ; 
some  of  them  so  striking  as  almost  to  induce  the  belief  that 
nature  had  in  some  mysterious  way  been  operating  by  the  pho- 
tographic process.]  This  tract  of  greenstone  extends  through 
the  town,  north  of  the  porphyry  hills.  In  many  places  it  is 
beautifully  veined  with  quartz,  and  other  substances.  A  little 
north  from  the  Iron  Works,  in  Saugus,  is  a  great  ledge  by  the 
roadside,  with  a  singular  vein  passing  through  it,  having  the 
appearance  of  a  flight  of  stairs.  On  the  eastern  bank  of  the 
river,  southward  from  the  Iron  Works,  is  a  wild,  tremendous 
ledge,  from  which  many  vast  fragments  have  fallen,  and  others 
seem  ready  to  topple  on  the  head  of  the  beholder. 

The  northern  section  of  the  town  comprises  fine  beds  of  sie- 
nite,  of  a  grayish  color,  composed  of  feldspar,  hornblende,  and 
quartz.  It  has  its  name  from  Siena,  in  Egypt.  It  is  found  in 
great  variety,  from  very  fine  to  very  coarse,  and  is  used  for 
building,  and  for  mill-stones.  From  the  presence  of  iron  ore,  it 
frequently  attracts  the  compass,  and  occasions  much  difficulty 
in  surveying.  At  one  place  in  the  Lynn  woods,  the  north  end 
of  the  needle  pointed  south;  and  at  another,  it  went  round 
forty  times  in  a  minute. 

Granite  occurs,  but  chiefly  in  roundish  masses,  or  boulders, 
composed  of  feldspar,  quartz,  and  mica.  It  is  not  so  frequent 
as  formerly,  the  best  specimens  having  been  used  for  building. 
It  is  remarkable,  that  nearly  all  these  boulders  appear  to  have 
been  brought,  b}^  a  strong  flood  from  a  considerable  distance 
north ;  and  many  of  them  were  left  in  very  peculiar  and  some- 
times surprising  positions,  on  the  tops  of  the  highest  hills  and 
ledges.  One  of  these,  near  the  Salem  line,  rested  on  the  angu- 
lar point  of  a  rock,  and  was  a  great  curiosity,  until  that  rage  for 
destructiveness,  which  exists  in  some  people,  caused  it  to  be 
blown  down  by  powder.  Another  boulder,  fourteen  feet  in 
diameter,  weighing  full  one  hundred  and  thirty  tons,  lay  on  the 
very  summit  of  the  cliff  next  east  from  Sadler's  Rock.  It  appear- 
G 


74  HISTORY    OF   LYNX. 

ed  to  repose  so  loosely  that  a  strong  wind  might  rock  it ;  yet 
it  required  fifteen  men,  with  levers,  to  roll  it  down.  [And  this 
may  have  been  the  rock  that  tradition  avers  the  enterprising 
proprietor  of  the  land  had  discharged  from  its  ancient  resting 
place,  by  offering  a  certain  quantity  of  rum  for  its  removal. 
And  the  fifteen  alluded  to  may  have  been  the  jolly  topers  who 
undertook  the  job.  Near  the  foot  of  the  hill  the  ponderous 
mass  formed  an  indentation  that  operated  usefully  as  a  reser- 
voir, supplying  the  neighborhood,  for  many  years,  with  excellent 
water.]  A  boulder  of  breccia,  on  the  boundary  line  between 
Lynn  and  Saugus,  rests  on  a  ledge  of  breccia  of  a  difi*erent 
character,  and  appears  to  have  been  removed  from  its  original 
situation  in  the  north.  It  is  twelve  feet  in  diameter,  v/eighing 
eighty-three  tons.  On  this  line  also  is  a  still  greater  curiosity  — 
a  vast  rock  of  greenstone,  which  appears  to  have  been  brought 
from  its  bed  in  the  north,  and  placed  on  the  summit  of  a  hill, 
where  it  forms  a  very  picturesque  object.  It  was  originally 
sixteen  feet  in  diameter,  weighing  two  hundred  tons ;  but  sev- 
eral large  portions  have  been  detached,  either  by  frost  or  light- 
ning, perhaps  both.  It  must  have  been  a  tremendous  torrenL, 
which  could  have  removed  rocks  of  such  magnitude,  and  placed 
them  on  such  elevations.  [May  not  such  phenomena  be  referred 
to  the  glacier  period?]  Many  boulders  of  granite  now  lie  on 
the  summit  of  Little  Nahant.  The  cliflfs  at  this  place  are  green- 
stone. A  conglomerate  rock,  or  boulder  of  breccia,  of  a  very 
peculiar  character,  lies  in  the  tide,  on  the  south  side  of  Little 
Nahant.  It  is  a  spheroid,  eighteen  feet  in  diameter,  weighing 
two  hundred  and  sixty  tons.  Its  singular  disposition  of  colors 
renders  it  a  great  curiosity. 

The  western  and  southern  portions  of  Great  Nahant  are  com- 
posed of  fine  and  coarse  grained  greenstones,  and  greenstone 
porphyry.  The  hills  and  ledges  on  the  northern  side  are  sienite  ; 
and  on  the  northeast,  they  are  a  coarse-grained  greenstone, 
blending  into  sienite.  The  southeastern  portion  is  composed 
of  stratified  rocks  of  argillaceous  limestone,  and  argillaceous 
slate,  variously  combined,  and  traversed  by  immense  veins  of 
greenstone.  The  rocks,  in  this  part,  present  a  ver}^  peculiar 
appearance,  both  in  their  combination  and  disposition ;  consist- 
ing: of  immense  masses,  and   irreg'ular  fra^-ments.  cracked  and 


TOPOGRAPHY   AND    PHENOMENA.  75 

broken  in  every  direction.  Were  we  to  suppose  a  portion  of 
one  of  the  asteroids,  in  an  ignited  state,  to  have  been  precipita- 
ted through  the  atmosphere,  from  the  southeast,  and  striking 
the  earth  in  an  angle  of  forty  degrees,  to  have  been  shissered 
into  an  infinite  number  of  fragments,  it  would  probably  present 
the  appearance  which  Nahant  now  exhibits.  There  must  have 
been  some  tremendous  up-heaving  to  have  produced  such  re- 
sults ;  and  it  is  not  improbable  that  a  volcano  has  more  than 
once  been  busy  among  the  foundations  of  Nahant. 

On  the  northern  shore  is  a  vast  ledge  of  pure  hornblende,  so 
very  black  and  shining  as  to  have  deceived  early  voyagers  and 
founders  into  the  belief  that  it  was  a  mine  of  iron  ore.  A  very 
curious  vein  of  fine  greenstone,  two  inches  in  thickness,  passes 
through  this  ledge,  for  more  than  two  hundred  feet,  in  a  direc- 
tion from  southeast  to  northwest.  Eastward  from  this,  the  rock 
is  traversed  by  veins  of  various  colors,  and  in  different  direc- 
tions;  evidently  produced  by  the  action  of  fire.  The  primitive 
rock  appears  to  have  been  strongly  heated,  and  to  have  cracked 
in  cooling.  A  fissure  was  thus  formed,  through  which  a  liquid 
mass  was  erupted,  which  again  heated  the  rock,  and  as  it  cooled, 
formed  another  fissure  in  a  transverse  direction.  This  was  filled 
by  a  third  substance  ;  a  similar  process  followed  ;  and  the  orig- 
inal rock,  and  the  preceding  veins,  were  traversed  by  a  fourth 
formation. 

At  Nahant  are  found  porphyry,  gneiss,  and  hornstone.  It  also 
presents  regular  strata  of  foliated  feldspar ;  and,  perhaps,  the 
only  instance  in  New  England,  in  which  trap  rock  exhibits  such 
parallel  divisions.  Here  also  are  found  jasper,  chalcedony,  and 
agate ;  with  pr^se,  prehnite,  chert,  chlorite,  datholite,  dolomite, 
quartz,  epidote,  rhomb  spar,  carbonate  of  lime,  and  lignified  as- 
bestos. At  Crystal  Beach  are  fine  specimens  of  crystalized 
corundum,  probably  the  only  locality  of  this  mineral  in  the 
United  States.  These  crystals  are  in  six-sided  prisms,  termin- 
ated by  hexagonal  pyramids,  half  an  inch  in  diameter,  and  from, 
two  to  five  inches  in  length,  single  and  in  clusters.  Swallows^ 
Cave  is  composed  of  greenstone ;  Pulpit  Rock  of  argillaceous 
slate ;  Castle  Rock  of  greenstone  ;  Egg  Rock  of  compact  feld- 
spar.    Mineral  teeth  are  formed  by  the  fusion  of  pure  feldspar. 

In  Saugus  are  found  most  of  the  rocks   common  to  Lynn, 


76  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

Here  are  rocks  of  red  and  green  jasper,  with  antimony  and  bog 
iron  ore  in  abundance.  An  account  of  tlie  Iron  Works  anciently 
established  here,  will  be  found  in  the  following  pages.  Lead 
ore  has  also  been  discovered  in  the  western  part  of  the  town. 
In  the  northern  part,  sulphate  of  iron  is  found.  Extensive  beds 
of  very  fine  clay  exist  near  the  centre  of  the  town,  which  have 
been  w^rought  into  pottery.  In  1830,  a  very  singular  discovery 
was  made  near  the  old  tavern  on  the  west  of  Saugus  River.  It 
consisted  of  a  mass  of  very  fine  and  beautiful  blue  sand,  which 
lay  in  a  hard  gravel  bed,  about  one  foot  below  the  surface. 
There  were  about  eight  quarts  of  it.  This  sand  has  a  very 
sharp  grit,  yet  it  is  as  fine  as  can  easily  be  imagined,  and  as 
blue  as  the  bluest  pigment.  Viewed  through  a  magnifying 
glass,  it  appears  bright  and  sparkling,  like  the  finest  possible 
particles  of  silver.  At  Lynnfield,  an  extensive  quarry  of  serpen- 
tine has  been  opened. 

A  large  portion  of  Lynn  bears  strong  evidence  both  of  allu- 
vial and  diluvial  formations.  That  part  between  the  porphyry 
hills  and  the  harbor,  is  chiefly  composed  of  strata  of  sand,  clay, 
and  gravel,  covered  by  loam  and  soil.  The  clay  and  gravel 
vary  in  thickness  from  two  to  fifteen  feet.  On  the  borders  of 
Saugus  River  are  extensive  tracts  of  salt  marsh,  the  mud  of 
which  is  from  two  to  twenty  feet  in  depth  ;  and  it  is  probable 
that  this  portion  was  once  covered  by  the  ocean.  There  are 
also  evidences  that  a  much  larger  quantity  of  water  has  at  some 
time  been  discharged  by  the  Saugus  River;  and  this  accords 
with  an  Indian  tradition.  Just  above  the  Iron  Works,  the  river 
diverges  toward  the  west;  but  a  great  valley  continues  toward 
the  north.  Whoever  is  curious  to  trace  this  valley  several 
miles,  may  be  satisfied  that  a  great  flood  has  at  some  time 
passed  through  it;  and  perhaps  it  was  this  torrent  which 
brought  the  boulders,  and  swept  down  the  soil  which  now  con- 
stitutes the  bed  of  the  marshes. 

These  great  tracts  of  marsh,  called  by  the  first  settlers  Rum- 
ney  Marsh,  are  in  Lynn,  Saugus,  and  Chelsea.  They  lie  be- 
tween the  porphyry  hills  and  the  sea,  and  are  about  a  mile  in 
breadth,  and  nearly  three  miles  in  extent.  The  western  portion 
of  these  marshes  are  protected  by  Chelsea  Beach,  a  long  ridge 
of  sand  which  has  been  thrown  up  by  the  tide,  and  lies  against 


TOPOGRAPHY  AND  PHENOMENA.  77 

their  southern  margin.  The  eastern  section  is  defended  from 
the  sea  by  the  Lynn  Beach,  which  hes  a  mile  distant,  with  the 
harbor  inside.  Throughout  this  region  of  marsh  are  trunks  of 
great  trees,  chiefly  pines,  imbedded  from  two  to  four  feet  be- 
neath the  surface,  and  in  a  good  state  of  preservation.  The  salt 
watter  frequently  covers  these  marshes  from  two  to  three  feet. 
Many  of  these  trees  lie  in  a  direction  from  north  to  south,  as  if 
they  had  been  blown  down  by  a  strong  north  wind,  on  the  spot 
where  they  grew.  But  that  is  probably  the  direction  in  which 
they  would  have  been  deposited,  if  brought  down  by  a  great 
northern  current.  Others  lie  in  different  directions.  If  we^ 
suppose  these  trees  to  have  grown  where  they  now  lie,  we 
have  the  singular  anomaly  of  a  vast  forest  of  great  trees,  grow- 
ing from  two  to  six  feet  below  the  high  tides  of  salt  water.  Nor 
will  it  assist  us  any  to  suppose  that  this  forest  was  protected 
from  the  sea  by  a  great  ridge  or  beach;  for  a  river  comes  down 
from  the  north,  and  they  must  then  have  grown  at  a  greater 
depth  beneath  fresh  water.  The  probability  that  they  were 
brought  from  their  original  forest  by  a  great  northern  current, 
is  strengthened  by  the  fact  that  on  the  west  of  these  marshes  is 
a  great  region  of  mounds  of  sand  and  gravel,  from  twenty  to 
one  hundred  feet  in  height,  in  digging  through  which,  portions 
of  trees  have  been  found.  Another  fact  will  be  interesting  to 
the  geologist,  that  though  all  the  neighboring  hills  are  covered 
with  trees,  these  mounds,  though  clothed  with  grass,  are  desti- 
tute of  foliage ;  and  William  Wood,  more  than  two  centuries 
ago,  describes  them  as  "  upland  grass,  without  tree  or  shrub." 
An  alluvion  commences  at  Humfrey's  Beach,  and  passes  up 
Stacey's  Brook,  beneath  which  is  another  fine  stratum  of  clay. 
In  this  tract  are  some  rich  peat  meadows,  which  were  formerly 
ponds.  The  peat  is  a  formation  of  decomposed  vegetables,  and 
is  dug  by  a  kind  of  long  spade,  which  cuts  it  into  regular  solids, 
about  four  inches  square,  and  two  feet  in  length.  It  is  then 
piled  and  dried  for  fuel,  and  produces  a  constant  and  intense 
heat.  A  meadow  between  Fayette  and  Chatham  streets,  con- 
tains an  alluvial  deposit  of  rich  black  soil,  twelve  feet  in  depth. 
In  digging  to  the  depth  of  three  feet,  the  trunk  of  a  large  oak 
was  found ;  and  at  the  depth  of  six  feet,  a  stratum  of  leaves  and 
burnt  wood.     In  various  other  places,  the  fallen  trunks  of  great 


78  HISTOHY   OP   LYNJC 

trees  have  been  fuund,  from  three  to  six  feet  below  the  surface, 
with  large  trees  growing  above  them.  In  the  north  part  of 
Lynn,  and  in  Saugus,  are  several  large  swamps,  remarkable  for 
the  great  depth  of  vegetable  matter,  and  for  the  wonderful  pres- 
ervation  of  wood  in  them.  Many  acres  of  these  swamps  have 
been  cleared,  and  several  hundred  cords  of  wood  taken  from 
them,  and  charred  into  good  coal.  And  still  beneath  these 
depths  appears  to  be  a  "  lower  deep,"  filled  with  wood  partially 
decayed.  The  whole  southern  section  of  the  town,  also,  pre- 
sents strong  evidences  of  great  geological  changes.  Whoever 
visits  Chelsea  Beach,  which  extends  westward  from  Lynn  Har- 
bor, may  perceive  that  a  new  beach  has  been  thrown  up,  outside 
the  old  one ;  and  the  appearance  gives  great  confidence  in  the 
Indian  tradition,  that  this  beach  was  thrown  up  by  a  great 
storm,  in  a  single  night.  The  Lynn  Beach  was  once  much  far- 
ther out  than  at  present ;  and  within  it  was  a  swamp,  covered 
by  large  pines  and  cedars,  forming  an  isthmus  from  Lynn  to 
Nahant.  The  beach  was  thrown  up  against  the  eastern  shore 
of  this  isthmus,  and  a  succession  of  great  storm  tides  have  driv- 
en it  in,  until  the  whole  isthmus  has  been  submerged  by  water 
and  sand.  By  m}^  ov/n  surveys,  I  find  that  this  beach  has  moved 
five  rods  within  twelve  years,  and  now  covers  many  acres  of 
marshy  ground,  which  were  on  the  western  side.  After  great 
storms,  portions  of  this  marsh,  covered  by  the  stumps  of  trees, 
frequently  appear  on  the  eastern  side.  This  beach  has  been  so 
much  injured,  there  is  reason  to  apprehend  that  the  tides  may 
sweep  over  and  destroy  it.  Such  an  event  is  greatly  to  be 
deprecated,  both  as  it  regards  its  beauty  and  utility ;  for  the 
existence  of  the  harbor  depends  on  its  durability.  If  the  plan 
be  completed,  which  I  proposed,  of  making  a  barrier  of  cedar, 
it  may  be  saved.  I  hope  that  public  spirit  enough  may  be  found, 
to  preserve  this  great  natural  curiosity  for  the  admiration  of 
future  generations.  [The  sagacity  of  these  observations  was 
soon  verified.     See  under  date  1851.] 

Most  of  the  trees  and  plants  common  to  New  England,  are 
found  at  Lynn,  and  some  which  are  rare  and  valuable.  The 
principal  trees  are  white  and  pitch  pine,  white  and  red  cedar, 
oak,  walnut,  maple,  birch  and  hemlock.  One  of  the  most  com- 
mon shrubs  is  the  barberry,  the  root  of  which  is  used  in  dyeing 


TOPOGRAPHY   AND    PHENOMENA.  V^ 

yellow,  and  the  fruit  is  an  excellent  preserve.  [The  barberry 
is  an  exotic,  called,  in  England,  the  pepperidge  bush.  The  early 
settlers  introduced  some  plants  for  which  after  generations  had 
no-  cause  to  be  thankful.  Among  them  were  the  white-weed 
and  wood-wax.  But  the  barberry  seems  to  hold  a  doubtful 
rank.  As  Mr.  Lewis  remarks,  its  root  is  useful  in  dyeing,  and 
its  fruit  affords  an  agreeable  preserve.  But  its  prevalence  in 
pasture  lands  was  found  to  be  highly  detrimental,  insomuch  that 
the  law  interposed,  a  hundred  years  ago,  to  check  its  increase. 
It  however  requires  such  a  peculiarity  of  soil  that  to  this  day  it 
has  not  spread  over  a  great  extent  of  territory.  Even  in  most 
parts  of  Massachusetts  a  barberry  bush  was  never  seen.]  Many 
tons  of  sumach  are  annually  gathered,  and  used  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  morocco  leather.  Whortleberries  are  very  plenty  in 
the  pastures  and  many  hundred  bushels  are  annually  gathered. 
Blueberries,  raspberries,  blackberries,  and  cranberries,  are  also 
common.  The  forests,  fields,  and  meadows,  are  rich  in  the 
abundance  and  variety  of  medicinal  plants,  and  the  town  presents 
a  fine  field  for  the  botanist.  [William  Wood,  while  taking  a 
botanical  survey,  was  so  elated  as  to  find  plain  prose  insufficient 
for  his  occasion,  and  therefore  called  in  the  aid  of  poetry,  after 
this  manner : 

Trees  both  in  hills  and  plaiues,  in  plenty  be, 

The  long  liv'd  Oake,  and  mournful  Cypris  tree, 

Skie-towering  Pines,  and  Chesnuts  coated  rough, 

The  lasting  Cedar,  with  the  Walnut  tough ; 

The  rosin-di'opping  Fut  for  masts  in  use ; 

The  boatmen  seeke  for  oares,  light,  neat  grown  Sprewse, 

The  brittle  Ash,  the  ever-trembUng  Aspes, 

The  broad-spread  Elme,  whose  concave  harbors  waspes ; 

The  water-spongie  Alder,  good  for  nought, 

Small  Elderne  by  th'  Indian  Fletchers  sought, 

The  knottie  Maple,  pallid  Birtch,  Hawthornes, 

The  Hornbound  tree  that  to  be  cloven  scornes, 

Which,  from  the  tender  Vine  oft  takes  its  spouse, 

Who  twmds  imbracing  armes  about  his  boughes. 

Within  this  Indian  Orchard  fruits  be  some, 

The  ruddie  Cherrie  and  the  jettie  Plumbe, 

Snake  murthering  Hazell,  with  sweet  Saxaphi-age, 

Whose  spurnes  in  beere  allays  hot  fevers  rage, 

The  diars  [dyer's]  Shumach,  with  more  trees  there  be, 

That  ai-e  both  good  to  use  and  rare  to  see.j 


80  HISTORY   OF   LYNN. 

Great  numbers  of  wild  birds,  of  almost  every  kind,  frequent 
the  woods  and  waters  of  Lynn.  Numerous  sea-fowl  afford 
amusement  to  the  sportsman ;  and  there  is  scarcely  a  bird  com- 
mon to  North  America,  which  does  not,  at  some  season  of  the 
year,  gratify  our  ears  with  its  song,  or  delight  our  eyes  by  its 
plumage.  A  great  variety  of  fishes,  also,  are  found  in  the 
waters.  Haddock,  halibut,  cod,  bass,  and  mackerel,  are  taken 
in  abundance  in  boats  ;  and  nippers  and  tautog  are  caught  by 
dozens,  with  hook  and  line,  from  the  cliffs  of  Nahant.  Hun- 
dreds, and  sometimes  thousands  of  lobsters  are  daily  taken,  in 
the  proper  season,  by  traps  which  are  set  around  the  shores ; 
and  ale  wives  in  abundance  are  caught  in  the  streams  in  the 
month  of  May.  To  give  a  particular  description  of  all  the 
animal  and  vegetable  productions,  would  be  to  write  a  volume. 
In  the  coves  around  Nahant,  that  very  singular  vegetable  animal, 
called  the  sea-anemone,  or  rose-fish,  is  found.  They  grow  on 
the  rocks  in  the  deep  pools,  and  when  extended,  are  from  six 
to  eight  inches  in  length,  furnished  with  antenna,  or  feelers, 
which  the}^  put  out  to  seek  for  their  food ;  but  if  touched,  they 
shrink  close  to  the  rock,  and  remain  folded  like  a  rose.  On 
summer  evenings,  the  meadows  exhibit  a  beautiful  appearance, 
being  illuminated  by  thousands  of  fire-flies,  which  appear  to 
take  ineffable  delight  in  enlivening  the  gloom  by  their  phospho- 
ric radiance.  One  of  them  in  a  dark  room,  will  emit  sufficient 
light  to  read  the  finest  print. 

Some  portions  of  the  soil  are  very  fertile,  but  generally  it  is 
rather  hard  and  acidulous.  The  pastures  produce  barberries, 
the  woodlands  grapes ;  the  meadows  are  filled  with  cranberries, 
the  marshes  with  samphire  ;  and  the  fields,  when  neglected,  run 
into  sorrel.  Much  dependence  is  placed  upon  sea  weeds  for 
the  enrichment  of  the  lands ;  but  the  soil  would  be  much  more 
permanently  improved  by  the  rich  mud  from  the  bed  of  the 
harbor. 

The  climate  of  Lynn  is  generally  healthy,  but  the  prevalence 
of  east  winds  is  a  subject  of  complaint  for  invalids,  especially 
those  afilicted  with  pulmonary  disorders.  That  these  winds  are 
not  generally  detrimental  to  health  is  evident  from  the  fact,  that 
the  people  of  Nahant,  surrounded  by  the  sea,  and  subject  to  all 
its  breezes,  are  unusually  healthy.   '  From  some  cause,  however, 


TOPOGRAPHY  AND  PHENOMENA.  81 

there  are  a  great  number  of  deaths  by  consumption.     Formejly, 
a  death  by  this  disease  was  a  rare  occurrence,  and  then  the  in- 
dividual was  ill  for  many  years,  and  the  subjects  were  usually 
aged  persons.     In  1727,  when  a  young  man  died  of  consumption 
at  the  age   of  nineteen,  it  was  noticed  as  a  remarkable  circum- 
stance;  but  now,  young  people  frequently  die  of  that  disease 
after  an  ihness  of  a  few  months.     Of  three  hundred  and  sixteen 
persons,  whose  deaths  were  noticed  in  the  First  Parish  for  about 
twenty  years  previous  to  1824,  a  hundred  and  twelve  were  the 
subjects  of  consumption;  and  in  some  years  since,  more  than 
half  the  deaths  have  been  occasioned  by  that  insidious  malady. 
There  is  something  improper  and  unnatural  in  this.     It  is  doubt- 
less owing  to  the  habits  of  the  people,  to  their  confinement  in 
close  rooms,  over  hot  stoves,  and  to  their  want  of  exercise,  free 
air,  and  ablution.     It  is  owing  to  their  violation  of  some  of  the 
great  laws  of  nature.     To  one  accustomed,  as  I  have  always 
been,  to  ramble  by  the  sea  shore,  and  on  the  hill  top,  to  breathe 
the  ocean  wind  and  the  mountain  air,  this  close  confinement  of 
the  shops  would  be  a  living  death.     Were  it  not  for  the  social 
intercourse,  I  would  as  soon  be  confined  in  a  prison  cell  as  in  a 
room  twelve  feet  square,  with  a  hot  stove,  and  six  or  eight  per- 
sons breathing  the  heated  air  over  and  over  again,  long  after  it  is 
rendered  unfit  to  sustain  life.     If  mechanics  find  it  convenient 
to  work  together  in  shops,  they  should  build  them  longer  and 
higher,  and  have  them  well  ventilated.     The  subject  of  bathing, 
too,  requires  more  attention.     There  are  many  people  in  Lynn, 
as  there  are  in  all  other  places,  who  never  washed  themselves  all 
over  in  their  lives,  and  who  would  as  soon  think  of  taking  a 
journey  through  the  air  in  a  balloon,  as  of  going  under  water. 
How  they  contrive  to  exist  I  cannot  imagine ;  they  certainly  do 
not  exist  in  the  highest  degree  of  happiness,  if  happiness  con- 
sists in  the  enjoyment  of  that  free  and  buoyant  mind  which  is 
nourished  by  pure  air  and   clean  water.     Some   of  these  water 
haters,  a  few  years  since  made  a  law,  that  boys  should  not  bathe 
in  sight   of  any  house ;  yet  they  have   furnished  no   bathing 
houses ;  and  there  are  no  secluded  places,  excepting  where  the 
lives  of  children  would   be  endangered.     Thus  they  not  only 
refuse  to  bathe  themselves,  but  prevent  the  young,  by  a  heavy 
penalty,  from  enjoying  one  of  the  Durest  blessings  and  highest 

6 


82  HISTORY   OF   LYNN. 

luxuries  of  existence.  Perhaps  nothing  is  more  conducive  to 
health  than  sea  bathing.  I  do  not  wish  for  a  return  of  the 
'^  olden  time,"  with  all  its  errors  and  absurdities,  but  I  do  desire 
a  return  to  that  simplicity  which  is  born  of  purity. 

The  climate  here  is  subject  to  sadden  changes,  and  great 
extremes  of  heat  and  cold,  being  strangely  mixed  up  with  beau- 
tiful sunlight  and  horrid  storms,  moonshiny  evenings  and  long 
days  of  cold  rain,  bright  blue  sky  and  impenetrable  fogs.  Eu- 
ropean poets  tell  us  of  the  charms  of  May,  and  the  song  of  the 
nightingale ;  our  pleasant  month  is  June,  and  the  whip-poor- 
will  is  our  bird  of  love.  The  months  of  June,  July,  and  August 
are  usually  delightful ;  and  in  October  and  November  we  have 
the  Indian  summer.  The  temperature  is  then  soft  and  agreea 
ble,  and  a  pleasing  haze  fills  the  atmosphere.  Sometimes  the 
sky  is  "  darkly,  deeply,  beautifully  blue  ; "  and  sunset  is  often 
so  gorgeously  glorious,  that  the  art  of  the  painter  cannot  por- 
tray it.  The  months  of  May  and  September  usually  abound 
with  chilly  rain  storms,  and  dismal,  drizzly  days.  After  these 
succeed  the  two  pleasantest  portions  of  the  year.  The  cold 
season  continues  from  December  to  April,  and  we  have  snow 
in  each  of  these  months,  from  three  inches  to  three  feet  in 
depth.  As  winter  approaches,  the  forests  are  arrayed  in  the 
most  splendid  and  beautiful  colors ;  exhibiting  almost  every 
variety  of  shade,  from  pale  green,  and  dark  brown,  to  bright 
yellow  and  deep  scarlet.  Not  only  are  single  leaves  thus  col- 
ored, but  whole  trees  and  masses  of  foliage  are  vividly  tinctured 
with  the  most  pleasing  and  variegated  hues.  [Many  still  sup- 
pose that  these  beautiful  changes  are  produced  by  frost.  But 
observation  shows  that  they  are  caused  by  the  ripening  of  the 
foliage.  In  some  species  of  vegetation  the  change  commences 
much  earlier  than  in  other.  The  white  maple  usually  appears 
in  its  gorgeous  apparel  weeks  before  the  frosts  come ;  and  the 
same  may  be  said  of  the  white  birch  and  the  woodbine.]  In 
winter,  the  weather  is  often,  for  many  days  together,  exceed- 
ingly cold,  and  the  moonlight  most  intensely  brilliant. 

The  unequal  refraction  of  the  atmosphere  frequently  occasions 
peculiar  and  curious  appearances  on  the  water.  Sometimes  the 
sun,  when  it  rises  through  a  dense  atmosphere,  appears  greatly 
elongated  in  its  vertical  diameter.     Presently  it  appears  double, 


TOPOGRAPHY   AND   PHENOMENA.  83 

fbe  two  parts  being  connected  together  by  a  neck.  At  length 
two  suns  are  distinctly  seen  ;  the  refracted  sun  appearing  wholly 
above  the  water,  before  the  true  sun  has  risen.  I  have  repeat- 
edly seen  and  admired  this  surprising  and  exceedingly  beautiful 
phenomenon.  Some  critics,  because  Pentheus  saw  two  suns 
rising  over  Thebes,  have  drawn  the  inference  that  he  could  not 
have  been  a  member  of  the  temperance  society ;  but  his  vision 
might  have  been  merely  assisted  by  refraction : 

He  saw  two  suns,  and  double  Thebes  appear.  —  Drtden's  Virgil. 
This  mirage,  or  loom,  frequently  causes  Nahant,  Egg  Rock,  and 
vessels  on  the  coast,  to  appear  nearly  twice  their  natural  height, 
and  sometimes  to  seem  actually  elevated  in  the  air,  so  as  to 
leave  a  space  beneath  them.  Portions  of  the  south  shore,  also, 
which  are  commonly  invisible,  appear  plainly  in  sight.  It  was 
undoubtedly  this  effect  of  the  mirage  which  occasioned  the 
story  of  the  Phantom  Ship  at  New  Haven,  and  the  Flying 
Dutchman. 

The  temperature  of  Nahant,  being  moderated  by  sea-breezes, 
so  as  to  be  cooler  in  summer  and  milder  in  winter,  than  the 
main  land,  is  regarded  as  being  highly  conducive  to  health.  It 
is  delightful  in  summer  to  ramble  round  this  romantic  peninsula, 
and  to  examine  at  leisure  its  interesting  curiosities  —  to  hear 
the  waves  rippling  the  colored  pebbles  of  the  beaches,  and  see 
them  gliding  over  the  projecting  ledges  in  fanciful  cascades  — 
to  behold  the  plovers  and  sand-pipers  running  along  the  beaches, 
the  seal  slumbering  upon  the  outer  rocks,  the  white  gulls  soaring 
overhead,  the  porpoises  pursuing  their  rude  gambols  along  the 
shore,  and  the  curlew,  the  loon,  the  black  duck  and  the  coot  — 
the  brant  with  his  dappled  neck,  and  the  oldwife  with  her 
strange,  wild,  vocal  melody,  swimming  gracefully  in  the  coves, 
and  rising  and  sinking  with  the  sw^ell  of  the  tide.  The  moon- 
light evenings  here  are  exceedingl}^  lovely ;  and  the  phosphoric 
radiance  of  the  billows,  in  dark  nights,  making  the  waters  look 
like  a  sea  of  fire  —  exhibits  a  scene  of  wonderful  beauty. 

[In  its  more  distinguishing  features,  our  sea-shore  region 
suffers  little  change  in  the  progress  of  time.  In  most  places,  as 
years  roll  on,  population  increases,  and  the  devastating  hand 
of  man  is  constantly  changing  the  aspect  of  things,  so  that  the 
admired  scenes  of  one  decade  of  years  are  known  only  as  pleasant 


84 


HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 


memories  in  the  next.  Even  here,  however,  are  some  evidences 
of  the  success  of  the  general  conspiracy  against  nature.  The 
birds,  to  which  Mr.  Lewis  so  often  and  so  fondly  alludes,  have 
almost  entirely  disappeared ;  and  he  who  would  come  hither  for 
sea-fowling  will  be  likely  to  find  his  only  reward  in  that  moral 
discipline  which  is  the  effect  of  disappointed  expectation.  A  sol- 
itary note  is  now  and  then  heard,  it  is  true ;  but  it  is  more  like 
the  wail  of  a  vexed  spirit  than  the  joyous  outpouring  of  happy 
life.  But  the  rugged  battlements  of  rock,  and  the  glistening 
beaches,  remain  as  they  were  in  the  days  of  the  early  visitors. 
And  above  all,  old  ocean  sustains  his  integrity  —  whether  calmly 
sleeping  in  the  summer  sunshine,  raving  in  the  winter  storm,  or 
rolling  dreamily  beneath  the  ruling  moon.] 


MOONLIGHT    VIEW    AT    NAHANT. 


But,  however  delightful  Nahant  may  appear  in  summer,  it  is 
surpassed  by  the  grandeur  and  sublimity  of  a  winter  storm. 
When  the  strong  east  wind  has  been  sweeping  over  the  Atlantic 
for  several  days,  and  the  billows,  wrought  up  to  fury,  are  foam- 
ing along  like  living  mountains  —  breaking  upon  the  precipitous 
cliffs  —  dashing  into  the  rough  gorges  —  thundering  in  the  sub- 
terranean caverns  of  rock,  and  throwing  the  white  foam  and 


TOPOGRAPHY   AND    PHENOMENA.  85 

spra}^,  like  vast  columns  of  smoke,  hundreds  of  feet  into  the  air, 
above  the  tallest  cliffs  —  an  appearance  is  presented  which  the 
wildest  imagination  cannot  surpass.  Then  the  ocean  —  checked 
in  its  headlong  career  by  a  simple  bar  of  sand  —  as  if  mad  with 
its  detention,  roars  like  protracted  thunder;  and  the  wild  sea 
birds,  borne  along  by  the  furious  waters  are  dashed  to  death 
against  the  cliffs  !  Standing  at  such  an  hour  upon  the  rocks,  I 
have  seen  the  waves  bend  bars  of  iron,  an  inch  in  diameter, 
double  —  float  rocks  of  granite,  sixteen  feet  in  length,  as  if  they 
were  timbers  of  wood  —  and  the  wind,  seizing  the  white  gull  in 
its  irresistible  embrace,  bear  her,  struggling  and  shrieking,  many 
miles  into  Lynn  woods  I  In  summer,  a  day  at  Nahaut  is  delight- 
ful—  but  a  storm  in  winter  is  glorious ! 

[The  grand  and  picturesque  scenery  in  and  about  Lynn  was 
early  brought  to  notice,  and  hither  have  long  been  attracted 
the  learned,  and  the  most  refined  of  Nature's  devotees.  The 
historian  and  poet  have  delighted  to  wander  amid  the  woods 
that  wave  and  whisper  on  our  sunny  hills,  and  clamber  among 
the  ocean-worn  battlements  that  guard  our  shores.  Within  these 
pleasant  borders  have  they  loved  to  pursue  their  favorite 
studies ;  and,  we  may  fondly  believe,  some  of  the  most  sterling 
works  that  adorn  the  literature  of  the  age  have  here  received 
the  inspiration  that  the  magnificent  and  beautiful  in  nature 
always  impart  to  the  cultivated  mind.  At  Nahant,  in  his  pic- 
turesque home,  just  above  the  resounding  arches  of  Swallow's 
Cave,  Prescott  labored  on  the  glowing  pages  of  his  Ferdinand 
and  Isabella,  and  his  Conquest  of  Mexico ;  and  at  his  residence 
on  Ocean  street,  in  Lynn,  he  wrote  the  thrilling  chapters  of 
Philip  the  Second.  At  Nahant,  also,  in  the  modest  mansion 
of  Mrs.  Hood,  in  the  evening  shade  of  the  decrepit  willows  that 
yet  stand  in  front  of  Whitney's  tavern,  Mottey  spent  many  and 
many  a  quiet  hour  in  the  preparatory  studies  of  his  great  His- 
tory of  the  Dutch  Republic.  And  the  learned  Agassiz  still 
delights,  year  by  year,  to  come  hither  and  in  quietude  explore 
the  mysterious  and  contemplate  the  beautiful  in  nature.  At 
the  unostentatious  homestead  of  Jonathan  Johnson,  Longfellow 
produced  many  of  the  charming  strains  of  his  world-renowned 
Hiawatha;  and  there,  also,  he  wrote  his  Ladder  of  Saint  Augus- 
tine. And  Willis  says,  "  Some  of  my  earliest  and  raciest  enjoy- 
H 


86  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

ments,  both  of  driving  aud  writing,  were  spent  at  NaLant."  Nor 
should  it  be  forgotten  that  the  learned  Felton  loved  to  retire 
from  the  halls  of  Harvard,  and  here  breathe  the  invigorating  air 
and  bathe  in  the  renovating  waters.  And  as  he,  in  declining 
life,  found  here  a  delightful  field  of  recreation,  so  in  youth  ho 
found  among  the  rough  hills  of  Saugus,  a  field  of  homely  toil. 
In  1815,  when  a  boy,  he  came,  with  his  father's  family,  to  the 
corner  of  Chelsea  which  belonged,  as  a  parish,  to  Saugus,  the 
father  fiUiug  the  humble  office  of  toll-gatherer  on  Newburyport 
turnpike.  In  winters,  young  Felton  went  to  the  town  schools 
of  Saugus,  with  one  or  two  exceptions.  One  winter  he  attended 
the  school  of  Miss  Cheever,  and  another,  that  of  Rev.  Joseph 
Emerson.  At  other  times  he  worked  at  farming.  One  season 
he  part  of  the  time  rode  plough  horses  at  twenty-five  cents  a 
day.  Subsequentl}^,  he  went  to  school,  one  quarter,  to  Mr. 
Thatcher,  formerly  minister  of  the  first  parish  of  Lynn,  who 
then  taught  a  private  school  at  Maiden.  There  he  studied 
Latin  and  read  novels  till  the  excitement  threw  him  into  a 
fever  that  nearly  proved  fatal.  He  afterward  went  one  quarter 
to  Bradford  Academy.  Early  in  the  summer  of  1822,  he  went 
to  Mr.  Putnam's,  at  North  And  over,  intending  to  remain  only 
one  quarter.  But  Mr.  Putnam,  finding  him  a  lad  of  great  prom- 
ise, urged  him,  though  very  poor,  to  persevere  for  the  attainment 
of  a  college  education.  He  struggled  on.  And  we  finally  be- 
hold him  the  revered  head  of  the  first  university  in  the  land.] 


SHOES   AND   SHOEMAKING. 

Ladies'  Shoes  began  to  be  made  in  Lynn  at  a  very  early 
period ;  and  that  business  has  long  been  the  principal  occupa- 
tion of  the  inhabitants.  Shoemaking  is  a  very  ancient  and 
respectable  employment,  for  we  read  in  Homer,  of  princes  man- 
ufacturing their  own  shoes.  They  have  been  made  of  various 
materials  —  hides,  flax,  silk,  cloth,  wood,  iron,  silver,  and  gold  — 
and  in  great  variety  of  shape,  plain  and  ornamental.  Among 
the  Jews  they  were  made  of  leather,  linen,  and  wood.  Soldiers 
wore  them  of  brass  and  iron,  tied  with  thongs.  To  put  off  the 
shoes  was  an  act  of  veneration.  The  Asiatics  and  Egyptians 
wore  shoes  made  of  the  bark  of  the  papyrus.  Among  the 
Greeks,  the  shoe  generally  reached  to  the  mid-leg,  like  what 


SHOES  AND   SHOEMAKING.  57 

we  now  call  bootees.  Ladies,  as  a  mark  of  distinction,  wore 
sandals  —  a  sort  of  loose  shoe,  something  like  a  modern  slipper. 
Xenophon  relates  that  the  ten  thousand  Greeks,  who  followed 
young  Cyrus,  wanting  shoes  in  their  retreat,  covered  their  feet 
with  raw  hides,  which  occasioned  them  great  injury.  The  Ro- 
man shoes  were  of  two  kinds  —  the  calceics,  which  covered  the 
whole  foot;  and  the  solea,  which  covered  only  the  sole,  and  was 
fastened  with  thongs.  Ladies  of  rank  wore  white,  and  some- 
times red  shoes  ;  other  women  wore  black.  The  shoes  of  some 
of  the  Roman  emperors  were  enriched  with  precious  stones. 
It  was  generally  regarded  as  a  mark  of  effeminacy  for  men  to 
wear  shoes.  Phocion,  Cato,  and  other  noble  Romans,  had  no 
covering  for  their  feet  when  they  appeared  in  public.  In  the 
ninth  and  tenth  centuries,  the  greatest  princes  of  Europe  w'ore 
wooden  shoes,  or  wooden  soles  fastened  with  leather  thongs. 
In  the  eleventh  century,  the  upper  part  of  the  shoe  was  made 
of  leather,  and  the  sole  of  wood. 

The  Saxons  wore  shoes,  or  scoJi,  with  thongs.  Bedels  account 
of  Cuthbert  is  curious.  He  says  :  ^'  When  the  saint  had  washed 
the  feet  of  those  who  came  to  him,  they  compelled  him  to  take 
off  his  own  shoes,  that  his  feet  might  also  be  made  clean ;  for 
so  little  did  he  attend  to  his  bodily  appearance,  that  he  often 
kept  his  shoes,  which  were  of  leather,  on  his  feet  for  several 
months  together."  (Bede,  Yit.  Cuthbert,  p.  243.)  [In  an  old 
Saxon  Dialogue  a  shoemaker  says  he  makes  "  swyfiflers,  sceos, 
and  leather  hose."] 

In  the  Dialogues  of  Elfric,  composed  to  instruct  the  Anglo 
Saxon  youth  in  Latin,  we  find  that  the  shoemaker  had  a  very 
comprehensive  trade.  "  My  craft  is  very  useful  and  necessary 
to  you.  I  buy  hides  and  skins,  and  prepare  them  by  my  art, 
and  make  of  them  shoes  of  various  kinds,  and  none  of  you  can 
winter  without  my  craft."  Among  the  articles  which  he  fabri- 
cates, he  mentions  — ancle  leathers,  shoes,  leather  hose,  bridle 
thongs,  trappings  leather  bottles,  flasks,  halters,  pouches  and 
wallets.     (Turner's  Hist.  Anglo  Saxons,  3,  111.) 

In  the  year  1090,  in  the  reign  of  William  Rufus,  the  great 
dandy  Robert  was  called  the  Jiorned,  because  he  wore  shoes 
with  long  points,  stuffed,  turned  up,  and  twisted  like  horns. 
These  kind  of  shoes  became  fashionable,  and  the  toes  continued 


88  HISTORY   OF   LYNN. 

to  increase  in  extent,  until,  in  the  time  of  Richard  II.,  in  1390, 
they  had  attained  such  an  enormous  extent  as  to  be  fastened  to 
the  garter  by  a  chain  of  silver  or  gold.  The  clergy  declaimed 
vehemently  against  this  extravagance  ;  but  the  fashion  contin- 
ued, even  for  several  centuries.  In  the  year  1463,  the  Parlia- 
ment of  England  passed  an  act  prohibiting  shoes  with  pikes 
more  than  two  inches  in  length,  under  penalties  to  maker  and 
wearer ;  and  those  who  would  not  comply  were  declared  excom- 
municate. Even  at  a  late  period  shoes  were  twice  the  length 
of  the  foot,  or  so  long  as  "to  prevent  kneeling  in  devotion  at 
God's  house."  In  the  year  1555,  a  company  of  Cordwainers  was 
incorporated  in  old  Boston,  England.  By  their  charter,  it  was 
ordered,  "That  no  person  shall  set  up,  within  the  said  borough, 
as  Cordwainers,  until  such  time  as  they  can  sufficientl}^  cut  and 
make  a  boot  or  shoe,  to  be  adjudged  by  the  wardens  .  .  .  that 
if  any  foreigner,  or  person  who  did  not  serve  his  apprenticeship 
in  the  said  borough,  shall  be  admitted  to  his  freedom,  he  shall 
then  pay  to  the  wardens  X3  2s.  8d  .  .  .  and  that  no  fellow  of 
this  corporation,  his  journeyman  or  servant,  shall  work  on  the 
Sabbath  day,  either  in  town  or  country."  (Thompson's  Hist. 
Boston,  Eng.,  p.  82.) 

Shoes  in  their  present  form  came  into  use  in  the  year  1633,  a 
short  time  after  the  first  settlement  of  this  country.  The  first 
shoemakers  known  at  Lynn,  were  Philip  Kertland  and  Edmund 
Bridges,  both  of  whom  came  over  in  1635.  [For  facts  concern- 
ing them  see  under  that  date.]  The  business  gradually  increas- 
ed with  the  increase  of  inhabitants ;  and  many  of  the  farmers, 
who  worked  in  the  fields  in  the  summer,  made  shoes  in  their 
shops  in  the  winter.  The  papers  relating  to  the  Corporation 
of  Shoemakers,  mentioned  by  Johnson,  in  1651,  are  unfortu- 
nately lost ;  having  probably  been  destroyed  by  the  mob  in  1765. 
As  the  first  settlers  introduced  many  of  their  customs  from 
England,  the  privileges  were  probably  similar  to  those  conferred, 
in  1555,  on  the  Cordwainers  of  old  Boston. 

The  term  Cordwainer,  as  a  designation  of  this  craft,  has  long 
usurped  the  place  of  Ladies'  Shoemaker.  This  word  had  its 
origin  from  Cordova,  a  city  in  the  south  of  Spain,  where  a  pecu- 
liar kind  of  leather  was  manufactured  for  ladies'  shoes.  The 
word  in  the  Spanish  is  Cordoban ;  in  the  Portuguese,  Cordovan ; 


SHOES    AND    SHOEMAKTHG.  89 

and  in  the  French,  Cordonan;  whence  the  term  Cordouaniers, 
or  Cordvvainers.  [Cord winder,  by  the  way,  is  the  shape  in 
which  tlie  term  appears  in  the  first  Colony  Charter.  The  Cor- 
dovan leather  was  tanned  and  dressed  goat  skin.  Members  of 
the  craft  are  sometimes  called  Sons  of  Crispin.  And  this  arose 
from  the  honor  done  the  calling  by  that  worthy.  Several  of 
the  societies  of  shoemakers,  in  France  and  England,  early  adopt- 
ed good  Crispin  as  their  patron.]  In  the  eighth  century,  the 
descendants  of  Alaric,  in  revenge  at  being  passed  by  in  the 
choice  of  a  king,  called  the  Arabians  to  their  aid.  They  came, 
and  Roderic,  the  last  of  the  Goths,  fell  in  the  seven  days'  battle, 
at  Tarik,  in  711.  In  756,  Abderrhaman  made  himself  master 
of  Spain,  and  established  his  caliphate  at  Cordova.  During  the 
Arabian  power,  agriculture,  commerce,  the  arts  and  sciences, 
flourished  in  Spain ;  and  in  that  period,  the  celebrated  Cordova 
leather  was  introduced.  It  was  similar  to  what  is  now  known 
as  morocco,  and  was  altogether  superior  to  any  thing  which  had 
been  previously  used  for  the  manufacture  of  ladies'  shoes.  It 
was  at  first  colored  black,  and  afterward  red,  by  the  use  of 
cochineal. 

[The  names  of  the  first  two  shoemakers  in  the  Massachusetts 
colony  appear  in  the  following  extract  from  the  Second  General 
Letter  of  the  Governor  and  Deputy  of  the  New  England  Com- 
pany, dated  London,  28  May,  1629,  which  may  be  found  in  the 
Col.  Recs.  vol.  I,  pp.  404,  405.  And  the  extract  may  prove  addi- 
tionally interesting,  as  explaining,  to  some  extent,  the  condition 
and  position  of  that  class  of  craftsmen.  But  would  not  one 
of  our  extensive  manufacturers  now  think  that  the  time  when 
''  divers  hydes.  both  for  soles  and  vpp  leathers,"  with  two  men 
to  Avork  them  "  vpp  in  bootcs  and  shoes,"  were  sufficient  for 
the  countr}^,  was  a  day  of  rather  small  things  ? 

Thomas  Beard,  a  shoomaker,  and  Isack  Rickman,  being  both  recomended 
to  vs  by  Mr  Symon  Whetcombe  to  receive  their  dyett  &  houseroome  at  the 
charge  of  the  Companie,  wee  haue  agreed  they  shalbe  wt^^  yo"^,  the  Gouno*", 
or  placed  elsewhere,  as  yo""'  shall  thinke  good,  and  receive  from  yo"^,  or  by  yo^ 
appointmt,  their  dyett  &  lodging,  for  w*^^  they  are  to  pay,  each  of  them,  after 
the  rate  of  10£  p  ann.  And  wee  desire  to  receive  a  certificate,  vnder  the  hand 
of  wliomsoever  they  shalbe  soe  dyetted  &  lodged  wt'\  how  long  tyme  they 
haue  remained  w^^^  them,  in  case  they  shall  otherwise  dispose  of  themselues 
before  the  yeare  bee  expired,  or  at  least  wise  at  the  end  of  each  yeare,  to  the 


90  HISTORY   OF  LYNN. 

end  wee  may  heere  receive  paym*  according  to  the  s^  agreem^.  The  said  Tlio : 
Beard  hath  in  the  shipp  the  May  Flower  divers  hydes,  both  for  soles  and  vpp 
leathers,  w'^'^  hee  intends  to  make  vpp  in  bootes  and  shoes  there  in  the  coun- 
tiy.  Wee  pray  yo^  let  M^  Peu'ce,  the  m^  of  the  said  shipp,  viewe  the  said 
leather,  &  estimate  what  tonnage  the  same  may  import,  that  soe  the  said 
Beard  may  ether  pay  \Tito  yo^  there  after  the  rate  of  4  £  p  tonn  for  fraight  of 
the  same,  the  like  for  his  dyett  if  there  bee  occasion  to  vse  any  of  his  comodi- 
ties,  or  otherwise,  vpon  yC  advice,  wee  may  receive  it  of  M^^  VVhetcombe,  who 
hath  promised  to  see  the  same  discharged.  Wee  desire  also  the  said  Tho : 
Beard  may  haue  50  acres  of  land  allotted  to  him  as  one  that  transports  him- 
selfe  at  his  owne  charge.  But  as  well  for  him  as  all  others  that  shall  haue 
land  allotted  to  them  in  that  kinde,  and  are  noe  adventurers  in  the  comon 
stock,  w""^'  is  to  support  the  charge  of  fFoi-tyficacons,  as  also  for  the  mmisti-ie 
&  divers  other  affaires,  wee  holde  it  fitt  that  these  kinde  of  men,  as  also  such 
as  shall  come  to  inheritt  lands  by  their  semce,  should,  by  way  of  acknowl- 
edgm*  to  such  from  whom  they  receive  these  lands,  become  lyable  to  the 
pformance  of  some  semce  certaiue  dayes  in  the  yeare,  and  by  that  sei-vice 
they  and  their  posteritie  after  them  to  hold  and  inherite  these  lands,  w'^^  wilbe 
a  good  meanes  to  enjoy  their  lands  from  being  held  in  capite,  and  to  support 
the  plantacon  in  genall  and  peticuler. 

[This  extract  also  gives  a  glimpse  of  the  nature  of  the  tenure 
by  which  it  was  desired  that  the  class  to  which  Mr.  Beard 
belonged,  should  hold  their  lauds.  There  was  nothing  very 
democratic  in  it.  Of  Isaac  Rickman,  the  other  shoemaker  who 
came  over  in  the  fleet,  nothing  seems  to  be  known.  He  proba- 
bly returned  in  a  short  time.  Mr.  Beard  was  made  a  freeman, 
10  May,  1643,  and  soon  after  purchased  an  estate  at  Strawberry 
Bank,  now  Portsmouth,  where  he  probably  settled.] 

At  the  beginning,  women's  shoes  at  Lynn,  were  made  of 
neat's  leather,  or  woolen  cloth;  only  they  had  a  nicer  pair,  of 
white  silk,  for  the  wedding  day,  which  were  carefully  preserved, 
as  something  too  delicate  for  ordinary  use.  About  the  year 
1670,  shoes  began  to  be  cut  with  broad  straps,  for  buckles  which 
were  worn  by  women  as  well  as  by  men.  In  1727,  square-toed 
shoes,  and  buckles  for  ladies,  went  out  of  fashion ;  though 
buckles  continued  to  be  worn  by  men  till  after  the  revolution. 
The  sole-leather  was  all  worked  with  the  flesh  side  out.  In 
1750,  John  Adam  Dagyr,  a  Welchman,  gave  great  impulse  and 
notoriety  to  the  business,  by  producing  shoes  equal  to  the  best 
made  in  England.  From  that  time  the  craft  continued  to  flour- 
ish, until  it  became  the  principal  business  of  the  town.  Fathers, 
sons,  journeymen,  and  apprentices,  worked  together,  in  a  shop 


SHOES    AND    SHOEMAKING.  01 

of  one  story  in  height,  twelve  feet  square,  with  a  fire-place  in 
one  corner,  and  a  cutting-board  in  another.  The  finer  quality 
of  shoes  were  made  with  white  and  russet  rands,  stitched  very 
fine,  with  white  waxed  thread.  They  were  made  with  very 
sharp  toes,  and  had  wooden  heels,  covered  with  leather,  from 
half  an  inch  to  two  inches  in  height ;  called  cross-cut,  common, 
court,  and  Wurtemburgh  heels.  About  the  year  1800,  wooden 
heels  were  discontinued,  and  leather  heels  were  used  instead. 
[The  manufacture  of  wooden  heels  was  as  much  a  separate 
business  as  last  making  now  is.  One  of  the  principal  factories 
at  which  they  were  turned  out  was  on  Boston  street.  I  think 
they  did  not  go  out  of  use  quite  so  early  as  would  be  supposed 
from  the  date  Mr.  Lewis  gives.]  In  1783,  Mr.  Ebenezer  Breed 
introduced  the  use  of  morocco  leather;  and  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  present  century,  two  of  the  principal  shoe  manufac- 
turers, were  Mr.  Amos  Rhodes  and  Col.  Samuel  Brimblecom. 
Many  shoemakers  have  become  eminent.  Nilant  has  a  book 
on  shoes.  Hans  Sack  wrote  fifty  volumes  of  prose.  Bloom- 
field  composed  that  delightful  poem,  the  Farmer's  Boy,  while  at 
work  on  his  bench,  and  wrote  it  down  when  he  had  finished  the 
labor  of  the  day.  WilHam  Giff*ord,  the  editor  of  the  London 
Quarterly  Review,  and  the  translator  of  Juvenal,  served  his 
apprenticeship  with  a  cordwainer.  John  Pounds,  of  Portsmouth, 
while  engaged  in  his  daily  work,  contrived  to  educate  some 
hundreds  of  the  neighboring  children.  [Linnaeus,  the  great 
botanical  classifier,  was  apprenticed  to  a  shoemaker.  And  so 
was  David  Parous,  the  elder,  celebrated  as  professor  of  theology 
at  Heidelburgh.  Benedict  Baudouin,  one  of  the  most  learned 
men  of  century  1500,  was  a  shoemaker.  And  so  was  Holcraft, 
author  of  The  Critic]  In  our  own  country,  Roger  Sherman,  one 
of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  was  a  shoe- 
maker; and  John  G.  Whittier  left  the  manufacture  of  shoes  for 
ladies'  feet,  to  make  verses  for  their  boudoirs.  [But  it  would, 
perhaps,  be  quite  as  profitable  to  cast  an  observing  eye  upon 
those  born  in  our  own  community,  who  have  risen  from  the 
shoemaker's  seat  to  positions  conspicuous  and  honorable.  Lynn 
can  present  numerous  examples  most  worthy  of  imitation.  It 
is,  however,  important  to  distinguish  between  those  whose 
claims  rest  on  mere  wealth,  which  is  frequently  attained  by  the 


92  HISTORY   OF   LYNN. 

most  Ignorant  and  undeserving,  and  those  who  possess  that 
which  is  really  ennobling  —  between  those  whose  minds  expand 
not  beyond  the  circumference  of  a  dollar  and  those  who,  by 
God's  grace,  are  more  richly  endowed.] 

Poets,  in  all  ages,  have  noticed  the  shoe  as  an  important  part 
of  the  dress,  especially  of  a  lad3\  Shakspeare  bestows  an  ex- 
quisite compliment  on  the  dressing  of  the  foot,  when  he  says  — 

"Nay  —  her  foot  speaks." 
Butler,  in  his  Hudibras,  makes  the  hero  of  that  inimitable  poem 
pay  his  devours  to  his  lady-love,  in  the  following  terms  — 

"  Madam !  I  do,  as  is  my  duty, 
Honor  the  shadow  of  yom*  shoe-tie!" 

A  certain  critic,  of  more  learning  than  good  sense,  once  under- 
took to  bestow  an  unusual  quantity  of  censure  on  two  of  our 
own  lines,  in  the  description  of  a  lady's  person  — 

"  But  if  one  gi-ace  might  more  attention  suit, 
It  was  the  striking  neatness  of  her  foot." 

Now  we  think  that  ever}^  reader  of  good  taste  will  agi*ee  with 
us,  at  least  in  admiring  the  idea  which  these  lines  are  intended 
to  convey. 

Genteel  Reader  —  for  I  trust  I  shall  have  many  such  —  are 
you  aware  that  you  are  now  perhaps  trampling  the  industry  of 
Lynn  beneath  your  feet !  How  often  are  we  indebted  to  those 
of  whom  we  think  least,  for  many  of  our  most  valuable  and 
salutary  enjoyments.  Look  at  that  young  lady,  who  might  be 
taken  by  Brackett  as  a  model  for  one  of  the  graces,  reclining  in 
an  easy-chair,  with  her  foot  upon  an  ottoman.  See  the  delicate 
shoe  w^iich  fits  as  if  it  were  formed  by  the  hand  of  Apelles  ! 
Shakspeare,  in  his  Romeo  and  Juliet,  says  —  "I  would  I  were  a 
glove  upon  that  hand  !"  How  often  have  I  wished  —  "  0,  would 
I  were  a  shoe  upon  that  foot!"  Perhaps  neither  she  who  dis- 
pla^^s  that  elegant  foot,  nor  the  many  who  admire  it,  think 
that  much  of  its  grace  is  to  be  ascribed  to  some  unknown  indi- 
vidual on  the  shores  of  Lynn.  Yet  there,  by  the  sound  of  the 
rippling  waters,  are  thousands  of  men  employed  in  manufactur- 
ing all  manner  of  outer  vestures  for  the  delicate  foot,  and  as 
many  women  engaged  in  binding  and  trimming  them.  There 
the  belle  of  the  city  may  suit  both  her  form  and  taste  with  the 
newest  and  most  delicately  formed  style,  either  for  the  boudoir 


ANCIENT   FERRY —  ROADS  —  IRON  WORKS.  93 

or  ball-room,  with  its  classic  shape  and  its  Parisian  title  —  there 
the  rustic  maid  may  procure  the  laced  buskin  which  shall  add 
a  new  grace  to  her  modest  beauty  —  and  there  the  mother  may 
find  the  substantial  fabric,  adapted  to  domestic  comfort  for  her 
own  foot;  or  the  soft  tissue,  with  its  congenial  trimming  of 
gossamer  and  gold,  for  the  foot  of  her  loved  little  one.  So  long 
as  the  foot  needs  to  be  protected,  so  long  will  the  manufactures 
of  Lynn  continue  to  flourish. 

ANCIENT  FERRY — ROADS  —  IRON  WORKS. 

[Conveniences  for  travel  are  matters  of  the  first  importance 
in  all  new  settlements.  And  of  course  our  fathers  soon  directed 
their  attention  to  the  securing  of  means  for  communication  be- 
tween difi'erent  parts  of  their  own  wide-spread  plantation  and 
with  the  adjacent  settlements. 

[At  times,  vigorous  discussions  have  taken  place  as  to  the 
particular  course  of  the  early  routes  from  Lynn  to  Boston.  It 
should  be  remembered  that  water  communication  was  much 
favored  by  the  early  settlers,  for  land  journeys  over  the  primi- 
tive roads,  in  such  a  rough  country,  were  excessively  fatiguing, 
and  to  an  extent  dangerous.  And  besides  the  obstacles  of  rock, 
stump,  and  quagmire,  there  long  existed  an  apprehension  that 
ravenous  beasts  and  serpents  would  dispute  the  way.  An  ac- 
credited tradition  is  mentioned  in  Felt's  Annals,  to  the  effect 
that  certain  persons  from  Salem  visited  Boston  soon  after  its 
settlement  and  were  four  days  on  the  road.  On  the  next  Sun- 
day after  their  return  they  had  a  note  of  thanks,  for  their  safe 
deliverance  from  the  perils  and  hardships  of  the  journey,  read 
at  the  meeting-house.  For  the  crossing  of  creeks  and  rivers, 
and  for  inconsiderable  coast  voyaging,  the  Indian  canoes  were 
sufficient;  and  attention  was  early  called  to  the  construction  of 
shallops  suitable  for  more  extended  navigation.  It  is  very 
likely  that  passengers  were  taken  to  Boston  from  a  point  in  the 
vicinity  of  Sagamore  Hill,  as  well  as  from  points  as  far  west  as 
Saugus  river.  In  good  weather  the  passage  was  pleasant,  and 
with  a  ftiir  wind  by  no  means  tedious.  But  a  land  route  must 
have  been  very  soon  established,  for  the  water  communication 
was  liable  to  be  interrupted  by  ice  in  winter,  and  rendered  haz- 
ardous and  subject  to  delays  by  storms  and  adverse  winds,  more 


94  HISTORY   OF   LYNN. 

or  less,  at  all  times.  In  1639  the  Greneral  Court  granted  to  Gar- 
ret Spencer  ''  the  fferry  at  Linn,  for  2  yeares.''  And  this  was  no 
doubt  a  ferry  established  between  Needbam's  Landing,  just  be- 
low Chase's  mill,  in  Lynn,  and  Ballard's  Landing,  in  East  Saugus, 
and  was  a  very  great  convenience  for  passengers  to  and  from 
Boston. 

[It  is  not  easy  to  determine  e:^actly  the  direction  which  the 
first  road  took.  And  it  is  highly  probable  that  before  the  bridge 
over  Saugus  river  was  built,  two  or  three  routes  from  settled 
parts  of  the  town,  to  fording  places,  existed ;  nor  is  it  improba- 
ble that  these  were  struck  out  almost  simultaneously. 

[I  am  satisfied,  from  examination,  that  one  of  the  most  ancient 
of  these  routes  was  along  the  foot  of  the  hills,  north  of  Boston 
street.  From  the  northern  termination  of  Federal  street  it  fol- 
lowed Walnut  to  the  bend  where  Holyoke  joins.  Thence  it 
proceeded,  by  Holyoke  street,  along  the  margin  of  what  was 
formerly  called  Pan  Swamp,  a  comparatively  waste  territory, 
though  making  some  pretension  to  the  dignity  of  a  cranberry 
meadow ;  but  which  has  been  reclaimed  and  now  forms  the 
beautiful  interval  lying  on  the  north  of  the  street  last  named. 
It  followed  the  upland  curve,  crossed  the  busy  little  stream 
called  Beaver  Brook,  and,  passing  perhaps  a  furlong  west  of 
the  late  farm  residence  of  Rev.  C.  C.  Shackford,  came  out  at  the 
point  where  the  road  leading  to  the  Saugus  woolen  factories 
diverges  from  the  old  highway  between  Lynn  and  Lynnfield. 
There  this  ancient  way,  without  following  either  of  the  present 
roads,  kept  on  to  a  fording  place  considerably  above  the  roman- 
tic site  which  was  subsequently  occupied  by  the  Iron  Works, 
so  famous  in  early  colonial  history.  And  from  the  fording  place, 
it  probably  swept  off  for  Boston  through  the  vicinage  of  Maiden 
and  Medford.  Into  this  road,  undoubtedly,  at  different  points, 
other  roads  from  the  scattered  neighborhoods  of  Lynn  entered. 
In  support  of  the  belief  that  an  ancient  and  important  way  pur- 
sued the  direction  here  indicated,  it  may  be  mentioned  that 
some  of  the  first  and  most  prominent  settlers  are  found  to  have 
located  along  the  course.  Eichard  Sadler,  one  of  the  very  early 
comers,  and  who  was  the  first  Clerk  of  the  Writs  —  an  official 
with  duties  somewhat  analogous  to  those  of  Town  Clerk  —  lived 
just  at  the  junction  of  Walnut  and  Holyoke  streets  — the  lofty 


ANCIENT   FERRY  —  ROADS  —  IRON   WORKS.  95 

cliff  knoAvii  as  Sadler's  Rock  deriving  its  name  from  him.  Nich- 
olas Brown,  Samuel  Bennett,  and  Adam  Hawkes,  who  were  also 
among  the  early  planters,  pitched  their  tents  considerably  to 
the  northwest  of  Mr.  Sadler.  And  it  is  quite  certain  that  in  the 
territory  above  the  Iron  Works  there  were  settlers  while  the 
town  was  in  its  very  infancy.  The  renowned  Thomas  Dexter 
sat  himself  down  there  ;  and  the  ver}^  first  deed  on  our  county 
records  is  one  given  by  him,  in  1639.  And  furthermore,  on  a 
pleasant  afternoon  during  the  last  autumn,  I  took  an  opportunity 
to  examine  almost  the  whole  of  the  route  from  Holyoke  street 
to  the  river,  and  was  surprised  at  the  clear  evidences  of  an  an- 
cient settled  way.  Remains  of  the  old  wall  are  clearly  distin- 
guishable, on  either  hand,  for  considerable  distances,  and  here 
and  there  appear  sites  that  bear  unmistakable  marks  of  ancient 
occupancy.  It  is  perfectly  plain  that  it  was  not  a  mere  cart- 
way, laid  out  for  the  convenience  of  drawing  wood.  And 
observation  indicates  that  there  may  have  been  a  branch  di- 
verging from  this  road,  at  about  the  point  where  Myrtle  street 
intersects  Holyoke,  running  along  under  the  hills,  by  Oak  street, 
and  joining  again,  perhaps  half  a  mile  northwest  of  the  old  Dun- 
geon Gate,  which  was  near  Henry  B.  NewhalPs  farm  house  ;  or, 
possibly,  continuing  on  to  another  fording  place. 

[But  there  may  have  been  another  route  to  Boston,  as  early. 
The  present  Boston  street  was  a  traveled  way  soon  after  the 
settlement  commenced.  When  the  traveler  struck  the  river  by 
this  route,  which  he  must  have  done  at  a  point  just  about  where 
the  street  now  strikes  it,  if  no  means  were  at  hand  by  which  he 
could  cross,  he  pursued  his  way  up,  on  the  eastern  side,  the 
road  running  along  the  most  level  upland  near  the  river.  At 
a  fording  place  he  crossed,  and  proceeded  on  toward  Boston, 
either  by  coming  down  on  the  west  side  to  a  point  nearly  op- 
posite where  he  turned  up,  thus  making  a  detour  of  perhaps 
three  miles,  and  then  following  a  road  along  the  margin  of  the 
salt  marshes  ;  or,  by  taking  a  broader  and  more  westerly  sweep 
from  the  fording  place. 

[In  October,  1631,  Governor  Winthrop,  accompanied  by  sev- 
eral official  dignitaries,  left  Boston,  and  traveled  '^  on  foot  to 
Saugus,  and  the  next  day  to  Salem,  where  they  were  boun- 
tifully entertained  by   Captain  Endicotf     And  the  day  after 


96 


HISTORY    OP    LYNN. 


"they  returned  to  Boston  by  the  ford  at  Saugus  river  and  so 
over  at  Mistick." 

[It  will  be  observed  in  regard  to  these  routes,  that  they  are 
supposed  to  have  been  traveled  before  the  establishment  of  the 
Iron  Works,  which  went  into  operation  in  1643.  And  the 
bridge  at  the  Boston  street  crossing  was  built  about  four  years 
before.  After  the  bridge  was  completed,  travelers,  of  course, 
nearly  abandoned  the  fording  places.  It  is  well,  also,  to  bear 
in  mind  that  the  travel,  in  those  days,  was  quite  limited.  At- 
tendance on  the  General  Court  was  one  of  the  chief  necessities 
that  called  men  to  the  metropolis.  While  the  Iron  Works  were 
in  operation,  which  appears  to  have  been,  to  some  extent,  till 
1683,  the  road  just  spoken  of  as  running  up  the  east  side  of  the 
river,  from  Boston  street,  was  undoubtedly  much  used.  The 
manufactured  articles,  hov^^ever,  were,  in  all  probability,  trans- 
ported chiefly  by  water;  for  whoever  takes  notice  of  the  posi- 
tion in  which  the  Works  stood,  will  at  once  conclude  that 
convenience  for  loading  the  little  vessels  was  a  prominent 
object. 

[So  much  is  said  elsewhere  in  this  volume  concerning  these 
Iron  Works  that  little  should  be  said  here.  It  is  certain  that  Mr. 
Lewis  felt  a  very  great  interest  in  their  history.  And,  indeed, 
the  public  records  show  that  the  colonial  authorities  deemed 
their  establishment  a  matter  of  great  importance.  On  the  after- 
noon spoken  of,  after  carefully  traversing  the  route  up  from 
Boston  street,  through  the  still  wild  and  beautifully  diversified 
region,  where  one  is  forced  at  almost  every  step  to  linger  and 
admire,  I  came  to  a  halt  in  the  romantic  vale  where  the  old 
Works  were  seated.  Borrowing  a  pickaxe  from  one  at  work 
in  the  neighborhood  I  lustily  applied  it  to  one  of  the  mounds 
of  scoria,  or  cinder  banks,  as  they  are  called.  The  labor,  and 
object,  to  be  sure,  were  humble  in  comparison  with  those  of 
Layard  at  Nineveh,  but  a  fact  of  no  little  interest  was  verified. 
SufiScient  mould  has  accumulated,  during  these  two  centuries, 
to  sustain  a  respectable  garniture  of  grass;  but  even  the  casual 
passer  would  hardly  mistake  them  for  natural  hillocks.  It  is 
really  remarkable  that  in  a  neighborhood  which  has  been  well 
populated  for  generations,  so  many  tons  of  these  relics  should 
remain  heaped  up,  just  as  the  sooty  workmen  left  them  two 


ANCIENT   FERRY  —  ROADS  —  IRON   WORKS.  97 

hundred  years  ago.  Certainly  scores,  and  probably  hundreds, 
of  tons,  of  those  which  remained  nearest  the  river,  were,  how- 
ever, removed  many  years  since.  They  were  boated  down  and 
sunk  at  the  dam  at  the  Boston  steet  crossing.  It  was  imagined 
that  they  would  form  the  best  material  for  preventing  the  pas- 
sage of  eels,  which  are  troublesome  sappers ;  but  they  did  not 
prove  to  be  of  much  value.  Still,  as  they  can  easily  be  removed 
it  may  not  be  long  before  some  other  use  is  found  for  them. 
The  unsentimental  hand  of  improvement  or  speculation  may  be 
suddenly  extended,  and  in  a  day  scatter  them,  so  that  a  few 
years  hence  the  mining  river  or  delving  ploughshare  will  be 
looked  to  for  the  recovery  of  specimens  wherewith  to  enrich 
the  cabinets  of  the  curious.  Whether  the  Iron  Works  were,  on 
the  whole,  successful,  it  is  not  easy  to  determine ;  in  some 
respects,  they  undoubtedly  were.  A  prejudice  early  arose 
against  them,  founded  on  the  singular  apprehension  that  their 
great  consumption  of  wood  might  ultimately  produce  a  scarcity 
of  fuel.  This  will  hardly  be  belived  ;  yet  it  was  so.  The  under- 
takers found  themselves,  from  various  causes,  involved  in  pro- 
tracted lawsuits,  and  a  good  portion  of  their  profits  vanished 
in  the  corrosive  atmosphere  of  the  courts.  Law  is  expensive 
as  a  luxury.  And  those  who  freely  indulge  in  it  may  consider 
themselves  on  the  high  road  to  ruin.  Yet,  as  a  remedial  agent, 
it  is  occasionally  useful  if  not  necessary. 

[These  ancient  v/orks  must  have  presented  a  highly  pictur- 
esque appearance,  seated  down  there  between  the  densely  wood- 
ed hills,  the  smoke  curling  up  among  the  trees,  and  at  night  the 
red  glare  of  the  furnace  fires  streaming  over  the  dark  river, 
lighting  up  the  thickets  beyond,  and  perhaps  revealing  the 
dusky  form  of  some  skulking  Indian  or  prowling  beast;  to 
say  nothing  of  the  roving  devils  which  the  lively  imaginations 
of  our  good  fathers  discovered  in  every  quarter  where  there 
were  pious  men  and  women  to  affright  and  harrass.  But  the 
Iron  Works  were  destined  before  many  years  to  have  their 
final  account  closed  —  the  clink  of  the  hammer  ceased,  the  fire 
of  the  forge  went  out,  and  the  begrimmed  workmen  departed. 

[It  may  be  mentioned  that  there  are  traditions  confirming  the 
existence  of  the  old  roads  here  spoken  of.  A  worthy  yeoman 
who  lives  on  the  eastern  border  of  Saugus,  with  considerable 
I  -'-  7 


98  HISTORY   OF   LYNN. 

assurance  informed  me  that  the  ancient  mail  route  lay  through 
the  strip  of  woods  running  north  from  Boston  street  and  imme- 
diately on  the  east  of  Saugus  river.  He  learned  this  from  family 
tradition.  And  it  is  through  these  woods,  it  will  be  observed, 
that  the  old  roads  are  supposed  to  have  run,  with  the  exception 
of  the  branch  by  Oak  street.  It  is  by  no  means  unlikely  that 
while  the  Iron  Works  were  in  operation,  there  was  considerable 
correspondence  carried  on  with  Boston  and  Salem ;  and  it  is  not 
at  all  improbable  that  a  post-rider  may  have  pursued  that  route, 
delivering  letters  and  retaihng  news  by  the  way ;  for  it  will  be 
remembered  that  there  were  no  newspapers  in  America  at  that 
time.  And  when  some  great  historical  romancer  shall  arise,  we 
shall  see  those  ancient  post-riders  conspicuously  figuring. 

[The  ferry  from  Needham's  Landing,  in  Lynn,  to  Ballard's 
Landing,  in  Saugus,  has  been  already  mentioned.  It  must  have 
been  a  great  accommodation,  to  several  neighborhoods,  even 
after  the  bridge  was  built.  But  it  does  not  appear  to  have  been 
long  kept  in  operation. 

[Perhaps  a  word  should  be  said  regarding  the  routes  eastward. 
These  are  not  now  so  easily  traced,  for  reasons  that  will  suggest 
themselves  to  the  reader.  The  first,  appears  to  have  followed 
along  the  foot  of  the  hills,  northeasterly,  from  the  end  of  Fed- 
eral street,  being,  in  fact,  a  continuation  of  that  first  described  as 
running  through  Walnut  and  Holyoke  streets.  From  this,  at  a 
later  period,  a  branch  ran  through  the  Mineral  Spring  grounds, 
and  after  pursuing  a  devious  course  probably  joined  another 
road  that  came  in  from  Salem  and  Marblehead,  through  Swamps- 
cot  and  Woodend.  By  the  record  book  of  Salem  grants,  it 
appears  that  that  town  granted  "  to  Leiftenant  davenport  about 
2  acres  of  Land  lying  on  the  west  side  of  Butt  brook,  not  farr 
from  the  place  where  the  way  goeth  over  to  Lyn."  This  was 
in  1638.  And  Butt  Brook  took  its  name  from  a  family  of  the 
name  of  Butt  who  lived  near  it.  It  is  now  called  Tapley's 
Brook. 

[It  would  he  interesting  to  say  something  of  the  highways 
as  they  appeared  in  succeeding  years.  But  perhaps  sufficient 
will  appear  in  the  following  pages.  Our  roads,  at  the  present 
time,  are  quite  famous  for  their  excellence,  being  broad,  level, 
and  hard.     And  should  one  of  the  old  settlers  be  permitted  to 


ANCIENT   FERRY  —  ROADS  —  IRON   WORKS.  99 

arise   and  perambulate  them,  how  would  he  be  astonished  at 
their  perfection  and  at  the  elegance  of  the  edifices  that  adorn 
them.     But  more  than  all  would  he  be  astonished  at  the  variety 
and  style  of  the  vehicles  by  which  they  are  traversed,  and  the 
multitudes  of  the  merry  sons  and  daughters  of  his  sedate  con- 
temporaries who   in  strange  and   extravagant  apparel  throng 
them.     It  would  be  interesting,  too,  to  trace  the  progress  of  im- 
provement in  the  modes  of  travel,  were  there  not  so  many  other 
matters  of  seemingly  more  importance  pressing  forward  for  no- 
tice.    Going  back  to  the  time  when  wheeled  carriages  were 
hardly  known  here  for  purposes  of  mere  travel,  we  might  see 
the  old  gentleman  sally  forth  upon  the  back  of  plodding  dobbin, 
with  the  good  dame  seated  upon  her  pillion  behind  him.     And 
years  after,  when  population  had  increased  sufficiently  to  induce 
public-spirited  individuals  to  establish  conveyances  for  the  con- 
venience  of  the   public  and  their   own   profit,  might  be  seen 
awkward  and  rickety  vehicles  lumbering  along,  at  protracted 
and  uncertain  intervals,  and  at  a  pace,  extraordinarily  rapid  for 
the  time,  perhaps,  but  yet  such  as  would  lead  the  ambitious 
pedestrian  of  our  day  to  decline  their  services,  if  he  were  in 
haste.     Still  further  on  appears  the  jolly  stage-coach,  which,  for 
so  many  years,  held  its  supremacy  —  at  first  an  unseemly  and 
uncomfortable  affair,  literally  a  "slow  coach  " — and  then,  light, 
tasty  and  as  rapidly  moving  as  emulous  horses  and  aspiring 
Jehus  could  make  it.     What  a  bright  spot  will  the  stage-coach 
occupy  in  history  —  what  a  bright  spot  does  it  already  occupy 
in   poetry  and  romance.     But  the   rail-road  came,  and  with  a 
triumphant  whistle  drove  it  from  the  track.    A  day  of  reckoning, 
however,  may  be  in  store  for  that  arrogant  intruder.     Its  gilded 
sides  and  velvet  cushions,  its  sleeping  and  its  smoking  cars, 
may  not  be  competent  to  save  it  from  a  mortifying  end  through 
the  agency  of  some  yet  uninvented  traveling  machine  —  some 
wonderful  off'spring  of  art  and  science,  that  will  exultingly  send 
it  screaming  away  to  that  oblivious    depot  whither   are   dis- 
patched all  the  used-up  things  of  earth. 

[Hardly  any  thing  has  a  more  direct  and  material  efi*ect  on 
the  prosperity  of  a  place  than  the  public  ways.  And  we  often 
see  how  suddenly  and  essentially  the  laying  out  of  a  new  way 
afiects  a  particular  neighborhood.     All  sections  of  Lynn  had  a 


100  HISTORY   OF   LYNN. 

sprinkling  of  inhabitants  at  an  early  period.  But  for  more  than 
a  hundred  and  fifty  years,  or  till  tlie  opening  of  the  turnpike 
between  Boston  and  Salem,  in  1803,  Boston  street  remained  the 
great  thoroughfere.  Here  was  the  principal  public  house,  and 
the  post-office ;  here  resided  most  of  the  leading  citizens,  and 
here  the  chief  business  was  done.  But  when  the  turnpike  was 
completed,  the  scene  changed,  and  population  and  business 
began  to  concentrate  at  other  points.  The  post-office  was  re- 
moved to  the  southern  end  of  Federal  street,  and  the  Common 
and  eastern  sections  were  favorably  affected.  And  the  present 
generation  very  well  remember  how  materially  the  construction 
of  the  steam  rail-road,  in  1838,  operated  in  building  up  some 
neighborhoods  and  damaging  the  prosperity  of  others  —  how 
rapidly,  for  instance,  it  made  the  old  stone  walls  in  the  vicinity 
of  Central  Square  disappear  and  cow  pastures  and  gardens  come 
in  requisition  for  building  lots.  It  is  fit  to  allude  to  these  mat- 
ters in  this  connection,  though  in  view  of  what  will  hereafter 
be  said,  no  extended  remarks  are  required.  Almost  the  whole 
history  of  a  place  is  involved  in  a  history  of  its  public  ways.] 

PECULIAR   CUSTOMS   AND    DOINGS   IN   RELIGIOUS   MATTERS. 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  Lynn  were  some  persons  of  high 
reputation,  and  most  of  them  appear  to  have  been  men  of  good 
character,  and  of  comfortable  property.  There  is  no  evidence 
that  any  of  them  had  abandoned  the  Church,  or  been  persecuted 
for  their  opinions,  with  the  exception  of  the  Rev.  Stephen  Bach- 
iler,  and  the  few  persons  in  his  connection.  Governor  Winthrop, 
who  came  over  with  them,  begins  his  journal  on  ^'  Easter  Mon- 
day," which  Mr.  Savage  says  was  "  duly  honored ; "  and  it  is 
not  until  nearl}^  five  years  after,  that  we  catch  a  glimpse  of  his 
Puritanism,  when  he  begins  to  date  on  the  "  eleventh  month." 

The  great  body  of  the  first  settlers  of  Massachusetts  were 
members  of  the  Church  of  England.  After  they  had  gone 
aboard  the  ships,  they  addressed  a  letter  "  To  the  rest  of  their 
brethren  in  and  of  the  Church  of  England,"  in  which  they  say : 
"  We  desire  you  would  be  pleased  to  take  notice  of  the  princi- 
pals and  body  of  our  Company,  as  those  who  esteem  it  our  honor 
to  call  the  Church  of  England,  from  whence  we  rise,  our  dear 
Mother :  and  cannot  deoart  from  our  native  countrv  where  she 


PECULIAR   CUSTOMS   AND   DOINGS   IN   RELIGIOUS   MATTERS.     101 

specially  resideth,  without  much  sadness  of  heart,  and  many 
tears  in  our  eyes ;  ever  acknowledging  that  such  hope  and  part 
as  we  have  obtained  in  the  common  salvation,  we  have  received 
it  from  her  bosom."  Prince,  who  stands  in  the  first  rank  of  our 
historians,  says :  "  They  had  been  chiefly  born  and  brought  up 
in  the  national  Church,  and  had,  until  their  separation,  lived  in 
communion  with  her;  their  ministers  had  been  ordained  by  her 
bishops,  and  had  oflSciated  in  her  parish  churches,  and  had  made 
no  secession  from  her  until  they  left  their  native  land."  The 
author  of  the  Planter's  Plea,  printed  in  1630,  says:  "It  may  be 
with  good  assurance  maintained,  that  at  least  three  parts  out 
of  four,  of  the  men  there  planted,  are  able  to  justify  themselves 
to  have  lived  in  a  constant  course  of  conformity  unto  our  Church 
government."  Morton,  in  his  Memorial  says,  when  the  minis- 
ters were  accused,  "  They  answered  for  themselves  ;  they  were 
neither  separatists  nor  anabaptists ;  they  did  not  separate  from 
the  Church  of  England,  nor  from  the  ordinances  of  God  there ; 
and  the  generality  of  the  people  did  well  approve  of  the  minis- 
ters' answer."  Backus,  who  had  no  partiality  for  the  Church, 
but  who  could,  nevertheless,  speak  the  truth,  says :  "  The  gov- 
ernor and  company  of  the  Massachusetts  colony  held  communion 
with  the  national  church,  and  reflected  on  their  brethren  who 
separated  from  her."  Mr.  Hubbard,  who  was  well  acquainted 
with  many  of  them,  says :  ''  They  always  walked  in  a  distinct 
path  from  the  rigid  separatists,  nor  did  they  ever  disown  the 
Church  of  England  to  be  a  true  church.'^  The  Puritans  of  Ply- 
mouth colony,  were  the  "  rigid  separatists,"  and  they  continued 
a  separate  government  until  the  year  1692.  Some  historians 
have  confounded  these  facts,  and  thus  misled  their  readers. 

[Had  Mr.  Lewis  thoroughly  examined  and  maturely  consid- 
ered this  subject,  I  am  sure  he  v\^ould  not  have  left  the  foregoing 
just  as  it  is;  for  without  explanation  it  is  likely  to  lead  the 
mind  of  the  reader  who  is  not  acquainted  with  the  ecclesiastical 
history  of  the  times  in  some  of  its  minuter  details,  to  an  errone- 
ous conclusion.  Docs  it  not  appear  as  if  he  would  have  it  un- 
derstood  that  the  settlers,  generally,  were  Episcopalians,  or 
Churchmen,  in  the  sense  now  given  to  those  terms  ?  And  that 
being  so,  would  it  be  impertinent  to  ask  how  it  happened  that 
they  made  no  attempt  to  establish  a  churchly  mode  of  worship 
I* 


102  HISTORY   OF   LYNN. 

here,  but  immediately  set  about  forming  Congregational  socie- 
ties on  the  broadest  principles  of  Independency  —  how  it  hap- 
pened that  they  rejected  the  liturgy  of  the  Church  and  prohib- 
ited by  law  some  of  her  cherished  observances  ?  They  gloried 
in  the  name  of  Puritan  as  distinguishing  from  Churchman. 
'  They  levied  taxes  for  the  support  of  Congregational  worship. 
They  enacted  a  law  forbidding  that  any  one  not  in  regular 
standing  with  some  Congregational  church  should  be  entitled 
to  vote  or  even  be  permitted  to  take  the  freeman's  oath.  They 
re-ordained,  according  the  Congregational  form,  some  who  had 
received  Episcopal  ordination  at  home,  and  persecuted  the  few 
ministers  of  the  Church  who  from  time  to  time  appeared  c^mong 
them  and  refused  to  recant  their  Episcopal  vows.  It  is  true, 
that  in  the  outset  there  was  a  marked  difiference  between  the 
Plymouth  and  Massachusetts  settlers.  But  that  difference  had 
been  obliterated  long  before  the  pohtical  union  of  1692.  And 
an  accomplished  historian,  says  that  ''  wherever  the  Independ- 
ents possessed  power,  as  in  New  England,  they  showed  them- 
selves to  be  as  intolerant  as  any  of  their  opponents."  If  all  the 
inhabitants  of  Lynn,  excepting  Mr.  Bachiler  and  his  six  adherents, 
•  were  Episcopalians,  how  happened  it  that  they  at  once  zeal- 
ously lent  him  their  aid  in  forming  the  church  here?  Good 
Churchmen  would  as  soon  have  thought  of  fraternizing  with 
Hugh  Peters  as  Mr.  Bachiler.  His  ardent  temperament  and 
remembered  wrongs  led  him  to  manifest  such  envenomed  oppo- 
sition to  the  Church  that  it  is  not  clearly  seen  how  her  devout 
children  could  have  been  attracted  to  his  fold. 

[But  our  difficulties  will  very  much  lessen  if  we  bear  in  mind 
the  fact  that  there  for  some  time  existed  in  the  Church  itself  a 
considerable  Puritan  element — that  Episcopacy,  even,  for  a  time 
was  not  made  a  test — that  some  high  ecclesiastics  were  in- 
clined to  a  Presbytery,  and  others  to  Independency  or  Congre- 
gationalism. Nor  was  it  till  the  vigorous  arm  of  Laud  interposed 
that  the  integrity  of  the  Church  was  restored.  At  the  time  the 
Massachusetts  emigration  commenced  there  were  many  decided 
Puritans  in  the  Church,  some  of  the  more  sanguine  of  whom 
had  probably  once  hoped  to  Puritanize  her,  and  who  were  yet 
fond  of  calling  her  their  "  dear  mother."  They  had  not  been  op- 
pressed, and  had  no  ground  for  complaint.     Many  of  these  came 


PECULIAR   CUSTOMS   AND   DOINGS   IN  RELIGIOUS  MATTERS.     103 

over  with  the  "  rigid  separatists."  And  were  it  not  in  accord- 
ance with  the  recognized  tendency  of  the  human  mind  to  pro- 
ceed to  extremes  when  it  recedes  from  an  established  order,  we 
might  well  be  astonished  at  the  apparent  delight  some  of  them 
took,  when  safely  here,  in  heaping  indignities  upon  the  very 
name  of  their  "  dear  mother."  It  will  be  instructive  to  those 
who  have  never  given  this  subject  much  attention,  to  present 
an  illustration  or  two  of  their  seeming  disposition  to  proceed 
as  far  as  they  decently  could  in  raising  and  fostering  prejudices 
against  the  Church. 

[The  Church  had  always  observed  Christmas  as  the  most  note- 
worthy festival  of  the  year  —  it  was  the  anniversary  of  the  natal 
day  of  the  great  founder  of  our  faith  —  the  anniversary  of  an 
event  which  the  very  angels  of  heaven  came  down  to  celebrate — 
those  sinless  spirits  whose  majestic  anthem  rang  over  the  starlit 
plains  of  Judea,  and  being  taken  up  by  the  Church  had  been 
continued  on  through  all  the  centuries.  But  her  "  children  " 
here  in  these  western  wilds  thought  fit  to  turn  their  backs  upon 
her  holy  example.  They  went  to  the  extent  of  forbidding,  by 
law,  the  observance  of  Christmas.  Whoever  abstained  from  his 
ordinary  labor  on  that  day,  subjected  himself  to  the  liability  of 
being  punished  for  a  misdemeanor. 

[The  Church  regarded  matrimony  as  a  religious  rite.  They 
did  not  elevate  it  to  the  position  of  a  sacrament  but  invested  it 
with  a  peculiar  sanctity.  But  in  Massachusetts,  from  an  early 
date,  ministers  were  not  allowed  to  perform  the  wedding  cere- 
mony. Magistrates  and  special  appointees  alone  could  discharge 
the  agreeable  duty.  It  was  not  till  1686  that  the  present  cus- 
tom of  authorizing  ministers  to  solemnize  marriages  became 
established.  Reducing  it  to  the  incidents  of  a  mere  civil  con- 
tract was  no  doubt  the  occasion  of  divers  evils.  And  it  is  not 
remarkable  that  the  effect  Vv^as  so  long  felt  that  even  in  1719  the 
Boston  ministers  testified  that  weddings  were  times  of  ^'  riotous 
irregularities." 

[The  prayers  for  the  dead  and  the  whole  burial  service  of  the 
Church  were  solemn  and  affecting.  But  our  good  fathers  would 
not  have  even  prayers  at  funerals.  The  first  time  that  such  a 
thing  occurred  in  the  colony,  appears  to  have  been  in  August, 
1685.  and  the  funeral  was  that  of  Rev.  Mr.  Adams  of  Roxbury. 


104  HISTORY   OF   LYNN. 

And  the  distasteful  custom  was  of  very  slow  growth.  I  have, 
indeed,  seen  it  somewhere  stated  that  a  prayer  was  never  made 
at  a  funeral  in  Boston,  before  1766 ;  meaning,  of  course,  among 
such  as  adhered  to  puritanical  principles.  It  could  not,  how- 
ever, have  been  exactly  so,  for  a  Boston  newspaper,  printed  in 
1730,  speaking  of  the  funeral  of  Mrs.  Sarah  Byfield  says,  ''  Be- 
fore carrying  out  the  corpse,  a  funeral  prayer  was  made  by  one 
of  the  pastors  of  the  Old  Church,  which,  though  a  custom  in  the 
country  towns,  is  a  singular  instance  in  this  place,  but  it  is 
wished  may  prove  a  leading  example  to  the  general  practice 
of  so  Christian  and  decent  a  custom."  There  was  a  law  passed 
in  1727  forbidding  funerals  on  Sundays,  excepting  in  extraordi- 
nary cases,  or  b}^  special  leave.  These  things  show  how  little 
sanctity  our  Puritan  fathers  attached  to  the  burial  of  the  dead. 
And,  following  upon  this,  it  is  found  that,  especially  during 
the  first  half  of  the  last  century,  there  was  often  great  parade 
made  at  funerals,  particularly  those  of  the  rich.  Gloves,  gold 
rings,  hat-bands,  and  mourning  scarfs,  were  frequently  presented 
to  those  in  attendance.  Near  friends  acted  as  bearers,  carrying 
the  body  on  a  bier  on  the  shoulders,  there  being  relays  as  occa- 
sion required.  In  the  procession  males  and  females  did  not 
walk  together,  but  those  of  the  sex  of  the  deceased  walked 
nearest  the  remains.  Officers  with  staffs  and  mourning  badges 
accompanied  the  procession.  On  the  return  from  the  grave,  a 
liberal  entertainment  was  served,  at  which  wines  and  intoxi- 
cating liquors,  pipes  and  tobacco  were  freely  provided.  And 
too  often  the  drinking  led  to  shameful  rioting.  Could  they 
have  been  guilty  of  such  proceedings  had  they  first  engaged  in 
the  solemn  services  appointed  by  the  Church  for  such  affecting 
occasions?  Lechford,  writing  in  1641,  sa3^s :  "At  burials,  no- 
thing is  read,  nor  any  funeral  sermon  made,  but  all  the  neigh- 
borhood, or  a  good  company  of  them,  come  together  by  tolling 
of  the  bell,  and  carry  the  dead  solemnly  to  his  grave  and  there 
stand  by  him  while  he  is  buried.  The  ministers  are  most  com- 
monly present."  This  was  written  before  the  more  extravagant 
customs  began  to  prevail.  But  a  most  remarkable  thing  about 
it  is  how  those  good  old  divines  who,  if  they  had  a  passion  it 
was  for  delivering  sermons,  could  have  let  such  golden  oppor. 
tunities  pass  unimproved. 


PECULIAR   CUSTOMS  AND    DOINGS   IN   RELIGIOUS   MATTERS.     105 

[And  this  leads  to  a  remark  or  two  concerning  public  worship. 
The  Church  considered  the  sermon,  that  being  merely  the  ex- 
pression of  one  man's  views  of  religious  truth  and  duty,  as  of 
minor  importance  —  a  mere  appendage  to  the  worship.  The 
reading  of  the  Scriptures,  the  prayers,  the  psalms,  the  anthems, 
the  solemn  litany,  formed  the  important  part  of  the  services. 
At  first,  indeed,  the  sermons  were  not  delivered  during  the 
hours  of  worship,  but  at  different  times,  of  which  notice  was 
given.  And  though  it  was  censurable  not  to  attend  worship, 
absence  at  sermon-time  was  no  ground  for  formal  complaint  — 
excepting,  perhaps,  in  the  mind  of  the  preacher  himself.  But 
those  docile  children  of  that  '^  dear  mother,"  when  they  found 
themselves  safe  in  this  western  Canaan  just  reversed  matters. 
They  made  the  sermon  the  leading  feature  at  the  sanctuary, 
which  they  preferred  to  call  a  meeting-house,  rather  than  a 
church,  and  reduced  the  little  semblance  of  worship  they  re- 
tained, to  a  mere  appendage  to  the  sermon.  The  Congrega- 
tional societies  of  the  present  day  have  widely  departed,  in 
almost  every  respect,  from  the  usages  of  those  of  earlier  time. 
But  is  it  not  true  that,  as  a  general  rule,  they  still  adhere  to  the 
old  way  of  giving  the  sermon  an  undue  prominence  —  of  making 
their  sanctuaries  rather  houses  of  preaching  than  houses  of 
prayer  or  places  of  worship  ?  Without  a  liturgy,  it  is  perhaps 
difficult,  if  not  impossible,  to  satisfactorily  obviate  this.  It 
seems  almost  necessarily  to  follow  from  the  Congregational 
mode  —  from  all  modes  where  the  extemporary  element  prevails 
and  the  worship  cannot  be  responsive.  A  new  order  of  things 
seems,  however,  to  be  slowly  coming  about.  Some  societies, 
feeling  a  pressing  need,  have  recently  instituted  the  vesper 
service,  as  it  is  called,  and  a  few  others  have  actually  adopted 
liturgies. 

[It  appears  by  a  writer  who  will  presently  be  quoted,  that 
they  did  not  always  have  even  a  prayer  at  their  Sunday  services. 
And  the  Bible  was  not  read.  Such  a  thing  as  the  reading  of  the 
Bible  in  a  New  England  Congregational  meeting-house  was  hard- 
ly known  before  the  first  part  of  the  last  century,  save  in  a  few 
instances,  where  the  ministers,  having  been  bred  in  the  Church, 
could  not  bring  their  minds  at  once  to  dispense  with  what 
they  had  been  taught  was  a  matter  of  the  first  importance.     As 


106  HISTORY   OF   LYXN. 

early  as  1699,  however,  Rev.  Mr.  Colman,  of  Boston,  read  it  in 
his  church.  And  he  even  repeated  the  Lord's  prayer,  after  an 
introductory  one  of  his  own.  But  many  were  strongly  preju- 
diced against  his  innovations.  The  Ratio  Disciphn^  says  that 
in  1726,  the  practice  of  reading  the  sacred  volume  had  obtained 
in  many  churches  without  giving  offence.  It  does  not  appear 
when  the  Scriptures  began  to  be  read  in  the  church  at  Lynn. 
But  the  First  Church  of  Salem  adopted  the  custom  in  1736.  It 
was  not,  however,  till  many  years  after,  that  the  other  churches 
of  that  place  followed  her  good  example  —  the  Tabernacle  in 
1804  and  the  South  Church  in  1806.  The  neighboring  church 
of  Medford,  in  1759,  voted  '^  to  read  the  Scriptures  in  the  con- 
gregation." Mr.  Holmes  thus  remarks,  1720,  in  relation  to  the 
discontinuance  of  the  reading  of  the  Bible  at  public  worship  by 
the  Puritan  churches:  ^^  Why  this  practice  should  be  discontinued 
by  any  of  the  disciples  of  Jesus,  I  see  no  reason.  I  am  persua- 
ded it  cannot  be  alleged  to  be  any  part  of  our  reformation  from 
popish  superstition."  But  what  other  reason  had  they  to  allege  — 
excepting,  perhaps,  that  their  "  dear  mother"  made  almost  con- 
tinuous use  of  the  sacred  Word  in  her  services? 

[The  Church  had  always  deemed  it  honorable  to  have  her 
sanctuaries  in  as  impressive  and  beautiful  a  style  of  architecture 
as  circumstances  would  allow,  and  so  appointed  as  to  impart  to 
the  mind  a  due  sense  of  the  sanctity  of  God's  house.  This, 
besides  showing  a  becoming  respect  for  sacred  things,  was 
surely  to  be  approved  ;  for  the  loftiest  impressions  are  perhaps 
as  often  conveyed  to  the  mind  through  the  medium  of  the  sight 
as  any  other  sense.  And  the  proprieties  of  the  sacred  precincts 
were  carefully  looked  to.  Kneeling  was  the  required  attitude 
in  prayer.  The  music  was  that  best  adapted  to  inspire  devo- 
tional feelings  and  accord  with  the  passing  season.  The  solemn 
measures  of  the  Lenten  days  and  the  joyous  Easter  strains  were 
calculated  to  lead  the  devout  mind  to  contemplations  the  most 
fruitful  of  spiritual  good.  The  ancient  chants  which,  century 
after  century,  had  formed  a  stirring  portion  of  the  service, 
swelled,  in  concert  with  the  deep  organ  harmony,  through  the 
cathedral  arches  and  in  the  humble  church  upon  the  village  green. 
And  the  chimes  from  her  gray  towers  called  many  a  wandering 
thought  from  the  cares  and  vexations  of  the  world  to  rest  and 


PECULIAR   CUSTOMS   AND   DOINGS   IN   RELIGIOUS    MATTERS.     107 

holy  meditation.  But  with  what  eye  did  those  severely  matter- 
of-fact  Puritan  settlers  view  these  things  —  things  that  their 
''  dear  mother "  deemed  important  adjuncts  in  sustaining  the 
religious  character  in  her  children  ?  They  would  not  recognize 
the  forty  Lenten  days,  but  instituted,  by  civil  appointment,  an 
annual  fast  of  a  single  day ;  and  Easter  became  an  unknown 
season.  The  organ  was  to  them  an  instrument  of  heathenish 
device,  and  chanting  an  old  mummery.  At  prayer,  instead  of 
humbly  kneeling,  they  stood  ostentatiously  erect.  Their  meet- 
ing-houses, even  where  means  were  abundant,  were  but  rude 
structures,  often  surmounted  by  some  strange  image,  as  if  in 
mockery  of  the  cross,  that  emblem  with  which  the  Church  so 
loved  to  adorn  her  consecrated  edifices.  And  they  viewed  with 
disdain  attempts  to  reach  the  heart  in  other  ways  than  by  rea- 
soning unadorned. 

[There  is  a  merry  New  England  ballad  in  a  collection  pub- 
lished at  London,  in  1719,  edited  by  T.  D'Urfey,  which  contains 
a  sort  of  running  commentary  on  some  of  the  Puritan  customs, 
in  matters  such  as  we  have  been  considering ;  though  the  piece 
is  thought  by  Dr.  Harris  to  be  much  older  than  the  date  of  its 
publication  in  that  collection.  It  was  evidently  written  by  a 
good  natured  Churchman  who  viewed  things  with  an  understand- 
ing eye ;  and  we  extract  as  follows : 

Well,  that  Night  I  slept  till  near  Prayer  time, 
Next  Morning  I  wonder'd  to  hear  no  Bells  chime ; 
At  which  I  did  ask,  and  the  Reason  I  found, 
'Twas  because  they  had  ne'er  a  Bell  m  the  Town. 

At  last  being  warned,  to  Church  I  repairs, 

Where  I  did  think  certain  we  should  have  some  Pray'rs; 

But  the  parson  there  no  such  matter  did  teach, 

They  scorn'd  to  Pray,  for  all  one  could  Preach. 

The  fii'st  thing  they  did,  a  Psalm  they  did  Zing, 

Ise  pluck'd  out  my  Psalm-Book  I  with  me  did  bring ; 

And  tumbled  to  seek  him  'cause  they  caw'd  him  by's  name, 

But  they'd  got  a  new  Zong  to  the  Tune  of  the  same. 

When  Sermon  was  ended,  was  a  child  to  baptise, 

'Bout  Zixteen  years  old,  as  Volks  did  zurmise ; 

He  had  neither  Godfather  nor  Godmother,  yet  was  quiet  and  still, 

But  the  Priest  durst  not  cross  him,  for  fear  of  ill  will. 


108  HISTORY   OF   LYNN. 

Ah,  Sirrah,  thought  I,  and  to  Dhiiier  Ise  went, 
And  gave  the  Lord  Thanks  for  what  he  had  sent. 
Next  day  was  a  Weddmg,  the  Brideman  my  Friend 
Did  kindly  invite  me,  so  thither  Ise  wend. 

But  this,  above  all,  me  to  wonder  did  bring. 
To  see  Magisti*ate  marry  them,  and  had  ne'er  a  Ring ; 
Ise  thought  they  would  call  me  the  Woman  to  give, 
But  1  think  the  Man  stole  her,  they  ask'd  no  man  leave. 

[But  it  must  be  highly  gratifying  to  the  Churchman  of  this 
day  to  observe  how  many  of  the  old  prejudices  against  his 
revered  mother  have  disappeared.  Who,  now,  even  among  the 
sons  of  the  staunchest  Puritan  settlers  is  disposed  to  cast  con- 
tempt upon  her  fervid  outpourings  at  the  joyous  Christmas- 
tide  ?  Who  is  not  ready  to  commend  her  efforts  to  keep  the 
glad  sound  of  the  gospel  constantly  ringing  in  every  ear? 
And  who,  even,  is  not  ready  to  concede  that  she  possesses  a 
liturgy  and  order  worthy  of  the  warmest  affections  of  the  Chris- 
tian heart. 

[Notwithstanding  the  apparent  belief  of  Mr.  Lewis  that  the 
first  settlers  of  Lynn,  with  the  exception  of  about  half  a  dozen, 
were  devout  Churchmen,  it  is  yet  true  that  the  Church  was  of 
very  slow  growth  here.  No  attempt  was  made  to  gather  a 
congregation,  till  1819.  And  the  small  number  who  then  called 
themselves  of  the  fold  presently  dispersed  and  joined  other 
worshiping  bodies.  And  how  is  it  even  now,  when  we  have 
become  a  city  of  more  than  twenty  thousand  people?  Why, 
we  have  one  Church  —  St.  Stephen's  —  numbering  not  above  a 
hundred  communicants,  and  a  Chapel  —  St.  Andrew's  —  which 
is  open  only  in  the  warm  season,  for  the  accommodation  of  non- 
residents. If  the  great  body  of  the  settlers  had  been  Episco- 
palians a  different  state  of  things  might  rationally  have  been 
expected. 

[Indeed,  notwithstanding  the  professed  reverence  of  those 
early  comers  for  their  ^^  dear  mother,"  the  Episcopal  Church 
was  of  slow  growth  in  all  parts  of  New  England,  the  prejudices 
against  her  constantly  exhibiting  themselves.  Rev.  William 
Blaxton,  an  Episcopal  clergyman,  was  the  first  Christian  settler 
of  Boston.  He  sat  down  there,  solitary  and  alone,  in  1625  or  '6. 
He  was  a  man  of  great  learning,  and  seems  to  have  been  fond 


PECULIAR   CUSTOMS  AND    DOINGS   IN   RELlGi'OUS    MATTERS.     109 

of  retirement  and  study.  In  or  about  the  year  1634  be  removed 
to  tbe  vicinity  of  Providence,  and  died  26  May,  1675,  having 
made  no  apparent  impression  in  favor  of  bis  cberisbed  faith, 
though  he  bad  the  fame  of  having  been  bred  at  Emanuel,  which 
was  called  the  Puritan  college.  Moses  Brown,  in  one  of  his 
manuscript  letters,  says  :  ''Rev.  Mr.  Blackstone,  an  Episc°.  sold 
the  land  of  Boston,  in  1631,  and  removed  to  Blaxton  River  and 
settled  six  miles  north  of  Providence  and  Rehoboth.  He  had  a 
great  library,  was  a  great  student.  There  is  a  bill  now  called 
Study  Hill,  on  which  he  loved  to  walk  for  contemplation.  He 
rode  his  bull,  for  want  of  a  horse,  to  Boston  and  Providence,  to 
Smith's  in  Narrag*.  He  sometimes  came  to  Providence  and 
preached  there ;  the  first  time  to  one  man,  two  women,  and  a 
number  of  children  whom  he  invited  and  collected  around  him 
by  throwing  apples  to  them."  This  was  certainly  preaching 
under  difficulties.  But  the  devoted  ministers  of  the  Church 
here,  at  that  period,  were  subjected  to  many  such  experiences. 
Gov.  Dudley,  as  late  as  1702,  writes  that  there  are  in  ''Massa- 
chusetts, or  New  England,  seventy  thousand  souls,  in  seventy 
towns,  all  Dissenters,  that  have  ministers  and  schools  of  their 
own  persuasion,  except  one  congregation  of  the  Church  of 
England,  at  Boston,  where  there  are  two  ministers."  And  Rev. 
George  Keith,  who  was  the  first  missionary  sent  over  here  by 
the  Church  of  England  "  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the 
Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,"  and  whose  appearance  at  Lynn,  where 
he  gave  vigorous  battle  to  the  Quakers,  will  be  noticed  under 
date  1702,  says,  writing  at  about  the  same  time  Dudley  wrote, 
"There  is  no  Church  nor  Church  of  England  school  eastward 
of  the  province  of  New  York,  viz:  Connecticut,  Rhode  Island, 
Massachusetts  Bay,  Plymouth,  and  New  Hampshire,  except  at 
Boston,  where  there  is  one  Church,  consisting  of  a  large  con- 
gregation, having  two  ministers,  Mr.  Myles  and  Mr.  Bridge,  and 
one  in  Rhode  Island,  consisting  of  a  large  congregation  and  one 
minister,  viz:  Mr.  Lockier,  and  another  in  Braintry,  which  has 
no  minister."  Such  was  the  prosperity  of  the  Church,  in  New 
England,  about  three  quarters  of  a  century  after  the  emigrants 
"  with  much  sadness  of  heart  and  many  tears  "  in  their  eyes, 
began  to  arrive  hither  from  the  land  where  their  "  dear  mother  " 
specially  dwelt. 
J 


no  HISTORY   OF   LYNN. 

[That  the  Church  of  England,  as  a  branch  of  the  government, 
was  guilty  of  persecution,  in  some  instances,  may  not  be  denied. 
But  the  Episcopal  Church,  when  established  here,  was  divested 
of  temporal  power ;  and  has  stood  as  free  from  any  just  charge 
of  attempting  to  tyrannize  as  any  Chiistian  body  ever  known 
upon  the  American  continent. 

[Let  it  not  be  said,  however,  that  the  Puritans  accomplished 
little  or  no  good.  They  restored  much  of  the  excellent  that 
had  been  lost  among  the  lumber  of  the  dark,  superstitious,  and 
infidel  ages.  They  gave  to  the  Christian  world,  it  may  almost 
literally  be  said,  a  Sabbath.  For  before  their  time  the  Lord's 
day  had  been  regarded  as  a  festival,  instituted  by  the  early 
Christians  in  commemoration  of  the  Resurrection.  But  they, 
while  at  home,  in  the  bosom  of  their  ''  dear  mother,"  and  here, 
with  their  backs  turned  upon  her,  persisted  in  investing  the 
day  with  all  the  sanctity  and  incidents  of  the  day  proclaimed 
holy  amid  the  lightnings  of  Sinai.  And  they  succeeded  in  lead- 
ing the  Church  herself  to  adopt  their  views.  And  in  this  coun- 
try, at  this  day,  no  body  of  Christians  is  more  careful  in  the 
observance  of  the  Lord's  day  as  a  Sabbath  than  the  Episcopal 
Church.  And  did  not  the  Puritans,  here,  with  an  energy  and 
wisdom  unknown  before,  address  themselves  to  the  intellectual 
culture  of  mankind,  establishing  schools  in  every  quarter,  where 
to  the  poor  as  well  as  the  rich  were  dispensed  the  inestimable 
blessings  of  education  ?  Let  us  not  unduly  magnify  their  er- 
rors—  let  us  not  eternally  discourse  about  their  hanging  Qua- 
kers, persecuting  Baptists  and  pressing  witches  —  but  rather 
let  us  honor  ourselves  by  imitating  their  sterling  integrity  and 
endeavoring  to  perpetuate  the  noble  institutions  they  founded.] 


CHAPTER    II 


ANNALS. 


1629. 

Lynn  is  one  of  the  earliest  towns  planted  in  Massachusetts. 
Its  settlement  was  begun  in  1629.  Among  the  authorities  for 
assigning  the  settlement  to  this  year,  is  the  Rev.  Samuel  Dan- 
forth's  almanac  for  the  year  1647.  He  gives  a  list  of  the  first 
towns  settled  in  this  state,  to  which  he  prefixes  these  words : 
"The  time  when  these  townes  following  began — Lynn,  1629.'^ 
By  several  ancient  manuscripts,  it  appears  that  the  settlement 
must  have  commenced  as  early  as  the  first  of  June. 

The  first  white  men  known  to  have  been  inhabitants  of  Lynn, 
were  Edmund  Ingalls  and  his  brother  Francis  Ingalls.  A 
record  preserved  in  the  family  of  the  former  says,  "  Mr.  Edmund 
Ingalls  came  from  Lincolnshire,  in  England,  to  Lynn,  in  1629." 
He  was  a  farmer,  and  settled  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town, 
near  a  small  pond  in  Fayette  street.  The  place  where  his  house 
stood  is  still  pointed  out  by  his  descendants.  He  had  a  malt 
house  near  the  margin  of  the  pond.  When  the  lands  were  divi- 
ded, in  1638,  there  were  apportioned  "  to  Edmund  and  Francis 
Ingalls,  upland  and  meadow,  120  acres."  He  was  accidentally 
drowned,  in  March,  1648,  by  falling  with  his  horse  through  the 
old  Saugus  river  bridge,  on  Boston  street ;  for  which  the  Gen- 
eral Court  paid  one  hundred  pounds  ($444)  to  his  children. 
His  estate  was  valued  at  £135  8s.  lOd.,  including  "  house  and 
lands,  £50."  The  name  of  his  wife  was  Ann,  and  he  had  nine 
children,  six  of  whom  were  born  in  England.  1.  Robert,  who 
inherited  his  father's  "  house  and  houselot."  2.  Elizabeth.  3. 
Faith,  who  married  Andrew  Allen.  4.  John,  to  whom  his  father 
gave  "  the  house  and  ground  that  was  Jeremy  fiits,  (Fitch,) 
lying  by  the  meeting-house,  and  that  three  acres  land  he  hath  in 
England."  5.  Sarah,  who  married  William  Bitner.  6.  Henry, 
who  was  born  in  1627,  and  removed  to  Andover,  where  he  died 
in  1719,  aged  92  years.     A  descendant  of  his,  Capt.  Henry  In- 

(111) 


112  HISTORY   OF   LYNN. 

galls,  died  in  1803,  aged  84  years.  About  a  year  before  his 
death  he  added  the  following  note  to  the  family  genealogy  : 
"Mr.  Henry  Ingals.  from  whom  all  these  spring,  was  born  in 
the  year  1627,  and  he  died  in  the  year  1719,  who  lived  ninety- 
two  years,  and  two  months  after  his  death  I,  Henry  Ingals,  was 
Born,  who  have  lived  eighty-three  years.  So  that  we  two  Henry 
Ingals  hath  Lived  ou  this  Earth  one  hundred  and  seventy-five 
years."  7.  Samuel.  8.  Mary.  9.  Joseph.  The  descendants  of 
Mr.  Edmund  Ingalls,  in  this  and  other  towns,  are  numerous  and 
i-espectable,  and  several  of  them  eminent  in  the  learned  profes- 
sions. [One  or  two  interesting  particulars  appear  in  the  peti- 
tion of  the  chikTren  of  Mr.  Ingalls  for  redress  on  the  loss  of 
their  father.  The  paper  reads  as  follows  :  "  The  humble  petition 
of  Robert  Ingalls  with  the  rest  of  his  brethren  and  sisters,  being 
eight  in  number,  humbly  sheweth,  that  whereas  your  poor  peti- 
tioners father  hath  been  deprived  of  hfe  by  the  insufficiency 
of  Lynne  Bridge,  so  called,  to  the  great  impoverishinge  of  your 
poore  petitioners  mother  and  themselves,  and  there  being  a 
Court  order  that  any  person  soe  dyeinge  through  such  insufii- 
ciency  of  any  bridge  in  the  countrye,  that  there  should  be  an 
hundred  pounds  forfeit  to  the  next  heire,  may  it  therefore  please 
this  honorable  Court  to  take  your  poore  petitioners  case  into 
consideration."] 

Francis  Ingalls,  brother  of  Edmund  —  was  born  in  England 
in  1601.  He  was  a  tanner,  and  lived  at  Swampscot.  He  built  a 
tannery  on  Humfrey's  brook,  where  it  is  crossed  by  a  stone 
bridge  in  Burrill  street.  I  saw  the  vats  before  they  were  taken 
up  in  1825.  This  was  the  first  tannery  in  New  England.  [And 
perhaps  its  establishment  gave  the  first  direction  to  the  great 
business  of  the  place  —  shoemaking.  When  the  leather  was 
made,  it  was  natural  enough  to  turn  attention  to  means  for  di- 
rectly applying  it  to  the  common  necessities  of  life.] 

William  Dixey  —  was  born  in  England  in  1607,  and  came  over 
^  servant  with  Mr.  Isaac  Johnson.  [Common  laborers  and 
craftsmen  were  frequently  called  servants  to  those  by  whom 
they  were  for  the  time  being  employed.]  On  his  arrival  at  Sa- 
lem, he  says,  in  a  deposition  in  Essex  Court,  1  July,  1657,  that 
application  was  made  for  him  and  others,  "  for  a  place  to  set 
down  in ;  upon  which  Mr.  Endecott  did  give  me  and  the  rest 
leave  to  go  where  we  would ;  upon  which  we  went  to  Saugus, 
now  Linne,  and  there  wee  met  with  Sagamore  James  and  som 
other  Indians,  who  did  give  me  and  the  rest  leaue  to  dwell  there 
or  thereabouts ;  whereupon  I  and  the  rest  of  my  master's  com- 
pany did  cutt  grass  for  our  cattell,  and  kept  them  upon  Nahant 
for  som  space  of  time  ;  for  the  Indian  James  Sagamore  and  the 
rest  did  give  me  and  the  rest  in  behalf  of  my  master  Johnson, 
what  land  we  would ;  whereupon  wee  sett  down  in  Saugust,  and 


ANNALS  — 1629.  113 

had  quiet  possession  of  it  by  the  abovesaid  Indians,  and  kept 
our  cattell  in  Nahant  the  sumer  following."  Mr.  Dixey  was 
admitted  a  freeman  at  the  first  General  Court,  in  1634.  He  re- 
moved to  Salem,  says  Felt,  and  kept  a  ferry-boat  across  the 
North  River.  [He  had  several  children  baptized  in  Salem,  and 
died  in  1690,  aged  82.] 

William  Wood — came  to  Lynn  in  1629,  and  was  admitted  a 
freeman  18  May,  1631.  Pie  resided  here,  according  to  his  own 
account,  about  four  years ;  and  during  that  time  he  wrote  an 
interesting  work,  entitled  ''  New  Englands  Prospect,"  contain- 
ing a  very  favorable  account  of  the  early  settlements.  „0n  15 
August,  1633,  he  sailed  with  Captain  Thomas  Graves,  for  Lon- 
don, where,  in  1634,  he  printed  his  book,  in  one  hundred  pages. 
In  1635,  he  published  a  map  of  New  England,  engraved  on 
wood.  He  returned  to  Lynn  the  same  year.  He  embarked  on 
the  eleventh  of  September,  in  the  Hopewell,  of  London,  being 
then  27  years  of  age  ;  bringing  with  him  his  wife,  Elizabeth,  aged 
24  years,  as  appears  by  the  records  in  Westminster  Hall,  London. 
In  1636,  he  was  chosen  representative.  In  1637,  he  went  with 
a  company  of  about  fifty  men,  and  commenced  a  settlement  at 
Sandwich.  He  was  chosen  town  clerk  there,  and  was  a  very 
active,  intelligent,  and  talented  man.  His  book  is  one  of  the 
most  interesting  and  valuable  which  was  written  at  that  early 
period,  and  several  extracts  from  it  will  be  found  in  these  pages. 
[Shattuck  thinks  Mr.  Wood  went  to  Concord,  where  he  resided 
many  years,  dying  there,  14  May,  1671,  aged  86.  There  were 
several  of  the  same  name,  in  the  settlements,  and  hence  oppor- 
tunity for  confusion  among  genealogists.  It  is  pleasant  for  one 
to  locate  eminent  individuals  in  the  society  of  his  ancestors, 
and  some  appear  over-anxious  to  do  so.  There  is,  however,  no 
doubt  as  to  Mr.  Wood's  having  resided  at  Lynn.] 

John  Wood  —  was  a  farmer,  and  lived  on  the  corner  of  Essex 
and  Chesnut  streets.  When  the  lands  were  divided,  in  1638, 
100  acres  were  allotted  to  him.  I  think  that  William  Wood,  the 
writer,  was  his  son,  and  William  Wood  of  Salem,  his  brother. 

Such  was  the  little  band  who  commenced  the  first  settlement 
in  the  wilderness  of  Lynn.  Five  men,  with  their  families,  prob- 
ably comprising  about  twenty  persons.  They  did  not  settle  at 
Sagamore  Hill,  because  the  Indians  were  there ;  nor  on  the 
Common,  because  that  was  a  forest ;  but  coming  from  Salem, 
they  selected  a  ''  faire  playne,"  somewhat  less  than  half  a  mile 
in  extent,  where  they  built  their  rude  cottages,  "  and  had  peace- 
able possession."  John  Wood  appears  to  have  been  the  princi- 
pal person,  and  from  him  the  vicinity  has  ever  since  been  called 
"  Woodend."  There  the  soil  of  Lynn  was  first  stirred  by  the 
white  men  —  there,  surro-unded  by  Indians,  they  laid  the  foun- 
dation of  a  town. 

J*  1    - 8 


114  HISTORY   OP   LYNN. 

[There  was  a  fashion  of  constructing  temporary  habitations, 
prevailing,  more  or  less,  particularly  among  the  poorer  class  of 
farmers,  at  an  early  period,  which  deserves  notice  for  its  inge- 
nuity and  security,  and  for  the  comfort  it  afforded  in  winter. 
A  square  pit  was  dug,  of  such  dimensions  as  convenience  re- 
quired, to  the  depth  of  six  or  seven  feet.  This  was  lined  with 
boards  or  logs,  and  a  roof  made  of  poles  covered  with  bark, 
apertures  being  left  for  lighting  and  for  the  escape  of  smoke. 
As  late  as  1650,  the  secretary  of  the  province  of  New  Nether- 
lands, writing  in  Dutch,  speaks  of  houses  constructed  after  this 
fashion.  He  however  describes  them  as  being  generally  finished 
in  rather  better  style,  and  says  that  the  wealthy  and  principal 
men  in  New  England,  in  the  beginning  of  the  colonies,  com- 
menced their  dwellings  in  this  way.] 

1630. 

Early  in  the  spring,  eleven  vessels,  having  on  board  about 
seventeen  hundred  persons,  left  the  harbor  of  Southampton,  and 
sailed  for  New  England.  In  the  number  of  the  passengers  were 
Mr.  John  Winthrop,  the  first  governor  of  Massachusetts,  with 
many  other  persons  of  dignity,  wealth,  and  reputation.  As  Mr. 
Humfrey,  who  had  been  chosen  deputy  governor,  was  not  ready 
to  remove,  Mr.  Thomas  Dudley  was  chosen  in  his  stead.  In 
the  month  of  June,  the  ships  arrived  at  Salem,  and  the  passen- 
gers began  to  make  settlements  in  the  pathless  woods.  Mr. 
Dudley  says  that  some  of  them  settled  "  upon  the  river  of  Sau- 
gus."  Others  went  to  Charlestown  and  Boston ;  and  the  rest 
began  new  settlements  at  Roxbury,  Dorchester,  Watertown,  and 
Medford.  The  Council  had  agreed  that  each  person  who  ad- 
vanced fifty  pounds,  should  have  200  acres ;  and  that  each  one 
who  came  over  on  his  own  expense,  should  have  50  acres. 
The  following  persons  appear  to  have  arrived  at  Lynn,  this  year. 

Joseph  Armitage  —  lived  on  the  north  side  of  the  Common, 
a  little  east  of  Mall  street,  his  land  extending  to  Strawberry 
brook.  He  was  a  tailor,  and  was  admitted  a  freeman  in  1637. 
Some  years  after,  he  became  the  proprietor  of  a  corn  and  slitting 
mill  on  Saugus  river.  (Essex  Reg.  Deeds.)  He  opened  the 
first  tavern  in  the  town,  called  the  Anchor.  (Mass.  archives.) 
It  stood  on  the  Boston  road,  a  little  west  of  the  river.  For  a 
hundred  and  seventy  years,  this  was  the  most  celebrated  tavern 
in  Essex  county,  being  half  way  from  Salem  to  Boston.  He 
died  27  June,  1680,  aged  80  years.  His  wife,  Jane,  died  March 
3,  1675.  His  children  were  John,  and  Rebecca,  who  married 
Samuel  Tarbox,  in  1665. 

Godfrey  Armitage  —  was  a  farmer,  and  was  admitted  a  free- 
man in  1638.  [He  was  by  trade  a  tailor,  as  was  Joseph;  and 
they  may  have  been  brothers.     Godfrey  removed  to  Boston, 


^  tnan  there  was  m  that  oi 

lames.     Appended  is  a  fac-      /]  /Zp        /^        *~^^^^^^n' — ' 

of  his  autograph.     It  is  d^ ^^"^^^^^^^^^^^    //j^J^^  <y 


ANNALS— 1630.  115 

where  he  reared  a  family  ;  and  some  of  his  descendants  became 
prominent.] 

James  Axet  —  was  a  farmer,  a  representative  in  1654,  and 
died  in  1669.     His  wife,  Frances,  died  the  same  year. 

Allen  Breed  —  was  a  farmer,  and  lived  near  the  point  where 
Summer  street  crosses  the  Turnpike.  In  1638  he  had  200  acres 
allotted  to  him.  He  was  born  in  1601.  The  name  of  his  wife 
was  Elizabeth,  and  his  children  were  Allen,  Timothy,  Joseph, 
and  John.  His  descendants  are  numerous,  and  from  him  the 
vicinity  in  which  he  resided  was  called  Breed's  End.  [He  was 
one  of  the  Long  Island  settlers,  but  returned.  And  it  is  assert- 
ed that  Breed's  Hill,  in  Charlestown,  where  the  battle  of  Bunker 
Hill  was  fought,  took  its  name  from  him.  In  early  times  the 
name  was  spelled  Bread,  and  there  was  more  uniformity  in  the 
spelling  than  there  was  in  that  of 
most  names, 
simile 

careful  tracing  from  his  signature^     _.  ^.„     t,      , 

on  a  document  in  the  county  ar-         Signature  of  Allen  Breed. 

chives. 

William  Ballard  —  was  a  farmer,  and  was  admitted  a  free- 
man in  1638.  In  the  same  year  he  was  a  member  of  the  Essex 
Court.  His  children  were  John,  Nathaniel,  and  Elizabeth.  [Mr. 
Ballard  seems  to  have  died  in  1641.  Nicholas  Brown  and  Gar- 
rett Spencer  made  oath  before  Messrs.  Bradstreet  and  Nowell, 
in  March  of  that  year,  ''  that  being  w*^  M^  Willm  Ballard  of  Linn 
a  day  or  two  before  his  death  k  perswadinge  him  to  make  his 
will,"  he  told  them  that  "  he  intended  to  do  it  the  next  day, 
but  ....  dyed  before  he  could  put  it  in  wrightinge.  He 
would  leave  his  [wife  Sarah?]  half  his  estate,  and  the  other  half 
to  be  devided  amongst  his  children ;  the  said  William  Ballard 
beinge  then  of  pfect  minde."     (Suffolk  Recs.)] 

George  Burrill  —  lived  on  the  west-       z^a^mvH^ 
ern  side  of  Tower  Hill.     He  was  a  farm-   /r^  J 

er,  and  had  200  acres   of  land.     A  fac-  (  /y        ^ 
simile  of  his  autograph  is  here  given —  ^^-^^--OrO  /Y) 

traced    from   the    signature    to    his  will,        ^  y^O-ZOCUH 
dated   18  October    1653.     [He  was   one    signature  of  Geo.  Bun-iU. 
01  the  richest  oi  the  planters.     His  wife 

was  named  Mary,  and  both  he  and  she  died  in  1653.  His  chil- 
dren were:  ||George;  ||  Francis ;  ||John.  \GeorgQ  removed 
to  Boston  and  was  a  cooper.  He  married  Deborah  Simpkins, 
and  died  5  July,  1698.  He  had  children,  George,  born  13  Feb. 
1654;  Samuel,  b.  10  Jan.,  1656;  Sarah,  who  married  John 
Souther.  ||  Francises  wife  was  named  Elizabeth;  and  he  had  chil- 
dren, Ehzabeth,  born  1  Dec.  1655;  James,  b.  21  Dec.  1657;  Jo- 
seph, b.  18  Dec,  1659  ;  Marj-,  who  died  young,  b.  16  May,  1661  j 


116  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1630. 

Lydia,  b.  13  June,  1663;  Hannali,  b.  19  March,  1665:  Maiy, 
who  livt3d  but  ten  days,  b.  7  Feb.,  1668;  Deborah,  b.  23  July, 
1669,  and  died  the  next  month;  Moses,  b.  12  April,  1671;  Hes- 
ter, b.  15  Jan.,  1674;  Sarah,  b.  11  April,  1676,  and  died  in  infan- 
cy; Samuel,  who  also  died  in  infancy.  |1  John  married  Lois  Ivory, 
10  May,  1656,  and  had  children,  John,  b.  18  Nov.  1658;  Sarah, 
b.  16  Ma}-,  1661,  and  died  27  Dec,  1714;  Thomas,  b.  7  Jan., 
1664;  Anna,  b.  15  Sept.,  1666;  Theophilus,  b.  15  July,  1669 ; 
Lois,  b.  27  Jan.,  1672;  Samuel,  b.  20  April,' 1674;  Mary,  b.  18 
Feb.,  1677;  Ebenezer,  b.  13  July,  1679;  Ruth,  b.  17  May,  1682. 
The  last  named  John,  he  who  was  born  18  Nov.,  1658,  became 
quite  distinguished  for  his  talents,  and  for  skill  as  a  presiding 
officer  in  the  General  Court.  He  died  in  1721.  See  a  bio- 
graphical notice  of  him  beginning  on  page  489.  His  brother 
Ebenezer  was  also  conspicuous  as  a  public  man,  and  known  as 
the  Hon.  Ebenezer.  He  died  in  1761.  See  notice,  page  492. 
Sarah,  who  was  born  16  May,  1661,  married  John  Pickering,  of 
Salem,  and  became  grandmother  of  Hon.  Timothy  Pickering, 
the  eminent  statesman  and  intimate  friend  of  Washington.  Hon. 
James  Burrill,  LL.  D.,  who  was  made  chief  justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  Rhode  Island,  in  1816,  and  was  afterward  distinguished 
as  a  United  States  senator  from  that  State,  was  a  great-great- 
grandson  of  II John,  (known  as  Lieut.  John,  and  youngest  son  of 
the  first  George.)  Other  conspicuous  descendants  of  this  early 
settler  will  be  named  elsewhere.  The  Burrill  family  was  form- 
erly called  the  royal  family  of  Lynn,  in  view  of  the  many  famous 
persons  connected  with  it.] 

Edward  Baker  —  was  a  farmer,  and  lived  on  the  south  side 
of  Baker's  Hill,  in  Saugus.  He  was  admitted  a  freeman  in  1638  ; 
and  was  buried  March  16,  1687.  His  wife,  Joan,  died  April  9, 
1693.  His  sons  were  Edward,  who  married  Mary  Marshall, 
April  7,  1675  ;  and  Thomas,  who  married  Mary  Lewis,  July  10, 
1689.  [Mr.  Baker  removed  to  Northampton  about  1658,  and 
there  had  grants  of  land.  He  remained  many  years,  respected 
and  influential.  Mr.  Lewis  is  incorrect  in  one  or  two  particu- 
lars. The  name  of  Mr.  Baker's  wife  was  Jane,  and  he  had  five 
sons  —  Joseph,  Timothy,  Edward,  Thomas,  and  John.  He  finally 
returned  to  Lynn ;  but  his  sons  Joseph  and  Timothy  remained 
at  Northampton.  John  is  supposed  to  have  settled  in  Dedham, 
and  become  the  head  of  an  extensive  family.  The  will  of  Mr. 
Baker  is  dated  16  Oct.  1685,  and  having  previously  provided 
for  some  of  his  children  by  deed,  not  all  of  them  are  named  in  it. 
He  exhorts  his  family  to  live  peaceable  and  pious  lives,  and 
desires  for  himself  a  decent  funeral,  suitable  to  his  rank  and 
quality  while  living.  Timothy  was  a  prominent  man  in  North- 
ampton, and  some  of  his  descendants  became  conspicuous; 
among  them,  Hon.  Osmyn  Baker,  late  member  of  Congress. 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1630.  117 

[Captain  Thomas  Baker,  son  of  Timothy,  just  named,  and 
of  course  a  grandson  of  Edward,  the  early  Lynn  settler,  was 
taken  captive  by  the  Indians,  at  Deerfield,  on  the  terrible 
night  of  29  Feb.,  1704,  and  carried  to  Canada.  He  however, 
the  next  year,  succeeded  in  effecting  his  escape.  In  or  about 
the  year  1715,  he  married  Madam  Le  Beau,  whose  name  figures 
somewhat  in  the  history  of  that  period.  And  the  lives  of  both 
husband  and  wife  furnish  touching  and  romantic  passages.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  Richard  Otis,  of  Dover,  N.  H.,  who,  with  one 
son  and  one  daughter,  was  killed  by  the  Indians  on  the  night 
of  27  June,  1689,  at  the  time  they  destroyed  the  place.  She 
was  then  an  infant  of  three  months,  and  was,  with  her  mother, 
carried  captive  to  Canada  and  sold  to  the  French.  The  priests 
took  her,  baptised  her,  and  gave  her  the  name  of  Christine. 
They  educated  her  in  the  Romish  faith,  and  she  passed  some 
time  in  a  nunnery,  not,  however,  taking  the  veil.  At  the  age 
of  sixteen  she  was  married  to  a  Frenchman,  thus  becoming 
Madam  Le  Beau,  and  became  the  mother  of  two  or  three  chil- 
dren. Her  husband  died  about  1713.  And  it  was  very  soon 
after  that  her  future  husband,  Capt.  Baker,  appears  to  have 
fallen  in  with  her.  He  was  attached  to  the  commission  detailed 
by  Gov.  Dudley,  under  John  Stoddard  and  John  WiUiams  for 
the  purpose  of  negotiating  with  the  Marquis  de  Yaudreuil  for 
the  release  of  prisoners  and  to  settle  certain  other  matters,  and 
went  to  Canada.  From  Stoddard's  journal  it  appears  that  there 
was  much  trouble  in  procuring  her  release,  and  when  it  was 
obtained,  her  children  were  not  allowed  to  go  with  her.  Her 
mother  was  also  opposed  to  her  leaving  Canada. 

[After  her  return,  Christine  married  Capt.  Baker,  and  they 
went  to  reside  at  Brookfield,  where  they  remained  till  1733. 
They  had  several  children,  and  among  their  descendants  is  Hon. 
John  Wentworth,  late  member  of  Congress  from  Illinois.  She 
became  a  protestant  after  marrying  Capt.  Baker,  and  substituted 
the  name  Margaret  for  Christine,  though  later  in  life  she  seems 
to  have  again  adopted  the  latter.  In  1727,  her  former  confes- 
sor, Father  Siguenot  wrote  her  a  gracious  letter,  expressing  a 
high  opinion  of  her  and  warning  her  against  swerving  from  the 
faith  in  which  she  had  been  educated.  He  mentions  the  happy 
death  of  a  daughter  of  hers  who  had  married  and  lived  in  Que- 
bec, and  also  speaks  of  her  mother,  then  living,  and  the  wife 
of  a  Frenchman.  This  letter  was  shown  to  Gov.  Burnet,  and 
he  wrote  to  her  a  forcible  reply  to  the  arguments  it  contained 
in  favor  of  Romanism.  And  there  are,  or  recently  were,  three 
copies  of  the  letter  and  reply,  in  the  Boston  Athenaeum.  The 
mother  of  Christine  had  children  by  her  French  husband,  and 
Philip,  Christine's  half-brother,  visited  her  at  Brookfield. 

[All  the  children  of  Capt.  Baker  and  Christine,  seven  or  eight 


118  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1630. 

in  number,  excepting  the  first,  who  was  a  daughter,  bearing 
her  mother's  name,  were  born  in  Brookfield.  There  is  no  rea- 
son to  doubt  that  the  connection  was  a  happy  one.  They  held 
a  very  respectable  position,  and  he  was  the  first  representative 
from  Brookfield.  He  was,  indeed,  once  tried  before  the  Supe- 
rior Court,  at  Springfield,  in  1727,  for  blasphemy ;  but  the  jury 
acquitted  him.  The  offence  consisted  in  his  remarking,  while 
discoursing  on  God's  providence  in  allowing  Joseph  Jennings, 
of  Brookfield,  to  be  made  a  justice  of  the  peace  —  "If  I  had 
been  with  the  Almighty  I  would  have  taught  him  better." 

[In  1733  Capt.  Baker  sold  his  farm  in  Brookfield.  But  this 
proved  an  unfortunate  step,  for  the  purchaser  failed  before  mak- 
ing payment,  and  their  circumstances  became  greatly  reduced. 
They  were  a  short  time  at  Mendon,  and  also  at  Newport,  R.  I., 
before  finally  removing  to  Dover.  Poor  Christine,  in  1735,  pe- 
titioned the  authorities  of  New  Hampshire  for  leave  to  "keep 
a  house  of  public  entertainment "  on  the  "  County  Rhoade  from 
Dover  meeting  house  to  Cocheco  Boome."  In  this  petition  she 
signs  her  name  "  Christine  baker,"  and  mentions  that  she  made 
a  journey  to  Canada,  in  the  hope  of  getting  her  children,  "  but 
all  in  vaine."  A  license  was  granted,  and  it  seems  probable 
that  she  kept  the  house  a  number  of  years.  She  died,  at  a  great 
age,  23  Feb.,  1773,  and  an  obituary  notice  appeared  in  the  Bos- 
ton Evening  Post.  The  Mrs.  Bean  mentioned  in  the  N.  H.  Hist. 
Colls,  as  having  died,  6  Feb.,  1826,  at  the  age  of  a  hundred  years, 
was  Mary,  the  daughter  of  Capt.  Baker  and  Christine.  She  pos- 
sessed her  faculties  to  the  last,  and  her  eyesight  was  so  perfect 
that  she  could,  without  glasses,  see  to  thread  a  needle.  Col. 
Benjamin  Bean,  of  Conway,  N.  H.,  was  a  grandson  of  this  aged 
granddaughter  of  Edward  Baker  the  Lynn  settler. 

[I  have  given  this  connected  recital,  though  hardly  knowing 
how  to  afford  the  space,  not  only  on  account  of  the  romantic 
incidents  touched  upon,  but  also  because  it  aptly  illustrates 
occurrences  frequent  in  those  days.] 

John  Bancroft  —  died  in  1637.  He  had  two  sons,  Thomas 
and  John,  and  his  descendants  remain.  [The  name  was  some- 
times spelled  B  a  r  c  r  o  f  t ;  indeed  it  is  questionable  whether  that 
was  not  the  original  spelling,  the  change  easily  occurring.  Jane, 
the  wife  with  whom  this  settler  was  blessed,  does  not  seem  to 
have  been  the  most  amiable  of  women.  By  the  record  of  the 
Court  held  at  Boston,  in  1633,  it  appears  that,  "M^  John  Bar- 
croft  doeth  acknowledge  to  owe  vnto  o'"  Souaigne,  the  King, 
the  some  of  xU.  &  W  Samll  Mauacke  the  som  of  xxl.  &c.  The 
condicon  of  this  recognizance  is,  that  Jane  Barcroft,  wife  of  the 
said  John,  shall  be  of  good  behav^  towards  all  psons."  George 
Bancroft,  the  eminent  historian,  is  a  lineal  descendant  from  this 
Lynn  planter.] 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1630.  119 

Samuel  Bennet  —  was  a  carpenter,  and  a  member  of  the  An- 
cient Artillery  Company,  in  1639.  A  pine  forest  in  the  northern 
part  of  Lynn  still  retains  the  name  of  Bennet's  Swamp.  He 
resided  in  the  western  part  of  Saugus,  and  when  the  towns 
were  divided,  the  line  passed  through  his  land,  eastward  of  his 
house,  so  that  afterward  he  was  called  an  inhabitant  of  Boston. 

Nicholas  Brown  —  was  a  farmer,  and  lived  on  Walnut  street, 
in  Saugus.  He  removed  to  Reading,  in  1644.  He  had  a  son, 
Thomas,  who  continued  in  Lynn,  and  died,  28  Aug.  1693.  His 
descendants  remain. 

Boniface  Burton  —  was  a  farmer,  and  was  admitted  a  free- 
man, 6  May,  1635.  He  was  the  oldest  man  who  ever  lived  at 
Lynn.  He  died,  13  June,  1669,  aged  113  years,  according  to 
Sewall.  Another  diarist  makes  him  115.  His  son  Boniface 
removed  to  Reading. 

Thomas  Chadwell  —  was  a  farmer,  and  lived  in  Summer 
street.  He  died  in  Feb.  1683.  His  sons  were  Thomas,  Moses, 
and  Benjamin.  His  descendants  remain.  [He  had  three  wives ; 
the  first  was  named  Margaret,  and  she  died  29  Sept.  1658.  He 
afterward  removed  to  Boston,  and  married  Barbara  Brimblecom, 
a  widow,  who  had  survived  two  husbands.  This  second  wife 
died  in  1665,  and  for  a  third  wife,  he  married  Abigail  Jones,  of 
Charlestown,  a  widow.     His  son  Moses  was  born  10  April,  1637.] 

Clemens?  Coldam  —  was  a  miller,  and  a  member  of  the  An- 
cient Artillery  Company,  in  1645.  He  had  a  son  Clement,  born 
in  1622,  who  removed  to  Gloucester,  and  died  in  1703, 

Thomas  Coldam  —  was  admitted  a  freeman  in  1634.  He  kept 
Mr.  Humfrey's  windmill,  on  Sagamore  Hill,  and  died  8  April, 
1675,  aged  74  years. 

William  Cowdry,  born  in  1602  —  was  a  farmer.  He  removed 
to  Reading  in  1640,  where  he  was  Clerk  of  the  Writs,  Town 
Clerk,  Selectman  and  Representative. 

Thomas  Dexter  —  was  a  farmer,  and  lived  on  the  west  of  Sau- 
gus river,  near  the  Iron  Works.  He  was  admitted  a  freeman, 
18  May,  1631.  He  owned  eight  hundred  acres  of  land,  and  was 
called,  by  way  of  excellence,  '^  Farmer  Dexter."  He  was  a  very 
active  and  enterprising  man,  and  built  a  mill  and  a  wear  across 
Saugus  river.  Among  his  speculations,  he  purchased  Nahant 
of  the  Indian  chief,  Poquanum,  called  "  Black  Will,"  for  a  suit 
of  clothes ;  which  occasioned  the  town  an  expensive  lawsuit  in 
1657,  another  in  1678,  and  a  third  in  1695.  He  became  one  of 
the  first  proprietors  of  the  town  of  Sandwich,  in  1637,  and  pro- 
moted its  settlement,  but  did  not  remove  at  that  time.  He  had 
a  son  Thomas,  a  grandson  Richard,  and  a  great-grandson  William; 
but  none  of  his  descendants  remain  at  Lynn. 

Robert  Driver  —  was  a  farmer,  and  lived  in  Shepard  street, 
on  the  south  of  which  a  creek  still  bears  his  name.    He  was 


120  ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1630. 

made  a  freeman  in  1635,  and  died  3  April,  1680,  aged  88  years. 
His  wife,  Phebe,  died  in  Febriiar}^,  1683.  He  had  a  son,  Rob- 
ert, who  was  a  soldier  in  the  Indian  War  of  1675. 

William  Edmunds  —  was  admitted  a  freeman  in  1635,  and 
died  4  Aug.  1693.  His  children  were  John;  and  Samuel,  who 
married  Elizabeth  Bridges,  27  Jan.  1685.  [He  was  a  tailor  by 
trade.  His  wife  Mary  died  2  April,  1657,  and  five  months  after 
he  married  a  widow  Ann  Martin,  at  Boston.  Besides  John  and 
Samuel,  he  had  children,  Joseph  and  Mary.  The  latter  married 
Joseph  Hutchings,  1  Sept.  1657.  He  was  82  years  old  at  the 
time  of  his  death.] 

George  Fare  —  was  a  farmer  in  the  eastern  part  of  Essex 
street.  He  was  admitted  a  freeman  in  1635,  and  died  in  1661. 
His  wife  Elizabeth  was  buried  11  March,  1687.  His  children 
were,  John,  Lazarus,  Benjamin.  Joseph,  Mar}^,  Martha,  Elizabeth, 
and  Sarah.  [Mr.  Farr  came  over  in  1629.  He  was  a  ship- 
wright.] 

Henry  Feake  —  was  admitted  a  freeman,  14  May,  1632,  and 
removed  to  Sandwich  in  1637.  [He  was  a  Representative  in 
1643  and  '4.  About  1656  he  was  residing  at  Newtown,  L.  I. 
John  Dillingham  married  a  daughter  of  his,  24  March,  1654.] 

Jeremiah  Fitch  —  was  a  farmer,  and  lived  in  Shepard  street. 
He  removed  to  Reading  in  1644. 

Samuel  Grates  —  was  a  farmer,  and  lived  on  the  Turnpike, 
west  of  the  Floating  Bridge,  and  from  him  the  neighborhood 
has  ever  since  been  called  Gravesend.  In  1635,  he  gave  nearly 
£300  to  the  colony.  He  had  a  son  Samuel,  and  his  descendants 
remain.  [The  son  Samuel  married  Sarah  Brewer,  12  March, 
1678,  and  had  children,  Crispus,  born  3  Aug.  1679  ;  Hannah,  b. 
27  Aug.  1681;  Samuel,  b.  2  Aug.  1684.]  ^ 

John  Hall  —  was  admitted  a  freeman  in  1634.  Edward  Hall, 
son  of  John,  was  a  farmer,  and  died  in  1669.  His  children  were 
Joseph,  Ephraim,  Elizabeth,  Rebecca,  and  Martha.  His  descend- 
ants remain.  [I  think  this  John  Hall  must  have  been  the  one 
who,  in  1640,  was  a  Salisbury  proprietor,  and  married,  3  April, 
1641,  Rebecca,  widow  of  Henry  Bayley,  by  whom  he  had  a  son 
John,  born  18  March,  1642.  He  was  dead  in  1650,  as  his  widow, 
in  July  of  that  year,  married  Rev.  William  Worcester,  the  first 
minister  of  Salisbury.  And  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Worcester, 
which  took  place  in  1663,  she  married,  as  a  fourth  husband. 
Deputy  Governor  Symonds,  whom  she  outlived,  and  died  in 
1695.  As  to  Edward,  Mr.  Lewis  is  without  doubt  wrong  in 
some  particulars.  There  may  have  been  two  of  the  name  here. 
Edward,  son  of  John,  by  his  wife  Sarah,  had  children,  Joseph, 
born  3  July,  1646;  Ephraim,  b.  8  September,  1648;  Sarah,  b. 
in  August,  1651;  Elizabeth,  b.  30  April,  1654;  Rebecca,  b.  30 
April,  1657.     And  Savage  treats  him  as  the  same  individual  who 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1G30.  121 

was  so  oddly  named  in  the  will  of  Benjamin  Keayne,  of  Boston; 
who,  probably  through  his  son,  at  one  time  a  resident  of  Lynn, 
had  various  connections  with  the  people  here.  If  so  identified, 
he  must  have  been  a  carpenter,  though  he  may  have  carried  on 
farming  to  some  extent.  "  To  Edward  Hall,  of  Lyn,  carpenter," 
says  Mr.  Keayne's  will,  '^  as  an  acknowledgm*  of  his  Loueing 
seruice  to  me,  (though  of  Later  yeares  he  hath  Carryed  it  lesse 
deseruing,  &  fuller  of  more  Just  provocation,)  three  pounds."] 

Adam  Hawkes  —  was  a  farmer,  and  settled  on  the  Hawkes 
Farms,  in  Saugus.  He  owned  the  land  where  the  iron  ore  was 
found,  and  filled  up  one  of  the  mines,  on  the  supposition  that  it 
contained  silver.  Soon  after  his  settlement,  his  house  was 
burned.  The  only  persons  in  it  at  the  time,  were  a  servant  girl 
and  two  twin  infants,  who  escaped.  He  died  in  1671.  His  sons 
were,  Adam,  John,  Moses,  Benjamin,  and  Thomas.  His  descend- 
ants remain. 

John  Hawkes — was  admitted  a  freeman  in  1634,  and  died  5 
Aug.  1694.  [I  think  Mr.  Lewis  is  wrong  in  making  this  John 
Hawkes,  the  one  who  was  admitted  a  freeman  in  1634.  The 
only  John  here,  at  that  period,  was  probably  the  young  son  of 
Adam,  though  there  was  an  older  person  of  the  name  in  the 
vicinity.  The  John  who  died  here,  5  Aug.  1694,  is  called  in 
the  record  of  his  decease,  senior,  and  would,  as  respects  age, 
answer  w^ell  as  the  son  of  Adam.  He  married,  3  June,  1658, 
Eebecca  Maverick,  and  she  died  in  1659,  at  the  birth  of  their 
son  Moses.  He  married  again,  11  April,  1661.  His  second 
wife  was  Sarah  Cushman,  and  he  had  by  her,  Susanna,  born 
29  Nov.  1662;  Adam,  b.  12  May,  1664;  Anne,  b.  3  May,  1666; 
John,  b.  25  April,  1668;  Rebecca,  b.  18  Oct.  1670;  Thomas,  b. 
18  May,  1673;  and  Mary,  b.  14  Nov.  1675.  Within  twenty 
days  of  the  latter  date,  he  experienced  a  severe  affliction  in  the 
loss,  by  death,  of  all  his  daughters,  excepting  the  infant  Mary.] 

Edward  Holyoke  —  was  a  farmer,  and  had  500  acres  of  land. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Essex  Court,  and  was  many  times 
chosen  representative.  In  1656  he  owned  the  western  side 
of  Sagamore  Hill.  He  died  4  May,  1660.  In  his  will  he  beseeches 
God  to  impress  his  children  with  the  importance  of  private 
prayer  and  public  worship,  and  bequeaths  each  of  them  a  lock 
of  his  hair.  His  children  were,  Elizur,  who  removed  to  Spring- 
field, and  married  Mary  Pynchon ;  and  Elizabeth,  who  married 
George  Keyser.  An  excellent  spring,  in  the  western  part  of 
Lynn,  surrounded  by  willows,  is  well  known  by  the  name  of 
Holyoke  spring.  [This  spring  is  near  the  western  margin  of 
the  meadow  lying  immediately  north  of  Holyoke  street,  and 
west  of  Walnut,  formerly  known  as  Pan  Swamp.]  An  eminent 
descendant  of  this  settler,  Dr.  Edward  A.  Holyoke,  of  Salem, 
died  31  March,  1830,  aged  a  hundred  years  and  seven  months. 


122  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1630. 

[The  two  children  named  by  Mr.  Lewis,  Elizur  and  Elizabeth, 
were  not  the  only  offspring  of  Mr.  Holyoke.  He  had  daughters, 
Ann,  who  married  Lieut.  Thomas  Putnam,  17  Oct.  1643;  Mary, 
who  married  Jobn  Tuttle  of  Boston,  10  Feb.  1647 ;  Susanna, 
who  married  Michael  Martin,  12  Sept.  1656;  and  Sarah,  who 
married  an  Andrews.  He  also  had  sons,  Edward  and  John,  who 
were  born  in  England  and  died  there,  at  early  ages.  Mr.  Hol- 
yoke's  will  is  a  curious  document ;  and  most  of  it  is  here  given, 
because  it  so  well  exhibits  his  spirit  and  so  faithfully  exposes 
the  condition  of  things  at  that  time,  in  several  interesting  par- 
ticulars.    It  was  made  25  Dec.  1658,  and  he  died  4  May,  1660. 

As  for  the  holy  faith  of  the  holy  one,  God  hi  trinitie,  and  of  the  holy  faith 
of  our  glorious  Lord,  the  son  of  God,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  second  Adani, 
I  haue  composed  A  booke  and  doe  bestowell  vpon  each  of  my  sonns  in  law  as 
their  best  legacy,  &c.  (Being  instructed  chiefly  by  an  understanding  of  the 
Scriptures)  I  doubt  not  my  booke  will  giue  him  A  hart  of  all  sound  doctrine. 

Touching  my  worldly  estate,  I  dispose  the  yoke  of  Oxen  and  my  mare,  to 
my  sonn  in  law,  George  Keysar,  and  my  mare  foale  and  A  Cow,  to  my  sonn 
Prenam ;  tow  kine  to  my  sonn  Andrewes ;  A  Cow  to  my  dau.  Marten.  These 
Oxen  and  kine  are  in  the  hands  of  Goodman  Wilkins,  of  Linn ;  the  mare  and 
foale  is  at  Rumney  Marsh.  I  giue  to  my  sonn  Tuttle,  that  £4  yearely  hee 
should  haue  giuen  mee  since  I  put  ouer  the  house  in  Boston  to  him.  I  neuer 
yet  had  a  penney  of  it ;  40s.  I  gaue  him  of  that,  so  theare  is  yet  £6  beehind 
and  theare  is  £5  mentioned  in  Goodman  Wilkins  Case  that  hee  oweth  mee,  I 
giue  to  my  dau.  Marton,  and  20s.  to  my  kinswoman  Mary  Mansfeild,  and  10s. 
of  it  to  John  Dolittle,  and  10s.  of  it  to  my  kinsman  Thomas  Morris,  of  New- 
ham,  and  10s.  of  it  to  Hannah  Keasur.  I  giue  my  best  Cloake  of  that  Cloth 
that  cam  from  England  to  my  sonn  Holyoke,  as  allsoe  my  Coate  of  the  same 
cloth.  I  giue  my  other  Cloke  to  my  sonn  Keaser,  my  best  Dublet  and  breeches 
to  my  somi  Tuttle,  my  stuff"  dublet  and  my  best  hat  to  my  sonn  Holyoke ;  all 
the  rest  of  my  wearemg  apparell  to  my  sonn  Keasar.  As  touching  the  whol 
yeares  rent  of  this  yeare  1658,  that  is  Dew  mee  from  Goodman  Wilkins,  of 
Linn,  I  owe  Theodore  Atkins  49s. ;  pay  him  in  wheate ;  I  owe  Jolm  Hull 
Aboute  22s. ;  pay  him  in  wheate ;  pay  Mr.  Russell,  treasurer,  3  bushells  of 
wheate ;  for  Jolin  Andi-ewes,  8  bushells  of  wheate  to  Mr.  Wilson  Paster  at 
Boston,  and  8  bushel  1  of  Indian.  As  for  my  Linell,  let  all  my  dau^s.  part 
alike.  The  20s.  Goodman  Page  oweth  me,  as  my  sonn  Tuttle  cann  witness, 
I  give  my  dau.  Martin.  There  is  about  15s.  Capt.  Sauige  oweth  mee ;  intreat 
him  to  satisfie  my  Cosan  Dauis,  and  the  rest  giue  to  my  dau.  Marten.  As  for 
my  books  and  wrightings,  I  giue  my  sonn  Holyoke  all  the  books  that  ai'e  at 
Linn,  as  allsoe  the  Iron  Chest,  and  the  bookes  I  haue  in  my  study  that  are 
Mr.  Beanghaus  works  I  giue  him,  hee  onely  cann  make  vse  of  them,  and 
likewise  I  giue  all  my  maniscripts  what  soeuer,  and  I  giue  him  that  large  new 
testament  in  folio,  with  wast  papers  between  euery  leafe,  allso  Mr.  Answorth 
on  the  5  books  of  Moses  and  the  psalmes,  and  my  dixinaiy  and  Temellius 
bible  in  Latten,  and  my  latten  Concent  and  daniell  bound  together,  and  A 
part  of  the  New  testament  in  Folio,  with  wast  paper  bet^vin  euery  leafe,  and 
the  greate  mapps  of  geneolagy,  and  that  old  maniscript  called  a  Synas  sight ; 
the  rest,  for  A  muskett  I  gaue  of  olde  to  my  sonn  Holyoke :  Ail  my  land  in 
Linn,  and  that  land  and  Medow  in  the  Country  neere  Reding,  all  was  giuen 
to  my  sonn  Holyoke,  when  he  maried  M^  Pinchors  Daughter. 

P^  me.  Edword  Holyoke. 

[Mr.  Holyoke's  son  Elizur  administered  on  the  estate,  and 
the  inventory  was  taken  19  June,  1660.     John  Tuttle  and  JohD 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1630.  123 

Doolittle  were  appraisers,  and  the  amount  was  £681.  '*  A  farme 
at  Lynne,  £400  ;  3  acres  at  Nahant,  £6  ;  a  farme  at  Bever  dame, 
neare  Reading,  X150;'^  two  oxen,  X12 ;  four  cows,  X16;  and 
his  books,  X20  ;  are  the  principal  items. 

[Mr.  Holyoke  was  from  Tamworth,  Warwickshire,  where  he 
married,  18  June,  1612,  Prudence,  daughter  of  Rev.  John  Stock- 
ton, rector  of  Kinkolt.  His  father,  who  was  likewise  named 
Edward,  is  thought  to  be  the  same  ''  Edward  HoUyocke  "  men- 
tioned in  the  will  of  the  father  of  Ann  Hathaway,  wife  of  the 
immortal  Shakspeare,  where  he  is  spoken  of  as  having  a  claim 
of  twenty  shillings,  for  wood. 

[It  is  evident  that  Mr.  Holyoke,  quite  early  in  life,  had  his 
mind  directed  to  the  consideration  of  sacred  things.  And  on 
the  whole  he  seems  to  have  been  rather  a  lively  exponent  of 
puritan  character.  On  12  May,  1612,  about  a  month  before  his 
marriage,  he  wrote  to  Miss  Stockton  a  long  epistle,  from  which 
a  few  passages  are  here  introduced,  the  orthography  being  mod- 
ernized. "  Let  us  resolve,"  he  says,  "  with  an  unfeigned  heart 
in  constancy  and  perseverance  to  follow  the  Eternal,  and  to 
cleave  unto  him  all  our  days ;  to  set  him  up  in  our  hearts  to 
be  our  God;  to  love  him  with  all  our  heart,  mind,  soul,  and 
strength;  to  worship  him  in  spirit  and  truth,  according  to  his 
revealed  will ;  to  sanctify  his  name  in  his  word,  in  his  works,  in 
our  holy  conversation ;  to  keep  his  Sabbath  with  joy  of  heart 
and  delighting  in  the  Lord ;  in  it  not  doing  our  own  will,  but 
sanctifying  it  wholly  to  the  Lord.  If  this  be  in  our  hearts,  in 
deed  and  in  truth,  then  we  shall  be  faithful  to  each  other,  noi 
sinning  against  one  another ;  for  you  have  set  me  on  your  heart 
and  me  alone,  to  be  thine ;  thy  husband,  the  veil  of  thine  eyes 
in  the  sight  of  all ;  thy  head.  If  this  be  so,  then  cleave  to  me, 
to  me  alone ;  let  your  affections  be  mine,  your  desires  mine. 
And  I  have  set  thee  on  my  heart,  and  thee  alone,  to  make  thee 
my  spouse,  my  companion,  the  wife  of  my  youth ;  to  enter  into 
covenant  with  thee  before  God,  never  to  transgress  against 
thee,  but  to  love  you  only,  even  as  myself;  to  care  for  you,  to 

rejoice  with  you,  to  wander  in  thy  love  continually Me- 

thinks  I  see  the  preparation  that  Prudence  makes  for  the  day 
of  solemnity ;  every  thing  in  readiness,  that  she  will  not  forget 
an  ornament ;  every  thing  in  such  conveniency.  Oh,  will  you 
thus  prepare  for  this  marriage,  which  is  but  for  a  time  ?  Labor 
to  be  truly  spiritual,  that  this  may  be,  above  all  things,  the 
chief  of  your  thoughts,  to  prepare  for  that  eternal  marriage  with 
Christ  Jesus  in  the  last  day.'^ 

[The  name  of  Mount  Holyoke,  in  Hampshire  county,  it  is  said, 
was  derived  from  Elizur,  the  son  named  as  having  married  Mary 
Pynchon,  and  who  became  a  very  conspicuous  and  useful  man. 
Few  names  appear  on  the  records  of  the  colony  in  connection 


124  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1630. 

with  more  enterprises  of  a  public  nature  than  that  of  Elizur 
Holyoke,  and  few  are  more  highly  spoken  of  for  their  services. 
There  is  a  tradition  that  during  an  exploration  by  some  of  the 
settlers  of  Springfield,  five  or  six  years  after  they  first  located 
there,  Elizur  Holyoke,  with  a  party,  went  up  the  east  side  of  the 
river,  while  Rowland  Thomas,  with  another  party,  went  up  the 
west  side.  On  reaching  a  narfow  place,  between  the  mountains, 
a  conversation  took  place,  across  the  water,  between  Holyoke 
and  Thomas,  concerning  the  naming  of  the  mountains.  And 
finally  it  was  determined  to  give  the  name  of  Holyoke  to  that 
on  the  east,  and  the  name  of  Thomas  to  that  on  the  west.  The 
latter  soon  came  to  be  called  Mount  Tom ;  but  the  former  was 
more  fortunate  in  retaining  the  integrity  of  its  name.  A  worthy 
writer  says  of  Elizur  Holyoke :  '*  His  whole  life  was  devoted  to 
the  service  of  the  people  among  whom  he  lived."  He  was 
appointed  by  the  General  Court,  in  1652,  one  of  the  commis- 
sioners empowered  to  govern  the  Springfield  settlers,  "  in  all 
matters  not  extending  to  life  and  limb."  He  died  6  Feb.  1676. 
He  had  a  son  Elizur,  the  youngest  of  four,  who  was  sent  to 
Boston  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  brazier,  and  who  finally  became 
prominent  by  his  enterprise  and  wealth ;  and  his  name  will  long- 
survive  from  his  association  with  the  founders  of  the  Old  South 
Church.  Edward  Holyoke,  president  of  Harvard  College,  was 
a  son  of  his.  The  name  is  perpetuated  in  Lynn,  through  Hol- 
yoke street,  in  the  vicinity  of  which  Edward,  the  original  settler, 
owned  lands.] 

William  Hathorne — was  born  in  England,  in  1607;  was 
admitted  a  freeman  in  1634;  and  removed  to  Salem. 

Daniel  Howe,  (Lieut.)  —  was  admitted  a  freeman  in  1634. 
He  was  a  representative  in  five  General  Courts,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Ancient  Artillery  Company  in  1638.  He  removed 
to  New  Haven.  His  son  Ephraim  was  master  of  a  vessel  which 
sailed  from  Boston.  In  Sept.  1676,  his  vessel,  in  which  were 
two  of  his  sons  and  three  other  persons,  was  disabled  by  a 
storm,  off  Cape  Cod,  and  driven  to  sea  for  several  weeks,  until 
his  two  sons,  lashed  to  the  deck  by  ropes,  perished.  The  vessel 
was  then  cast  on  a  desolate  island,  where  the  three  other  per- 
sons died.  Mr.  Howe  was  thus  left  alone,  and  found  means  to 
subsist  for  nine  months,  lodging  and  praying  in  a  cave,  till  he 
was  taken  off  by  a  vessel,  in  June. 

Edward  Howe  —  was  a  farmer,  and  was  admitted  a  freeman 
in  1636.  He  was  several  times  chosen  representative,  and  was 
a  member  of  the  Essex  Court,  in  1637.  In  April,  1639,  after 
the  Court  was  ended  in  Boston,  having  dined  in  his  usual  health, 
he  went  to  the  river  side,  to  pass  over  to  Charlestown,  and 
while  waiting  for  the  ferry  boat,  fell  dead  on  the  shore.  Gov. 
Winthrop  says  he  was  ^'  a  Godly  man."     He  had  a  son  Edward. 


ANNALS    OF   LYNN — 1630.  125 

[Mr.  Lewis  has  located  him  here  at  too  early  a  date.  He  came 
in  the  Trnelove,  1635.  He  was  64  years  old  at  the  time  of  his 
death.     He  and  Daniel  Howe,  the  preceding,  were  brothers.] 

Thomas  Hubbard  —  was  admitted  a  freeman  in  1634,  and 
removed  to  Billerica.  [His  wife's  name  was  Elizabeth.  He  died 
in  Nov.  1662.] 

Thomas  Hudson  —  was  a  farmer,  and  lived  on  the  western 
side  of  Saugus  river.  He  owned  the  lands  where  the  Iron 
Works  were  situated,  part  of  which  he  sold  for  that  purpose. 
He  had  a  son  Jonathan,  whose  descendants  remain. 

Christopher  Hussey  —  was  born  in  Harking,  in  Surrey,  Eng- 
land, in  1598.  He  went  to  Holland,  where  he  became  enamored 
of  Theodate,  daughter  of  Rev.  Stephen  Bachiler,  who  had  resid- 
ed there  several  years,  but  her  father  would  not  consent  to 
their  union,  unless  Mr.  Hussey  would  remove  to  New  England, 
whither  he  was  preparing  to  go.  Mr.  Hussey  came  to  Lynn 
with  his  mother,  widow  Mary  Hussey,  and  his  wife,  in  1630,  and 
here,  the  same  year,  his  son  Stephen  was  born,  who  was  the 
second  white  child  born  in  Lynn.  He  removed  to  Newbury, 
in  1636,  and  was  chosen  representative  in  1637.  In  1638,  he 
became  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Hampton,  and  was  chosen  a 
counsellor.  In  1685,  he  was  cast  away  and  lost  on  the  coast 
of  Florida,  being  87  years  of  age.  His  children  were  Stephen, 
John,  Joseph,  Huldah,  Theodate  and  Mary. 

George  Keyser,  born  in  1616  —  was  a  miller,  at  Swampscot, 
and  was  admitted  a  freeman  in  1638.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Holyoke,  and  had  a  son  Elizur,  who  removed  to  Salem. 

Christopher  Lindsey  —  lived  as  a  servant  with  Thomas  Dex- 
ter, and  kept  his  cattle  at  Nahant.  A  hill  on  the  notheastern 
part  of  Nahant  is  still  called  Lindsey's  hill.  He  died  in  1668. 
He  had  two  sons,  John  and  Eleazer,  and  his  descendants  remain. 
[Mr.  Lindsey  was  wounded  in  the  Pequot  war,  and  in  a  petition 
to  the  Court,  May,  1655,  states  that  he  was  ^'  disabled  from 
service  for  20  weekes,  for  which  he  neuer  had  any  satisfaction." 
He  was  allowed  three  pounds.  His  only  daughter,  Naomi,  was 
the  first  wife  of  Thomas  Maule,  of  Salem,  the  famous  Quaker, 
to  whom  she  was  married,  22  July,  1670.  Maule  published  a 
book  setting  forth  and  maintaining  the  truth  according  to  the 
Quaker  view.  And  for  this  he  was  indicted.  He  afterward  put 
forth  another  work  —  his  "Persecutors  Mauled"  —  in  which  he 
remarks  that  they  five  times  imprisoned  him,  thrice  took  away 
his  goods,  and  thrice  cruelly  whipped  him;  besides  their  many 
other  abuses.] 

Jonathan  Negus  —  was  born  in  1601,  and  admitted  a  freeman 
in  1634. 

Thomas  Newhall  —  was  a  farmer,  and  owned  all  the  lands 
on  the  eastern  side  of  Federal  street,  as  far  north  as  Marion. 


126  ANNALS  OP  LYNN — 1630. 

His  house  stood  on  the  east  side  of  the  former  street,  a  few  rods 
south  of  where  the  brook  crosses.  He  had  two  sons.  1.  John, 
born  in  England.  2.  Thomas  born  in  1630,  who  was  the  first 
white  child  horn  in  Lynn.  He  married  EHzabeth  Potter,  29 
Dec.  1652,  and  was  buried  1  April,  1687,  aged  57.  His  wife 
was  buried  22  Feb.  1687.  His  descendants  are  more  numerous 
than  those  of  any  other  name  at  Lynn,  and  there  are  many  in 
the  adjacent  towns.    [A  fac-simile    '    ^ 

of  the  autograph  of  this  Thomas,  'JrLQ-jric^   '^J^iM^^dJ^ 
the  first  of  the  white  race  born 

in  our  precincts,  is  here  given.  Signatiu-e  of  Thomas  Newhall. 
It  was  traced  from  his  signature  to  an  inventory  filed  in  the 
court  at  Salem,  in  1677,  the  last  two  letters  being  supplied,  as 
the  paper  is  so  much  worn  as  to  render  them  illigible.  I  have 
searched  in  vain  for  a  proper  signature  of  his  father,  who  died 
25  May,  1674.  His  will  is  signed  by  "his  mark."  But  as  the 
document  was  executed  just  before  his  death,  it  is  reasonable 
to  conclude  that  infirmity,  rather  than  ignorance,  was  the  occa- 
sion of  his  signing  in  that  suspicious  manner.  A  somewhat 
extended  genealogical  view  of  the  Newhall  family  will  be  given 
in  another  part  of  this  work.] 

Robert  Potter —  was  a  farmer,  and  lived  in  Boston  street. 
He  was  admitted  a  freeman  in  1634.  He  had  a  daughter  Eliza- 
beth.  [He  removed  from  town  soon  after  he  became  a  freeman. 
Under  date  1685  Mr.  Lewis  gives  the  name  of  a  Robert  Potter, 
who  was  probably  a  son  of  this  Robert.  He  went  first  to  Rhode 
Island,  but  changed  his  place  of  abode  two  or  three  times.  In 
1643,  he,  with  others,  was  arrested  for  disseminating  obnoxious 
doctrines,  and  brought  to  Boston.  The  government  ordered 
them  to  discontinue  their  preaching,  on  pain  of  death.  They 
suffered  imprisonment,  confiscation  of  estate  and  banishment. 
Subsequently,  however,  by  making  complaint  in  England,  they 
had  their  estates  restored.  In  1649,  he  kept  an  inn,  at  War- 
wick. He  had  a  son  John,  and  daughters  Deliverance  and  Eliz- 
beth ;  and,  probably,  a  son  Robert,  his  eldest  child.  He  died 
in  1655.] 

John  Ramsdell  —  was  a  farmer,  and  died  27  Oct.  1688,  aged 
86.  His  wife,  Priscilla,  died  23  Jan.  1675.  His  sons  were  John 
and  Aquila,  and  his  descendants  remain. 

Joseph  Rednap  —  was  a  wine-cooper,  from  London,  and  was 
admitted  a  freeman  in  1634.  Judge  Sewall,  in  his  Diary,  says 
he  died  on  Friday,  23  Jan.  1686,  aged  110  years.  [But  Judge 
Sewall  must  have  made  his  entry  touching  the  age,  from  exag- 
gerated reports.  Mr.  Rednap  could  not  have  been  much,  if  any, 
above  90.  And  in  the  Judge's  statement  we  have  further  evi- 
dence that  in  those  days  people  took  a  singular  pride,  when  one 
died  at  an  age  beyond  the  common  limit,  in  giving  him,  to  as 


ANNALS  OP  LYNN — 1630.  12? 

great  an  extent  as  the  case  would  bear,  the  patriarchal  charac- 
teristic of  age.  On  29  June,  1669,  Mr.  Rednap  gave  certain 
testimony,  which  he  swore  to,  in  the  Salem  Court,  in  which  he 
states  himself  to  be  "  betwixt  seventy  and  eighty  years  "  old. 
He  also,  in  evidence  given  in  1657,  states  himself  to  be  about 
sixty.  Now  if  he  was  60  in  1657,  he  would  have  been  72  in 
1669,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1686,  he  would  have  been 
but  89  or  90.  This  conclusion,  it  will  be  observed,  is  drawn 
from  his  own  statements,  made  under  oath.  Mr.  Rednap  was 
an  anabaptist,  or  rather  an  anti-pedobaptist,  and  underwent  some 
persecution  as  such.] 

Edward  Richards,  born  in  1616  —  was  a  joiner,  and  was  ad- 
mitted a  freeman  in  1641.  He  lived  in  the  eastern  part  of  Essex 
street.  On  the  third  of  April  1646,  he  sold  to  Daniel  King, 
'^  one  parcel  of  land,  called  Windmill  Hill,"  being  the  eastern 
mound  of  Sagamore  Hill.  He  died  26  Jan.  1690,  aged  74.  His 
descendants  remain.  [His  wife's  name  was  Ann,  and  they  had 
children,  William,  born  7  June,  1663 ;  Daniel ;  Mary ;  Abigail ; 
and,  it  is  thought,  John.  William  was  living  abroad  in  1688,  as 
appears  by  a  parental  letter  superscribed  '^  These  ffor  my  love- 
ing  sonn  William  Richards  Liveing  att  Philadelphia  in  pensylva- 
nah  or  elsewhere  present,"  and  sent  "  flfrom  Lin  in  New  Eng- 
land this  12th  of  June,  1688."  The  letter  urges  him  to  return 
to  Lynn,  as  his  parents  are  getting  old,  and  much  desire  his 
presence.  And  they  want  him  to  make  up  his  mind  never  to 
leave  the  place  again ;  the  father  agreeing,  for  his  encourage- 
ment, to  give  him  half  of  his  place.  In  1678  Mr.  Richards  made 
oath  that  he  had  lived  here  forty-five  years.  The  inventory 
of  his  estate,  taken  about  a  month  after  his  decease,  by  William 
Bassett,  jr.  and  Samuel  Johnson,  gives  an  amount  of  £180  Is.] 

Daniel  Salmon,  born  in  1610  —  was  a  soldier  in  the  Pequot 
war,  in  1636.  [He  labored  at  the  Iron  Works,  soon  after  their 
establishment.]     He  had  a  son  Daniel,  born  2  May,  1665. 

John  Smith  —  was  a  farmer,  and  was  admitted  a  freeman  in 
1633.     He  removed  to  Reading. 

Samuel  Smith  —  was  a  farmer,  and  lived  at  Sw«ampscot.  His 
descendants  remain. 

John  Taylor  ^ — came  from  Haverhill,  in  England.  His  wife 
and  children  died  on  the  passage.  He  was  admitted  a  freeman, 
19  Oct.  1630,  and  lived  on  the  western  side  of  Saugus  river. 

.Edward  Tomlins,  (Capt.)  —  was  a  carpenter,  and  was  admitted 
.  a  freeman  in  1631.  He  was  six  times  chosen  representative. 
In  1633,  he  built  the  first  mill  in  Lynn,  at  the  mouth  of  Straw- 
berry Brook,  which  flows  from  the  Flax  Pond,  where  Chase's 
mill  now  stands — [that  is,  at  the  point  where  Summer  street 
now  crosses  the  stream.]  At  one  of  the  courts  he  agreed  to 
repair  Mistick  bridge  for  X22.     In  1638  he  was  a  member  of  the 


128  ANNALS  OP  LYNN — 1630. 

Ancient  Artillery  Company.  In  1G40  lie  went  to  Long  Island^ 
but  returned  to  Lynn,  and  was  appointed  clerk  of  the  writs,  in 
1613.  His  son  Edward  came  over  in  16S5,  -'it  the  age  of  30; 
but  returned  to  London  in  1644,  and  in  1679  was  at  Dublin. 

[The  statement  that  the  first  mill  in  Lynn  was  at  the  mouth 
of  Strawberry  Brook,  is  a  mistake ;  and  Mr.  Lewis  was  satisfied 
of  it  when  the  facts  were  laid  before  him.  The  first  mill  was 
on  that  brook,  a  few  rods  west  of  where  Franklin  street  opens 
into  Boston  street.  Some  years  ago  there  was  a  case  in  one 
of  our  courts,  wherein  the  question  of  the  location  of  the  first 
mill  in  Lynn  became  of  some  importance.  An  examination  of 
ancient  documents  and  records  established  the  fact  as  above 
stated.  Astute  counsel  objected  to  any  testimony  from  Mr. 
Lewis  tending  to  show  that  it  was  located  in  any  place  but  that 
stated  in  his  book,  on  the  ground  that  it  would  be  a  contra- 
diction of  himself.  After  some  wrangling,  however,  it  was 
admitted,  for  the  rules  regarding  the  admission  of  evidence  are 
not  quite  so  bad  as  to  deny  one  the  privilege  of  correcting  an 
undoubted  error.  The  mill  which  he  refers  to  as  the  first,  was, 
without  doubt,  the  third  in  Lynn,  the  second  having  been  built 
near  the  Flax  Pond  and  afterward  removed  to  Water  Hill.  And 
this  seems  to  have  been  the  first  manifestation  of  that  propen- 
sity to  move  buildings  which  has  characterised  our  people  to 
this  day.  Every  season  we  find  our  ways  obstructed  and  trees 
dismembered  by  migratory  edifices.  For  something  further 
about  the  old  mills,  see  under  dates  1654  and  1655.] 

Timothy  Tomlixs,  brother  of  Edward  —  was  a  farmer,  and 
was  admitted  a  freeman,  1633.  He  was  representative  in  thir- 
teen sessions  of  the  General  Court.  In  1640,  he  went  with 
those  who  began  a  settlement  at  Southampton,  on  Long  Island, 
but  returned.  A  pine  forest  in  the  northern  part  of  Lynn  is 
well  known  by  the  name  of  Tomlins's  Swamp.  He  was  one  of 
the  first  proprietors  of  Cambridge,  but  did  not  reside  there. 

Nathaniel  Turner,  (Capt.)  —  lived  in  Nahant  street,  and 
owned  the  whole  of  Sagamore  Hill.  He  applied  to  be  admitted 
a  freeman,  19  Oct.  1630,  but  did  not  take  the  oath  until  3  July, 
1632.  He  was  representative  in  the  first  seven  sessions  of  the 
General  Court,  and  a  member  of  the  first  County  Court  at  Salem, 
in  1636.  In  1633,  he  was  appointed  captain  of  the  militia,  and 
in  1636  and  '1  had  a  command  in  several  expeditions  against 
the  Pequot  Indians.  In  1637  his  house  was  burnt.  In  1638, 
he  became  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Artillery  Company;  and 
the  same  year  sold  his  land  on  Sagamore  Hill  to  Mr.  Edward 
Holyoke,  and  removed,  with  others,  to  Quilipeake,  where  a  new 
settlement  was  begun,  and  called  New  Haven.  His  name  is 
preserved  in  Turner's  Falls.  In  1639  he  was  one  of  the  seven 
members  of  the  first  church  at  New  Haven.     In  1640  he  pur- 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1630.  129 

chased  for  the  town,  of  Ponus,  the  Indian  Sagamore,  the  tract 
of  land  which  is  now  the  town  of  Stamford,  for  which  he  paid 
in  "  coats,  shoes,  hatchets,  &c."  His  active  and  useful  life  was 
soon  after  terminated  in  a  melancholy  manner.  In  January, 
1G47,  he  sailed  for  England,  with  Capt.  Lamberton,  in  a  vessel 
which  was  never  heard  of  more.  Governor  Winthrop  informs 
us  that  in  June,  1648,  the  apparition  of  a  ship  was  seen  under 
full  sail,  moving  up  the  harbor  of  New  Haven,  a  little  before 
sunset,  in  a  pleasant  afternoon,  and  that  as  it  approached  the 
shore,  it  slowly  vanished.  This  w^s  thought  to  have  a  refer- 
ence to  the  fate  of  Capt.  Lamberton's  ship.  The  following  epi- 
taph was  written  to  the  memory  of  Capt.  Turner. 

Deep  in  Atlantic  cave  his  body  sleeps, 
While  the  dark  sea  its  ceaseless  motion  keeps, 
While  phantom  ships  are  wrecked  along  the  shore, 
To  warn  his  fi-iends  that  he  will  come  no  more ! 
But  He  who  governs  all  with  impulse  free, 
Can  bring  from  Bashan  and  the  deepest  sea, 
And  when  He  calls  our  Turner  must  return, 
Though  now  his  ashes  fill  no  sacred  urn. 

[In  1639,  Capt.  Turner,  in  connection  with  Rev.  Mr.  Daven- 
port and  four  others,  at  New  Haven,  was  appointed  to  "  have 
the  disposing  of  all  house  lotts,  yet  undisposed  of  about  this 
towne,  to  such  persons  as  they  shall  judge  meete  for  the  good 
of  the  plantation  ;  and  thatt  none  come  to  dwell  as  planters  here 
without  their  consent  and  allowance,  whether  they  come  in  by 
purchase  or  otherwise."  In  1640,  Capt.  Turner,  as  agent  for 
New  Haven,  made  a  large  purchase  of  lands  on  both  sides  of  the 
Delaware  river  —  sufficient  for  a  number  of  plantations.  The 
purchase  was  made  chiefly  with  a  view  to  trade,  though  the 
establishment  of  Puritan  churches  was  an  object.  Trading 
houses  were  erected,  and  nearly  fifty  families  sent  out.  In  all 
fundamental  matters  the  Delaware  colonies  were  to  be  under 
the  jurisdiction  of  New  Haven.  In  the  same  year  he  made  the 
purchase  of  the  Indian  territory  of  Rippowams  —  Stamford  — 
as  noted  by  Mr.  Lewis,  partly  of  Ponus  and  partly  of  Wascussue, 
another  chief.  He  gave  for  the  whole,  "  twelve  coats,  twelve 
hoes,  twelve  hatchets,  twelve  knives,  two  kettles,  and  four 
fathom  of  white  wampum."  In  a  sale  to  the  people  of  Wethers- 
field,  a  while  after,  the  tract  was  valued  at  thirty  pounds  ster- 
ling. 

[In  a  list,  made  in  1643,  giving  the  names  of  a  hundred  and 
twenty-two  New  Haven  planters,  with  the  number  of  their  fam- 
ihes — including  only  parents  and  children  —  and  the  value  of 
their  estates,  the  family  of  Capt.  Turner  is  put  down  at  seven, 
and  his  estate  at  £800,  the  latter  being  as  high  as  any  on  the 
list,  with  the  exception  of  ten. 

[But  the  land  speculations  of  New  Haven  do  not  seem  to 

9 


130  ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1630. 

have  turned  out  in  any  degree  profitable.  The  Delaware  trade 
was  not  successful ;  and  the  Dutch  were  troublesome  at  Stam- 
ford. And  she  seems  literally  to  have  struck  a  vein  of  ill-fortune, 
in  which  she  was  destined  to  struggle  for  some  time.  It  was 
under  a  desperate  eifort  to  retrieve  her  fortunes,  that  the  planters 
sent  to  Rhode  Island  and  had  a  ship  of  a  hundred  and  fifty  tons 
built,  hoping  to  open  a  profitable  foreign  trade.  By  joining 
their  means,  the  planters  were  able  to  freight  her  in  a  satisfac- 
tory manner.  Capt.  Turner,  with  five  others  of  the  principal 
men  embarked,  and  she  sailed  from  New  Haven  in  January, 
1647.  Nothing  was  ever  heard  either  of  the  vessel  or  any  on 
board,  unless  the  apparition  which  appeared  in  the  harbor,  the 
next  June,  immediately  after  a  great  thunder  storm  —  the  re- 
nowned phantom  ship  —  be  regarded  as  tidings.  Capt.  Turner, 
had  kept  alive  his  friendship  for  the  people  of  Lynn,  and  while 
"  New  Haven's  heart  was  sad/'  there  were  many  here  to  mourn 
his  fate.] 

Thomas  Talmadge  —  was  a  farmer,  and  was  admitted  a  free- 
man in  1634.     He  had  a  son  Thomas. 

Richard  Walker,  (Papt.)  —  was  a  farmer,  and  resided  on  the 
west  of  Saugus  river.  He  was  born  in  1593,  and  was  admitted 
a  freeman  in  1634.  He  was  buried  16  May,  1687,  aged  95.  He 
bad  two  sons;  Richard,  born  1611,  who  came  over  in  1635, 
removed  to  Reading,  and  was  several  times  chosen  representa- 
tive ;  and  Samuel,  who  also  removed  to  Reading.  He  likewise 
had  two  daughters ;  Tabitha,  who  married  Daniel  King,  March 
11,  1662;  and  Elizabeth,  who  married  Ralph  King,  March  2, 
1663. 

John  White  —  was  a  farmer,  and  was  admitted  a  freeman  in 
1633.  [He  removed  to  Southampton,  L.  I. ;  there  he  became  a 
man  of  property  and  reared  a  large  family.     He  died  in  1662.] 

Bray  Wilkins  —  was  a  farmer,  and  lived  on  the  western 
side  of  the  Flax  Pond.  He  was  admitted  a  freeman  in  1634, 
and  removed  to  Danvers.  [He  was  an  inhabitant  of  Dorchester 
in  1641,  and  was  then,  or  had  been,  keeper  of  Neponset  ferry; 
was  back  again  in  1664,  a  farmer,  and  tenant  on  Gov.  Belling- 
ham's  farm,  when  his  house  was  burned.  He  died  1  Jan.  1702, 
aged  91.] 

Thomas  Willis — was  a  farmer,  and  the  first  resident  on 
the  hill  on  which  the  alms-house  is  situated.  The  land  on  the 
south  was  called  Willis's  Neck,  and  that  on  the  north,  Willis's 
Meadow.  He  was  a  representative  in  the  first  General  Court 
in  1634,  and  a  member  of  the  Essex  Court,  in  1639.  He  became 
one  of  the  first  proprietors  of  Sandwich,  in  1637,  but  did  not 
remove  at  that  time. 

William  Witter  —  was  a  farmer  and  resided  at  Swampscot. 
He  says,  in  a  deposition  in  Salem  Court  files,  15  and  27  April, 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1630.  131 

1657,  "Blacke  will,  or  duke  william.  so  called,  came  to  my 
house,  (which  was  two  or  three  miles  from  Nahant,)  when  Tho- 
mas Dexter  had  bought  Nahant  for  a  suit  of  clothes ;  the  said 
Black  will  Asked  me  what  I  would  give  him  for  the  Land  my 
house  stood  vppon,  it  being  his  land,  and  his  ffather's  wigwam 
stood  their  abouts,  James  Sagomore  and  John,  and  the  Sago- 
more  of  Agawame,  and  diuers  more,  And  George  Sagomore, 
being  a  youth  was  present,  all  of  them  acknowlidginge  Black 
will  to  be  the  Right  owner  of  the  Land  my  house  stood  on,  and 
Sagomore  Hill  and  Nahant  was  all  his ;  "  and  adds  that  he 
"  bought  Nahant  and  Sagomer  Hill  and  Swamscoate  of  Black 
William  for  two  pestle  stones,"  He  died  in  1659,  aged  75  years. 
The  name  of  his  wife  was  Annis,  and  his  children  were  Josiah, 
and  Hannah,  who  married  Robert  Burdin.  By  his  will,  6  Aug. 
1657,  he  gives  his  wife  Annis  half  his  estate,  and  Josiah  the 
other  half;  and  says,  '^Hannah  shall  have  a  yew  and  lamb  this 
time  twelf  mounth."  [This  was  the  William  Witter  w^ho  sorely 
offended  the  authorities  by  entertaining  Obadiah  Holmes,  John 
Crandall,  and  John  Clarke,  when  they  traveled  hither  from 
Rhode  Island,  and  who  was  called  to  account  for  his  opinions 
against  infant  baptism.  ''  It  came  to  pass,"  says  Clarke's  narra- 
tive "  that  we  three  by  the  good  hand  of  our  God,  came  into 
the  Mathatusets  Bay  upon  the  16  day  of  the  5th  Moneth  51 ; 
and  upon  the  19th  of  the  same,  upon  occasion  of  businesse,  we 
came  into  a  Town  in  the  same  Bay  called  Lin,  where  we  lodged 
at  a  Blind-man's  house  neer  two  miles  out  of  the  Town,  by  name 
William  Witter,  who  being  baptized  into  Christ  waits,  as  we 
also  doe,  for  the  kingdom  of  God  and  the  full  consolation  of  the 
Israel  of  God."  For  something  further  concerning  the  visit 
of  these  notable  travelers  see  under  date  1651.] 

Richard  Wright,  (Capt.)  —  was  selected  in  1632,  to  confer 
with  the  Governor  about  raising  a  public  fund.  He  was  admit- 
ted a  freeman  in  1634.  He  removed  to  Boston,  where,  in  1636, 
he  contributed  6s.  8d.  "  towards  the  maintenance  of  a  free 
school-master."     (Boston  Records.) 

The  great  body  of  fifty  persons,  with  their  families,  who  came 
to  Lynn  this  year,  settled  in  all  parts  of  the  town,  selecting  the 
most  eligible  portions,  and  each  occupying  from  ten  to  two  hun- 
dred acres,  and  some  more.  They  were  principally  farmers,  and 
possessed  a  large  stock  of  horned  cattle,  sheep  and  goats.  For 
several  years,  before  the  land  was  divided,  and  the  fields  fenced, 
the  cattle  were  fed  in  one  drove,  and  guarded  by  a  man,  who, 
from  his  employment,  was  called  a  hay  ward.  The  sheep,  goats, 
and  swine  were  kept  on  Nahant,  where  they  were  tended  by  a 
shepherd.  Nahant  seems  to  have  been  sold  several  times,  to 
different  individuals,  by  "  Black  William,"  who  also  gave  it  to 
the  plantation  for  a  sheep  pasture.     A  fence  of  rails,  put  near 


132  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1630. 

together,  was  made  across  the  beach,  near  Nahant,  to  keep  out 
the  wolves,  as  those  animals  do  not  climb.  When  the  people 
were  about  building  this  fence,  Captain  Turner  said,  ''  Let  us 
make  haste,  lest  the  country  should  take  it  from  us."  (Deposi- 
tion in  Salem  Court  Records,  22  April,  1657.)  The  people  of 
Lynn,  for  many  years,  appear  to  have  lived  in  the  most  perfect 
democracy.  They  had  town  meetings  every  three  months,  for 
the  regulation  of  their  public  affairs.  They  cut  their  wood  in 
common,  and  drew  lots  for  the  grass  in  the  meadows  and 
marshes.  These  proved  very  serviceable  to  the  farmers,  by 
furnishing  them  with  sustenance  for  their  cattle ;  which  was 
probably  the  reason  why  there  were  more  farmers  at  Lynn, 
than  in  any  other  of  the  early  settlements.  Mr.  Johnson  says, 
"  The  chiefest  corn  they  planted,  before  they  had  plowes,  was 
Indian  grain  —  and  let  no  man  make  a  jest  of  Pumpkins,  for 
with  this  food  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  feed  his  people  to  their 
good  content,  till  Corne  and  Cattell  were  increased."  Their 
corn  at  the  first,  was  pounded,  after  the  manner  of  the  Indians, 
with  a  pestle  of  wood  or  stone,  in  a  mortar  made  either  of  stone, 
or  a  log  hollowed  out  at  one  end.  They  also  cultivated  large 
fields  of  barley  and  wheat.  Much  of  the  former  was  made  into 
malt  for  beer.  They  raised  considerable  quantities  of  flax, 
which  was  rotted  in  one  of  the  ponds,  thence  called  the  Flax 
Pond.  Their  first  houses  were  rude  structures,  covered  with 
thatch,  or  small  bundles  of  sedge  or  straw,  laid  one  over  another. 
A  common  form  of  the  early  cottages,  was  eighteen  feet  square, 
and  seven  feet  post,  with  the  roof  steep  enough  to  form  a  sleep- 
ing chamber.  The  better  houses  were  built  with  two  stories  in 
front,  and  sloped  down  to  one  in  the  rear;  the  upper  story 
projecting  about  a  foot,  with  very  sharp  gables.  The  frames 
were  of  heavy  oak  timber,  showing  the  beams  inside.  Burnt 
clam  shells  were  used  for  lime,  and  the  walls  were  whitewashed. 
The  fire-places  were  made  of  rough  stones,  and  the  chimneys 
of  boards,  or  short  sticks,  crossing  each  other,  and  plastered 
inside  with  clay.  The  windows  were  small,  opening  outward 
on  hinges.  They  consisted  of  very  small  diamond  panes,  set  in 
sashes  of  lead.  The  fire-places  were  large  enc;  gh  to  admit  a 
four-foot  log,  and  the  children  might  sit  in  the  corners  and  look 
up  at  the  stars.  People  commonly  burned  about  twenty  cords 
of  wood  in  a  year,  and  the  ministers  were  allowed  thirty  cords. 
On  whichever  side  of  the  road  the  houses  were  placed,  they 
uniformly  faced  the  south,  that  the  sun  at  noon  might  ^'  shine 
square."  Thus  each  house  formed  a  domestic  sun-dial,  by  which 
the  good  matron,  in  the  absence  of  the  clock,  could  tell,  in  fair 
weather,  when  to  call  her  husband  and  sons  from  the  field ;  for 
the  industrious  people  of  Lynn,  then  as  well  as  now,  always 
dined  exactly  at  twelve.     [In  this  description  of  the  ancient 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1630.  133 

houses  Mr.  Lewis  has  to  some  extent  mixed  the  styles  of  differ- 
ent periods.  On  page  114  there  is  a  brief  description  of  a  novel 
style  of  habitation  which  prevailed  in  New  England  at  the  time 
of  the  early  settlements.]  It  was  the  custom  of  the  first  settlers 
to  wear  long  beards,  and  Governor  Winthrop  says,  ''  Some  had 
their  overgrown  beards  so  frozen  together,  that  they  could  not 
get  their  strong  water  bottells  to  their  mouths.^'  In  very  hot 
weather,  says  Wood  "  servants  were  priviledged  to  rest  from 
their  labors,  from  ten  of  the  clocke  till  two."  The  common 
address  of  men  and  women  was  Goodman  and  Goodwife ;  none 
but  those  who  sustained  some  office  of  dignity,  or  were  descend- 
ed from  some  respectable  family,  were  complimented  with  the 
title  of  Master.  [Was  not  the  distinction,  at  first,  based  solely 
upon  admission  to  the  rights  of  freeman,  or  member  of  the 
Company  ?  But  see  further  remarks  on  the  point  elsewhere  in 
this  volume.]  In  writing  they  seldom  used  a  capital  F ;  and 
thus  in  the  early  records  we  find  two  small  ones  used  instead ; 
and  one  m,  with  a  dash  over  it,  stood  for  two.  [And  so  of  some 
other  letters.  The  act  naming  the  town,  passed  in  1637,  stands 
thus:  "  Saugust  is  called  Lin."]  The  following  ballad,  written 
about  this  time,  exhibits  some  of  the  peculiar  customs  and  modes 
of  thinking  among  the  early  settlors : 

The  place  where  we  live  is  a  wflderness  wood, 
Where  grass  is  much  wanting  that 's  fruitful  and  good; 
Our  mountains  and  hills,  and  our  valleys  below, 
Being  commonly  covered  with  ice  and  with  snow. 

And  when  the  northwest  wind  with  violence  blows, 
Then  every  man  pulls  his  cap  over  his  nose ; 
But  if  any  is  hardy,  and  will  it  withstand, 
He  forfeits  a  finger,  a  foot,  or  a  hand. 

And  when  the  spring  opens,  we  then  take  the  hoe, 
And  make  the  ground  ready  to  plant  and  to  sow ; 
Our  corn  being  planted,  and  seed  being  sown, 
The  worms  destroy  much  before  it  is  grown  — 

And  while  it  is  growing,  some  spoil  there  is  made 
By  birLs  and  by  squirrels,  that  pluck  up  the  blade ; 
And  when  it  is  come  to  full  corn  in  the  ear, 
It  is  often  destroyed  by  racoon  and  by  deer. 

And  now  our  old  garments  begin  to  grow  thin, 
And  wool  is  much  wanted  to  card  and  to  spin ; 
If  we  can  get  a  garment  to  cover  without, 
Om*  other  in  garments  are  clout  [patch]  upon  clout. 

Oui*  clothes  we  brought  with  us  are  apt  to  be  torn, 
They  need  to  be  clouted  soon  after  they  're  worn  ; 
But  clouting  our  garments  they  hinder  us  nothing, 
Clouts  double  ai-e  warmer  than  single  whole  clothing. 

L 


134  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1630. 


If  fresh  meat  be  wanting  to  fill  up  om*  dish, 

We  have  carrots  and  pumpkins,  and  turnips  and  fish ; 

And  if  there  's  a  mind  for  a  delicate  dish. 

We  haste  to  the  clam  banks  and  take  what  we  ^vish. 

Stead  of  pottage  and  puddings  and  custards  and  pies, 
Our  tm-nips  and  parsnips  are  common  supplies ; 
We  have  pumpkins  at  morning,  and  pumpkins  at  noon. 
If  it  was  not  for  pumpkins  we  should  be  imdone. 

If  barley  be  wanting  to  make  into  malt. 
We  must  then  be  contented  and  think  it  no  fault ; 
For  we  can  make  liquor  to  sweeten  our  lips, 
Of  pumpkins  and  parsnips  and  v/alnut  tree  chips. 

Now  while  some  are  going  let  others  be  coming, 
For  while  liquor  's  boiling  it  must  have  a  scumming ; 
But  I  will  not  blame  them,  for  birds  of  a  feather, 
By  seeking  then'  fellows,  are  flocking  together. 

Then  you  whom  the  Lord  intends  hither  to  bring, 
Forsake  not  the  honey  for  fear  of  the  sting ; 
But  bring  both  a  quiet  and  contented  mind, 
And  all  needful  blessings  you  surely  shall  find. 

The  General  Court,  for  the  first  four  years,  consisted  of  the 
Governor,  Deputy  Governor,  twelve  Assistants,  or  magistrates, 
and  all  who  had  obtained  the  privileges  of  freemen.  Instead, 
therefore,  of  sending  representatives,  the  whole  number  of  free- 
men attended  the  Court  in  person.  An  order  was  made,  that 
no  persons  should  be  admitted  to  the  privileges  of  freemen,  but 
such  as  were  members  of  some  church,  and  had  certificates  from 
their  ministers  that  their  opinions  were  approved.  This  poHcy 
continued,  till  it  was  abrogated  by  an  order  from  king  Charles 
XL,  in  1662. 

Lynn  was  incorporated  in  1630,  by  the  admission  of  its  free- 
men as  members  of  the  General  Court.  There  were  no  acts 
of  incorporation  for  several  of  the  early  towns.  Boston,  Salem, 
and  Charlestown,  were  no  otherwise  incorporated,  than  by  their 
freemen  taking  their  seats  in  the  General  Court.  They  never 
paused  to  inquire  if  they  were  incorporated;  the  very  act  of 
their  being  there  was  an  incorporation.  The  freemen  of  Lynn 
were  an  important  and  respectable  portion  of  the  General  Court, 
and  Lynn  was  as  much  incorporated  in  1630  as  Boston  was. 
The  injustice  which  has  been  done  to  Lynn,  by  placing  her 
incorporation  seven  years  too  late,  should  be  corrected. 

The  following  order  was  passed  by  the  General  Court,  for 
regulating  the  prices  of  labor.  "  It  is  ordered,  that  no  master 
carpenter,  mason,  joiner,  or  bricklayer,  shall  take  above  16d.  a 
Day  for  their  work,  if  they  have  meate  and  Drinke;  and  the 
second  sort  not  above  12d.  a  Day,  under  payne  of  Xs.  both  to 
giver  and   receiver."     This   order   probably  occasioned  some 


ANNALS    OF   LYNN — 1630.  135 

dissatisfaction,  as  the  Court,  some  months  after,  determined 
that  wages  should  be  left  unlimited,  "  as  men  shall  reasonably 
agree." 

[The  evil  effects  of  strong  drink  were  felt  in  the  very  infancy 
of  the  plantations.  As  early  as  this  year  the  Court  found  it 
expedient  to  pass  the  following  summary  order,  which  looks 
like  a  sort  of  special  liquor  law :  "  It  is  ordered,  that  all  Rich : 
Cloughes  stronge  water  shall  presently  be  seazed  vpon,  for  his 
selling  greate  quantytie  thereof  to  seual  mens  serves  which  was 
the  ocacon  of  much  disorder,  drunkenes  &  misdemean^"  A 
number  of  years  subsequent  to  this,  however,  Rev.  Mr.  Firmin, 
rector  at  Shalford,  who  had  been  in  several  of  the  New  England 
settlements  and  had  practised  physic  at  Boston,  declared  in  a 
sermon  before  Parliament  and  the  Westminster  Assembly,  that 
he  had  been  seven  years  among  the  planters,  and  had  ^'  never 
heard  one  profane  oath,"  and  in  "  all  that  time  never  did  see  a 
a  man  drunk."  These  declarations  have  been  quoted  as  those 
of  Hugh  Peters,  but  incorrectly.  The  seven  years  alluded  to 
probably  terminated  in  1643.  As  Savage  remarks,  the  decla- 
rations are  better  proof  of  the  keeping  of  good  company  than 
of  searching  for  examples.  The  frequent  enactments  regard- 
ing the  sale  of  "  stronge  water,"  and  the  numerous  instances 
of  punishment  awarded  for  drunkenness  tell  a  very  different 
story.] 

The  Indians,  having  become  acquainted  with  the  use  of  guns, 
and  having  seen  their  superiority  over  bows  and  arrows,  would 
give  almost  any  amount  in  land,  beaver  skins,  or  wampum,  for 
them.  This  caused  an  apprehension  of  danger,  and  on  the  28th 
of  Sept.  the  Court  ordered,  that  "  noe  person  whatsoever  shall, 
either  directly  or  indirectly,  imploy  or  cause  to  be  employed, 
or  to  their  power  permit  any  Indian,  to  vse  any  peece  vpon  any 
occasion  or  pretence  whatsoever,  under  pain  of  Xs.  ffyne  for 
the  first  offence,  and  for  the  2  offence  to  be  ffyned  and  impris- 
oned at  the  discretion  of  the  Court." 

A  company  of  militia  was  organized,  of  which  Richard  Wright 
was  captain,  Daniel  Howe  lieutenant,  and  Richard  Walker  en- 
sign. The  officers  were  not  chosen  by  the  people,  but  appointed 
by  the  Governor.  The  company  possessed  two  iron  cannon, 
called  "  sakers,  or  great  guns." 

There  is  a  story  that  two  of  the  early  settlers  went  to  Nahant 
for  fowl,  and  separated.  One  of  them  killed  a  seal  on  Pond 
Beach,  and  leaving  him,  went  after  some  birds.  When  he  re- 
turned, he  found  a  bear  feeding  on  the  seal.  He  fired  at  him  a 
charge  of  shot,  which  caused  him  to  fall,  and  then  beat  him  with 
his  six  foot  gun  till  it  broke.  The  bear  then  stood  up,  wounded 
the  man  and  tore  his  clothes  ;  but  the  man,  extricating  himself, 
ran  into  the  pond,  where  he  remained  until  his  companion  came 


136  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1681. 

and  relieved  him.  They  then  returned  to  the  town  and  informed 
the  people,  who  went  down  in  the  evening  and  made  a  fire  on 
the  beach,  which  they  kept  burning  through  the  night,  to  pre- 
vent the  bear  from  coming  off.  In  the  morning  they  went  to 
Nahant  and  killed  him. 

Much  mischief  was  occasioned  among  the  cattle,  for  many 
years,  by  the  wolves,  which,  Wood  says,  used  to  travel  in  com- 
panies of  "  ten  or  twelve."  On  the  13th  of  Sept.,  says  Win- 
throp,  ^'  the  wolves  killed  some  swine  at  Saugus."  On  the  9th 
of  Nov.,  the  Court  ordered,  that  if  any  one  killed  a  wolf,  he 
should  have  one  penny  for  each  cow  and  horse,  and  one  farthing 
for  each  sheep  and  swine  in  the  plantation.  Man}^  pits  were 
dug  in  the  woods  to  entrap  them,  and  some  of  them  are  yet  to 
be  seen.  It  is  said  that  a  woman,  as  she  was  rambling  in  the 
woods  for  berries,  fell  into  one  of  these  pits,  from  which  she 
was  unable  to  extricate  herself.  In  the  evening,  a  wolf  made 
her  a  very  unceremonious  visit,  dropping  down  at  her  side, 
through  the  bushes  with  which  the  pit  was  covered.  Finding 
himself  entrapped,  and  being  as  much  afraid  of  the  woman  as 
she  was  of  him,  he  retired  to  the  opposite  corner  of  the  pit ; 
and  thus  they  remained  through  the  night,  ogling  each  other 
with  any  looks  but  those  of  an  enamored  couple.  The  next  day 
the  friends  of  the  woman  arrived  at  the  pit,  from  which  they 
took  her  without  injury,  and  prevented  any  future  visit  from 
her  rude  and  unwelcome  intruder.  [Wood  remarks  that  a  black 
calf  was  considered  worth  more  than  a  red  one,  because  the 
red,  bearing  greater  resemblance  to  a  deer,  was  more  likely  to 
become  the  victim  of  wolves.] 

1631. 

In  the  early  part  of  this  year,  provisions  were  very  scarce, 
and  many  persons  depended  for  subsistence  upon  clams,  ground- 
nuts, and  acorns.  Wheat  was  sold  for  fourteen  shillings,  ($3.11) 
a  bushel ;  and  Indian  corn,  brought  from  Virginia,  for  eleven 
shillings  ($2.44).  The  price  of  cattle,  for  several  years,  contin- 
ued very  high.  A  good  cow  was  valued  at  twenty-five  pounds, 
($111.11,)  and  a  yoke  of  oxen  at  forty  pounds  ($177.77). 

On  the  third  of  February,  the  Court  laid  a  tax  of  sixty  pounds, 
to  make  a  palisade  or  defense  about  Newtown,  now  Cambridge. 
The  proportion  of  Saugus  and  Marble  Harbour,  or  Lynn  and 
Marblehead,  was  six  pounds. 

On  the  18th  of  February,  a  vessel  owned  by  Mr.  John  Glover, 
of  Dorchester,  was  wrecked  on  Nahant  rocks ;  but  the  crew 
were  all  saved. 

The  Court,  on  the  first  of  March,  ordered,  "  That  if  any  per- 
son, within  the  Lymitts  of  this  Patent,  doe  trade,  trucke,  or  sell 
any  money,  either  silver  or  golde,  to  any  Indian,  or  any  man 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1631.  137 

that  knowe  of  any  that  shall  soe  doe,  and  conceal  the  same, 
shall  forfeit  twenty  for  one.  Further  it  is  ordered,  that  what- 
ever person  hath  received  an  Indian  into  their  fFamilie  as  a 
servant,  shall  discharge  themselves  of  them  by  the  1th  of  May 
next,  and  that  noe  person  shall  hereafter  entertain  any  Indian 
for  a  servant  without  licence  from  the  Court/' 

Wonohaquaham  and  Montowampate,  the  sagamores  of  Wini- 
simet  and  Lynn,  having  been  defrauded  of  twenty  beaver  skins, 
by  a  man  in  England,  named  Watts,  went  to  Governor  Winthrop, 
on  26  March,  to  solicit  his  assistance  in  recovering  their  value. 
The  Governor  entertained  them  kindly,  and  gave  them  a  letter 
of  introduction  to  Emanuel  Downing,  Esq.,  an  eminent  lawyer 
in  London.  Tradition  says,  that  Montowampate  went  to  Eng- 
land, where  he  was  treated  with  much  respect  as  an  Indian  king; 
but,  disliking  the  English  delicacies,  he  hastened  back  to  Sau- 
gus,  to  the  enjoyment  of  his  clams  and  succatash. 

At  this  time,  there  was  no  bridge  across  Saugus  river,  and 
people  who  tra>veled  to  Boston  were  compelled  to  pass  through 
the  woods  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town,  and  ford  the  stream 
by  the  Iron  Works,  which  were  near  the  site  of  the  present 
woolen  factories,  in  Saugus  Centre.  The  following  extract  from 
a  letter  written  by  Mr.  John  Endicott,  of  Salem,  to  Gov.  Win- 
throp, on  the  12th  of  April,  illustrates  this  custom.  Mr.  Endicott 
had  just  been  married.  He  says :  "  Right  Worshipful,  I  did 
hope  to  have  been  with  you  in  person  at  the  Court,  and  to  that 
end  I  put  to  sea  yesterday,  and  was  driven  back  again,  the  wind 
being  stiff  against  us;  and  there  being  no  canoe  or  boat  at  Sau- 
gus, I  must  have  been  constrained  to  go  to  Mistic,  and  thence 
about  to  Charlestown ;  which  at  this  time  I  durst  not  be  so  bold, 
my  body  being  at  present  in  an  ill  condition  to  take  cold,  and 
therefore  I  pray  you  to  pardon  me." 

A  quarrel  had  arisen,  a  short  time  previous,  between  Mr.  En- 
dicott and  Thomas  Dexter,  in  which  the  Salem  magistrate  so 
far  forgot  his  dignity  as  to  strike  Mr.  Dexter,  who  complained 
to  the  Court  at  Boston.  It  was  on  this  occasion  that  Mr.  Endi- 
cott wrote  the  letter  from  which  the  preceding  extract  is  made. 
He  thus  continues  :  "  I  desired  the  rather  to  have  been  at  Court, 
because  I  hear  I  am  much  complained  of  by  Goodman  Dexter 
for  striking  him ;  understanding  since  it  is  not  lawful  for  a  jus- 
tice of  peace  to  strike.  But  if  you  had  seen  the  manner  of  his 
carriage,  with  such  daring  of  me,  with  his  arms  akimbo,  it  would 
have  provoked  a  very  patient  man.  He  hath  given  out,  if  I  had 
a  purse  he  would  make  me  empty  it,  and  if  he  cannot  have  jus- 
tice here,  he  will  do  wonders  in  England  ;  and  if  he  cannot 
prevail  there,  he  will  try  it  out  with  me  here  at  blows.  If  it 
were  lawful  for  me  to  try  it  at  blows,  and  he  a  fit  man  for  me 
to  deal  with,  you  should  not  hear  me  complain."     The  jury,  to 


138  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1631. 

whom  the  case  was  referred,  gave  their  verdict  for  Mr.  Dexter, 
on  the  third  of  May,  and  gave  damages  ten  pounds,  ($44.44). 
[An  error  was  made  in  cop3^ing  from  the  record,  which  stands 
thus :  '^  The  jury  findes  for  the  plaintiflfe  and  cesses  for  dam- 
ages xl5."  ($8.88).  It  is  evident  that  the  second  numeral  and  s, 
were  mistaken  for  a  pound  mark,  thus  increasing  the  40s.  to  101.] 
Besides  the  evidence  of  the  blow,  Mr.  Endicott  manifests  some- 
what of  an  irascible  disposition  in  his  letter;  and  Mr.  Dexter 
was  not  a  man  to  stand  for  nice  points  of  etiquette  on  occasions 
of  irritability.  Some  years  afterward,  having  been  insulted  by 
Samuel  Hutchinson,  he  met  him  one  day  on  the  road,  and  jump- 
ing from  his  horse,  he  bestowed  "  about  twenty  blows  on  his 
head  and  shoulders,"  to  the  no  small  danger  and  deray  of  his 
senses,  as  well  as  sensibiHties. 

April  12.  "It  is  ordered  that  every  Captaine  shall  traine  his 
companie  on  saterday  in  every  weeke." 

May  18.  "It  is  ordered  that  no  person  shall  kill  any  wild 
swine,  without  a  general  agreement  at  some  court." 

July  5.  A  tax  of  thirty  pounds  was  laid  for  the  purpose  of 
opening  a  canal  from  Charles  river  to  Cambridge.  The  requisi- 
tion on  Lynn  was  for  one  pound. 

Masconomo,  the  sagamore  of  Agawam,  or  Ipswich,  having 
committed  some  offence  against  the  eastern  Indians,  the  Court, 
on  the  fifth  of  July,  passed  an  order,  forbidding  him  to  enter 
any  Englishman's  house  within  one  year,  under  a  penalty  often 
beaver  skins.  The  Taratines,  also,  undertook  to  avenge  their 
own  wrong.  On  the  eighth  of  August,  about  one  hundred  of 
them  landed  from  their  canoes,  at  Ipswich,  in  the  night,  and 
killed  seven  of  Masconomo's  men,  and  wounded  several  more, 
some  of  whom  died.  They  also  wounded  Wonohaquaham  and 
Montowampate,  who  were  on  a  visit  to  that  place ;  and  carried 
away  Wenuchus,  the  wife  of  Montowampate,  a  captive.  She 
was  detained  by  them  about  two  months,  and  vv^as  restored  on 
the  intercession  of  Mr.  Abraham  Shurd  of  Pemaquid,  who  traded 
with  the  Indians.  She  returned  on  the  17th  of  September. 
For  her  release,  the  Taratines  demanded  a  quantity  of  wampum 
and  beaver  skins. 

The  people  of  Lynn  were  soon  after  alarmed  by  a  report  that 
the  Taratines  intended  an  attack  on  them,  and  appointed  men 
each  night  to  keep  a  watch.  Once,  about  midnight,  Ensign 
Richard  Walker,  who  was  on  the  guard,  heard  the  bushes  break 
near  him,  and  felt  an  arrow  pass  through  his  coat  and  "buff 
waistcoat."  As  the  night  was  dark  he  could  see  no  one,  but  he 
discharged  his  gun,  which,  being  heavily  loaded,  split  in  pieces. 
He  then  called  the  guard,  and  returned  to  the  place,  when  he 
had  another  arrow  shot  through  his  clothes.  Deeming  it  impru- 
dent to  proceed  in  the   dark  against  a  concealed  enemy,  he 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1632.  189 

desisted  from  further  search  till  morinng.  The  people  then 
assembled,  and  discharged  their  cannon  into  the  woods ;  after 
which,  the  Indians  gave  them  no  further  molestation. 

Governor  Winthrop,  who  passed  through  Lynn,  28  Oct.,  puts 
down  in  his  journal,  '' A  plentiful  crop." 

Thus  have  we  seen  the  town,  which  three  years  before  was 
a  wilderness  of  Indians,  now  occupied  by  cottages  of  white  men, 
living  in  harmony  with  the  natives ;  clearing  the  forest,  and 
cultivating  the  soil,  and  by  the  blessing  of  Providence,  reaping 
a  rich  reward  for  their  labors.  The  Indians  had  received  them 
with  kindness,  and  given  them  liberty  to  settle  where  they 
pleased ;  but  some  years  after,  they  made  an  agreement  with 
the  natives  for  the  land.  The  deed  has  shared  the  fate  of  the 
lost  records;  but  one  of  the  town  treasurers  told  me  that  he 
had  the  deed  in  his  possession  about  the  year  1800,  and  that 
the  compensation  was  sixteen  pounds  ten  shillings  —  about 
seventy-three  dollars.  The  people  of  Salem  paid  twenty  pounds 
for  the  deed  of  their  town.  [The  Indian  deed  of  Lynn  here 
referred  to  is  no  doubt  the  one  which  is  copied  on  page  51, 
et  seq.,  with  introductory  remarks.] 

1632. 

For  the  first  three  years,  the  people  of  Lynn  had  no  minister, 
but  some  of  them  attended  church  at  Salem,  and  others  had 
meetings  for  prayer  and  exhortation.  The  Rev.  Stephen  Bach- 
ILER,  with  his  family,  arrived  at  Boston  on  Thursday,  5  June, 
after  a  tedious  passage  of  eighty-eight  days.  He  came  in  the 
ship  WilJiam  and  Francis,  Capt.  Thomas,  which  sailed  from  Lon- 
don, 9  March.  He  immediately  came  to  Lynn,  where  his  daugh- 
ter Theodate,  wife  of  Christopher  Hussey  resided.  He  was 
seventy-one  years  of  age.  In  his  company  were  six  persons 
who  had  belonged  to  a  church  with  him  in  England  ;  and  of  these 
he  constituted  a  church  at  L^^nn,  to  which  he  admitted  such  as 
desired  to  become  members,  and  commenced  the  exercise  of  his 
public  ministrations  on  Sunday,  8  June,  without  installation. 
He  baptized  four  children,  born  before  his  arrival ;  two  of  whom, 
Thomas  Newhall  and  Stephen  Hussey,  were  born  the  same 
week.  Thomas,  being  the  first  white  child  born  in  Lynn,  was 
first  presented  ;  but  Mr.  Bachiler  put  him  aside,  saying,  ''  I  will 
baptize  my  own  child  first" — meaning  his  daughter's  child. 

The  church  at  Lynn  was  the  fifth  in  Massachusetts.  The  first 
was  gathered  at  Salem,  6  Aug.,  1629  ;  the  second  at  Dorchester, 
in  June,  1630 ;  the  third  at  Charlestown,  30  July,  1630,  and  re- 
moved to  Boston ;  the  fourth  at  Watertown  on  the  same  day ; 
and  the  fifth  at  Lynn,  8  June,  1632.  The  first  meeting-house 
was  a  small  plain  building,  without  bell  or  cupola,  and  stood 
on  the  northeastern  corner  of  Shepard  and  Summer  streets. 


140  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1632. 

It  was  placed  in  a  small  hollow,  that  it  might  be  better  sheltered 
from  the  winds,  and  was  partly  sunk  into  the  earth,  being  en- 
tered by  descending  several  steps. 

In  the  General  Court,  9  May,  "  A  proposition  was  made  by 
the  people  that  every  company  of  trained  men  might  choose 
their  own  captain  and  officers  ;  but  the  Governor,  giving  them 
reasons  to  the  contrary,  they  were  satisfied  without  it." 

On  the  14th  of  June,  as  Capt.  Richard  Wright  was  returning 
from  the  eastward,  in  a  vessel,  with  about  eight  hundred  dollars^ 
worth  of  goods  on  board,  one  of  the  crew,  when  off  Portsmouth, 
proceeded  to  light  his  pipe ;  but  was  requested  to  desist,  as 
there  was  a  barrel  of  powder  on  board.  He  replied  that  he 
should  "  take  one  pipe  if  the  devil  carried  him  away."  The 
boat  and  the  man,  says  Winthrop,  were  presently  blown  to 
pieces ;  but  the  rest  of  the  crew,  though  some  of  them  were 
drunk  and  asleep,  escaped. 

Governor  Winthrop,  in  his  journal,  14  Aug.  remarks:  "This 
week  they  had,  in  barley  and  oats,  at  Sagus,  about  twenty  acres 
good  corn,  and  sown  with  the  plough." 

On  the  4th  of  September,  Richard  Hopkins,  of  Watertown, 
was  arraigned  for  selling  a  gun  and  pistol,  with  powder  and 
shot,  to  Montowampate,  the  Lynn  sagamore.  The  sentence  of 
the  Court  was  that  he  should  '^  be  severely  whippt,  and  branded 
with  a  hot  iron  on  one  of  his  cheekes."  One  of  the  Saugus 
Indians  gave  the  information,  on  promise  of  concealment,  for  his 
discovery  would  have  exposed  him  to  the  resentment  of  his  tribe. 

Capt.  Nathaniel  Turner  was  chosen,  by  the  General  Court, 
"  constable  of  Saugus  for  this  year,  and  till  a  new  be  chosen." 

[The  Court  order  that  Sarah  Morley  be  "  putt  as  an  appren- 
tice to  M'^  Nathaniel  Turner,  of  Saugus,  for  the  space  of  nyne 
yeares,  from  this  Court,  for  w*^^  tearme  he  is  to  finde  her  meate, 
drinke  &  clothing."] 

In  consequence  of  a  suspicion  that  the  Indians  were  conspir- 
ing the  destruction  of  the  whites,  the  neighboring  sagamores 
were  called  before  the  Governor  on  the  14th  of  September. 
The  readiness  with  which  they  appeared,  evinced  their  friendly 
disposition. 

Mr.  Bachiler  had  been  in  the  performance  of  his  pastoral 
duties  about  four  months,  when  a  complaint  was  made  of  some 
irregularities  in  his  conduct.  He  was  arraigned  before  the 
Court  at  Boston,  on  the  3d  of  October,  when  the  following 
order  was  passed :  "  Mr.  Bachiler  is  required  to  forbeare  exer- 
cising his  giftes  as  a  pastor  or  teacher  publiquely  in  our  Pattent, 
unlesse  it  be  to  those  he  brought  with  him,  for  his  contempt 
of  authority,  and  until  some  scandles  be  removed."  This  was 
the  commencement  of  a  series  of  difficulties  whioh  agitated  the 
unhappy  church  for  several  years. 


ANNALS    OP    LYNN — 1633.  141 

* 

October  3.  "  It  is  ordered,  that  Saugus  plantation  shall  have 
liberty  to  build  a  ware  upon  Saugus  Ryver  also  they  have  prom- 
ised to  make  and  continually  to  keepe  a  goode  foote  bridge, 
upon  the  most  convenient  place  there."  This  wear  was  chiefly 
built  by  Thomas  Dexter,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  bass  and 
alewives,  of  which  many  were  dried  and  smoked  for  shipping. 
It  crossed  the  river  near  the  Iron  Works.  The  bridge  was  only 
a  rude  structure  of  timber  and  rails. 

"  It  is  further  ordered,  that  no  person  shall  take  any  tobacco 
publiquely,  under  pain  of  punishment ;  also  that  every  one  shall 
pay  one  penny  for  every  time  he  is  convicted  of  taking  tobacco 
in  any  place." 

On  the  second  of  November,  a  vessel,  commanded  by  Captain 
Pierce,  and  loaded  with  fish,  of  which  Mr.  John  Humfrey  was 
part  owner,  was  wrecked  off  Cape  Charles,  and  twelve  men 
drowned. 

November  7.  "It  is  ordered  that  the  Captaines  shall  train 
their  companyes  but  once  a  monethe." 

"  It  is  referred  to  Mr.  Turner,  Peter  Palfrey,  and  Roger  Co- 
nant,  to  sett  out  a  proportion  of  land  in  Saugus  for  John  Hum- 
frey, Esqr."  This  land  was  laid  out  at  Swampscot.  Mr.  Turner 
was  also  one  of  the  committee  to  settle  a  difference  respecting 
the  boundary  line  between  Cambridge  and  Charlestown. 

In  the  month  of  December,  a  servant  girl,  in  the  family  of  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Skelton,  of  Salem,  coming  to  see  her  friends  at 
Lynn,  lost  her  way,  and  wandered  seven  days.  Mr.  Winthrop 
says,  "  All  that  time  she  was  in  the  woods,  having  no  kind  of 
food,  the  snow  being  very  deep,  and  as  cold  as  at  any  time  that 
winter.  She  was  so  frozen  into  the  snow  some  mornings,  as 
she  was  one  hour  before  she  could  get  up."  Mr.  Wood  says, 
"  The  snow  being  on  the  ground  at  first,  she  might  have  trackt 
her  own  footsteps  back  again;  but  wanting  that  understanding, 
she  wandered,  till  God,  by  his  speciall  Providence  brought  her 
backe  to  the  place  she  went  from,  where  she  lives  to  this  day." 

1633. 

In  the  month  of  January,  this  year,  Poquanum,  the  sagamore 
of  Nahant  was  unfortunately  killed.  Several  vessels  having 
been  to  the  eastward  in  search  of  some  pirates,  stopped  on  their 
return  at  Richmond's  Isle,  near  Portland,  where  they  found 
"  Black  William,"  whom  they  hanged  in  revenge  for  the  murder 
of  Walter  Bagnall,  who  had  been  killed  by  the  Indians,  on  the 
3d  of  October,  1631.  Mr.  Winthrop  says  that  Bagnall  "  was  a 
wicked  fellow,  and  had  much  wronged  the  Indians."  It  is  not 
certain  that  Poquanum  had  any  concern  in  his  death ;  on  the 
contrary,  Governor  Winthrop  tells  us  that  he  was  killed  by 
"  Squidraysett  and  his  Indians."     Thus  terminated  the  existence 


142  ,  ANNALS    OF  LYNN — 1633. 

of  a  chief  who  had  welcomed  the  white  men,  and  bestowed  ben- 
efits on  them. 

In  the  course  of  a  few  months,  Mr.  Bachiler  had  so  far  suc- 
ceeded in  regaining  the  esteem  of  the  people,  that  the  Court,  on 
the  4th  of  March,  removed  their  injunction  that  he  should  not 
preach  in  the  colony,  and  left  him  at  liberty  to  resume  the  per- 
formance of  his  public  services. 

At  the  same  Court,  Mr.  Thomas  Dexter  was  ordered  to  "  be 
set  in  the  bilbowes,  disfranchised,  and  fined  X£  for  speaking 
reproachful  and  seditious  words  against  the  government  here 
estabhshed."  The  bilbows  were  a  kind  of  stocks,  like  those  in 
which  the  hands  and  feet  of  poor  Hudibras  were  confined 


-"TlieKniffht 


And  brave  squire  from  theii-  steeds  alight, 
At  the  outer  wall,  near  which  there  stands 
A  Bastile,  made  to  hnprison  hands, 
By  strange  enchantment  made  to  fetter 
The  lesser  parts,  and  free  the  greater." 

[Another  error  in  transcribing  occurred  here.  The  fine  of 
Mr.  Dexter  was  forty  pounds  instead  of  ten ;  a  fact  which  goes 
still  further  to  show  that  the  offence  was  regarded  as  of  great 
enormity,  and  that  fractious  people  some  times  found  the  luxurj^ 
of  railing  at  the  government  an  expensive  one.  At  this  blessed 
day  of  liberty  things  are  different.  The  fine  of  Mr.  Dexter  was 
not  promptly  paid,  however.  And  some  years  afterward,  to 
wit,  in  1638,  the  larger  part  was  remitted,  the  record  standing 
thus  :  ''  4  M^ch,  Thom :  Dexter  being  fined  40i^.  there  was  30Z. 
of  it  remited  him."     (Col.  Recs.)] 

One  of  those  elegant  and  commodious  appendages  of  the 
law  —  the  bilbows — was  placed  near  the  meeting-house;  where 
it  stood  the  terror  and  punishment  of  all  such  evil  doers  as 
spoke  against  the  government,  chewed  tobacco,  or  went  to 
sleep  in  a  sermon  two  hours  long.  However  censurable  Mr. 
Dexter  may  have  been,  his  punishment  was  certainly  dispro- 
portioned  to  his  fault.  To  be  deprived  of  the  privileges  of  a 
freeman,  to  be  exposed  to  the  ignominy  of  the  stocks,  and  to  be 
amerced  in  a  fine  of  more  than  forty  dollars,  [40/.]  show  that 
the  magistrates  were  greatly  incensed  by  his  remarks.  If  every 
man  were  to  be  set  in  the  bilbows,  who  speaks  against  govern- 
ment, in  these  days,  there  would  scarcely  be  trees  enough  in 
Lynn  woods  to  make  stocks  of.  The  magistrates  of  those  days 
had  not  acquired  the  lesson,  which  their  successors  have  long 
since  learned,  that  censure  is  the  tax  which  public  men  must 
pay  for  their  adventitious  greatness.  [But  so  ravenously  fond 
are  most  people  of  position,  that  they  are  ready  enough  to  pay 
the  tax  for  the  enjoyment  of  the  privilege.] 

On  the  fourth  of  March,  Mr.  Nathaniel  Turner  was  chosen 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1633.  143 

by  the  General  Court,  "  Captaine  of  the  military  company  att 
Saugus." 

Captain  Turner  gave  ten  pounds  "  towards  the  sea  fort,"  built 
for  the  defense  of  Boston  harbor.  Capt.  Richard  Wright  gave 
"400  feet  4  inch  planke/'  for  the  same  purpose. 

Mr.  Edward  Howe  was  fined  twenty  shillings,  "  for  selling 
stronge  waters,  contrary  to  order  of  Court." 

[The  nineteenth  of  June  was  ^'  appoyncted  to  be  kept  as  a  day 
of  publique  thanksgiueing  throughout  the  seval  plantacons."] 

At  a  town  meeting  on  the  twelfth  of  July,  the  inhabitants 
made  a  grant  to  Mr.  Edward  Tomlins,  of  a  privilege  to  build  a 
corn  mill,  at  the  mouth  of  the  stream  which  flows  from  the  Flax 
pond,  where  Chase's  mill  now  stands.  This  was  the  second 
mill  in  the  colony,  the  first  having  been  built  at  Dorchester,  the 
same  year.  [For  the  correction  of  an  error  as  to  the  location 
of  the  first  mill  in  Lynn,  see  page  128.]  At  this  time,  the  pond 
next  above  the  Flax  pond  was  partly  a  meadow ;  and  some 
years  after  a  dam  was  built  and  the  pond  raised  by  Edward 
Tomlins,  from  whom  it  was  called  Tomlins's  pond.  In  reference 
to  this  mill,  we  find  the  following  testimonies,  given  3  June, 
1678,  in  the  Essex  Registry  of  Deeds. 

"  I,  George  Keaser,  Aged  about  60  yeare,  doe  testifie,  that  being  at  a  Towiie 
meetinge  in  Linne  meeting  house  many  yeares  agoe,  mr.  Edward  Tomhns 
made  complaint  then  to  the  Towne  of  Linne,  that  there  was  not  water  enough 
in  the  great  pond  next  to  the  Towne  of  Linne  to  serve  the  mill  to  grind  theire 
grist  in  the  sumer  time,  and  he  desired  leave  of  the  Towne  to  make  a  dam  in 
the  upper  pond  to  keep  a  head  of  water  against  the  height  of  sumer  time,  that 
soe  he  might  have  a  suply  of  water  to  Grind  their  Grist  in  the  drought  of  sum- 
er. And  the  Towne  of  linne  granted  him  his  request,  that  he  would  make  a 
dam  there,  where  the  old  trees  lay  for  a  bridge  for  all  people  to  goe  over, 
insteed  of  a  bridg." 

"  This  I,  Clement  Coldam,  aged  about  55  years,  doe  testifie,  that  the  grant 
of  the  old  mill  was  in  July  ye  12,  1633,  to  Edward  Tomlins,  which  was  the 
second  mill  in  this  colony ;  and  after  the  Towne  saw  that  the  mill  could  not 
supply  the  Towne,  they  gave  leave  to  build  an  overshoot  mill  upon  the  same 
water ;  with  a  sluice  called  by  the  name  of  the  old  since,  being  made  by  Mr, 
Howell,  the  second  owner  of  the  mill ;  and  then  Mr.  Howell  did  sell  the  same 
mill  to  John  Elderkin ;  and  John  Elderkin  did  sell  it  to  mr.  Bennet,  and  mr. 
Bennet  did  sell  it  to  Goodman  Wheeler,  and  Goodman  Wheeler  sould  it  to 
John  Ballard,  and  John  Ballard  sold  it  to  Henry  Rhodes.  And  this  I  testifie 
that  the  water  to  supply  the  mill  with,  was  granted  to  the  mill,  before  any 
Meddow  in  the  Towne  was  granted  to  any  man,  wee  mowing  all  comon  then. 
And  this  I  testifie,  that  I  kept  the  key  of  the  old  since  for  mr.  South,  which  is 
since  about  27  or  28  yeares  agoe." 

Edward  Richards  testified  that  Mr,  Tomlins  "  was  not  to  stop 
or  hinder  the  alewives  to  go  up  to  the  great  pond." 

The  following  description  of  ancient  Saugus  and  Nahant  is 
extracted  from  ^'  New  Englands  Prospect,'^  written  this  year 
by  William  Wood  of  Lynn,  and  which  he  says  was  undertaken, 
"  because  there  bath  been  many  scandalous  and  false  reports 


144  ANNALS  OP  LYNN  —  1633. 

past  upon  the  country,  even  from  the  sulphurous  breath  of  every 
base  ballad  monger." 

"  The  next  plantation  is  Saugus,  sixe  miles  northeast  from  Winnesimet. 
This  Towne  is  pleasant  for  situation,  seated  in  the  bottom  of  a  Bay,  which  is 
made  on  one  side  "vvith  the  surrounding  shore,  and  on  the  other  with  a  long, 
sandy  Beach.  This  sandy  beach  is  two  miles  long  at  the  end,  whereon  is  a 
necke  of  land  called  Nahant  It  is  sixe  miles  in  circumference,  well  wooded 
with  Oakes,  Pines  and  Cedars.  It  is  beside,  well  watered,  having  beside  the 
fi-esh  Springs,  a  gi-eat  Pond  in  the  middle,  before  which  is  a  spacious  Marsh. 
In  this  necke  is  store  of  good  ground,  fit  for  the  Plow ;  but  for  the  present  it 
is  only  used  for  to  put  young  Cattle  in,  and  weather  Goates,  and  Swine,  to 
secure  them  from  the  Woolues ;  a  few  posts  and  rayles,  fi-om  the  low  water 
markes  to  the  shore,  keepes  out  the  Woolves,  and  keepes  in  the  Cattle.  One 
Blacke  Wilham,  an  Indian  Duke,  out  of  his  generosity,  gave  this  place  in  gen- 
eral! to  this  plantation  of  Saugus,  so  that  no  other  can  appropriate  it  to 
himselfe. 

"  Vpon  the  South  side  of  the  Sandy  Beach,  the  Sea  beateth,  which  is  a 
ti-ue  prognostication  to  presage  stormes  and  foule  weather,  and  the  breaking 
up  of  the  Frost.  For  when  a  storme  hath  been,  or  is  likely  to  be,  it  ^vill  roare 
like  Thunder,  being  heard  sixe  miles ;  and  after  stormes  casts  up  gi-eat  stores 
of  great  Clammes,  which  the  Indians,  taking  out  of  then*  shels,  carry  home  in 
baskets.  On  the  North  side  of  this  Bay  is  two  great  Marshes,  which  are  made 
two  by  a  pleasant  River,  which  runnes  between  them.  Northward  up  this 
river  goes  gi-eat  store  of  Alewives,  of  which  they  make  good  Red  Hemngs; 
insomuch  that  they  have  been  at  charges  to  make  them  a  wayre,  and  a  Her- 
ring house  to  dry  these  Hen-ings  in ;  the  last  year  were  dried  some  4  or  5 
Last  [150  baiTels]  for  an  expeiiment,  which  proved  very  good;  this  is  like  to 
prove  a  gi'eat  inrichment  to  the  land,  being  a  staple  commodity  in  other  Coun- 
tries, for  there  be  such  innumerable  companies  in  every  river,  that  I  have 
seen  ten  thousand  taken  in  two  houres,  by  two  men,  without  any  we  ire  at  all 
saving  a  few  stones  to  stop  their  passage  up  the  river.  There  likewise  come 
store  of  Basse,  which  the  English  and  Indians  catch  with  hooke  and  line,  some 
fifty  or  three  score  at  a  tide.  At  the  mouth  of  this  river  runnes  up  a  gi-eat 
Creeke  into  that  great  Marsh,  which  is  called  Rumney  Marsh,  which  is  4  miles 
long,  and  2  miles  broad,  halfe  of  it  being  Marsh  gi-ound,  and  halfe  upland 
grasse,  without  ti*ee  or  bush ;  this  Marsh  is  crossed  with  divers  creekes,  wherein 
lye  gi'eat  store  of  Geese  and  Duckes.  There  be  convenient  Ponds,  for  the 
planting  of  Duck  coyes.  Here  is  likewise  belonging  to  this  place,  divers  fi-esh 
Meddowes,  which  afford  good  gi'asse ;  and  foure  spacious  Ponds,  like  little 
Lakes,  wherein  is  good  store  of  fresh  Fish,  within  a  mile  of  the  Towne ;  out 
of  which  runnes  a  curious  fi-esh  Broocke,  that  is  seldom  fi'ozen,  by  reason  of  the 
warmnesse  of  the  water;  upon  this  sti*eam  is  built  a  water  Milne,  and  up  this 
river  come  Smelts  and  frost  fish,  much  bigger  than  a  Gudgeon.  For  wood 
there  is  no  want,  there  being  store  of  good  Oakes,  WaUnut,  Cedar,  Aspe, 
Elme.  The  ground  is  very  good,  in  many  places  without  trees,  and  fit  for 
the  plough.  In  this  place  is  more  English  tillage  than  in  all  New  England 
and  Vu'ginia  besides ;  which  proved  as  well  as  could  be  expected;  the  corn 
being  very  good,  especially  the  Barley,  Rye  and  Oates. 

"  The  land  affbrdeth  to  the  inhabitants  as  many  varieties  as  any  place  else, 
and  the  sea  more;  the  Basse  continuing  from  the  middle  of  April  to  Michael- 
mas [Sept.  29,]  which  stayes  not  half  that  time  in  the  Bay  [Boston  Harbor ;] 
besides,  here  is  a  great  deal  of  Rock  cod  and  Macrill,  insomuch  that  shoales 
of  Bass  have  driven  up  shoales  of  Macrill,  from  one  end  of  the  sandy  Beach  to 
the  other;  which  the  inhabitants  have  gathered  up  in  wheelbaiTOWs.  The 
Bay  which  lyeth  before  the  Towne,  at  a  lowe  sprinsr  tyde  will  be  all  flatts  for 
two  miles  together ;  upon  which  is  great  store  of  Muscle  Banckes,  and  Clam 
banckes,  and  Lobsters  amongst  the  rockes  and  grassie  holes.    These  flatts 


ANNALS    OP    LYNN — 1633.  145 


make  it  uimavigable  for  sliippes ;  yet  at  high  water,  great  Boates,  Loiters, 
[Hghters]  and  Pinnaces  of  20  and  30  tun,  may  saile  up  to  the  plantation ;  but 
they  neede  have  a  skilful  Pilote,  because  of  many  dangerous  rockes  and  foam- 
ing breakers,  that  lye  at  the  mouth  of  that  Bay.  Tlie  vei*y  aspect  of  the  place 
is  fortification  enough  to  keepe  of  an  unknowne  enemie ;  yet  it  may  be  fortified 
at  little  charge,  being  but  few  landing  places  thereabout,  and  those  obscure." 

Of  the  health  of  Lynn,  Mr.  Wood  remarks :  ^'  Out  of  that 
Towne,  from  whence  I  came,  in  three  years  and  a  half,  there 
died  but  three ;  to  make  good  which  losses,  I  have  seene  foure 
children  Baptized  at  one  time."  Prefixed  to  his  book  is  the 
following  address,  written  by  some  one  in  England,  who  signs 
himself  S.  W.  [Can  the  S.  W.  mean  Samuel  Whiting,  the  emi- 
nent divine,  who  came  over  in  1636,  and  soon  settled  as  minis- 
ter of  the  church  at  Lynn  —  a  man  famed  for  his  piety,  learning, 
and  affability  ?  It  is  possible  that  Mr.  Wood's  book  induced  his 
emigration ;  and  if  so,  it  was  the  occasion  of  great  good  to  the 
infant  plantation.  The  Puritan  clergy  were  much  prone  to 
bestow  their  encomiums  in  numbers,  after  this  style.] 

Thanks  to  thy  travel  and  thyself,  who  hast 
Much  knowledge  in  so  small  room  comptly  placed, 
And  thine  experience  thus  a  mound  dost  make. 
From  whence  we  may  New  England's  prospect  take, 
Though  many  thousands  distant ;  therefore  thou 
Thyself  shall  sit  upon  mount  praise  her  brow. 
For  if  the  man  who  shall  the  short  cut  find 
Unto  the  Indies,  shall  for  that  be  shrined. 
Sure  thou  deservest  then  no  small  praise  who 
So  short  cut  to  New  England  here  dost  shew ; 
And  if  than  this  small  thanks  thou  get'st  no  more 
Of  thanks,  I  then  will  say,  the  world  's  grown  poor. 

The  ^'  curious  fresh  broocke  "  which  Mr.  Wood  notices,  is 
Strawberry  brook,  which  is  kept  warm  by  the  numerous  springs 
beneath  the  pond  in  which  it  originates,  and  by  its  constant 
flowing  for  the  supply  of  several  mills.  Mr.  Robert  Mansfield, 
who  lived  near  its  source,  told  me  that  he  had  never  seen  it 
frozen  for  more  than  seventy  years. 

A  tax,  made  by  the  General  Court,  on  the  first  of  October, 
will  show  the  relative  wealth  of  the  several  towns.  The  ap- 
portionment was,  to  Dorchester,  80  pounds  ;  to  Boston,  Charles- 
town,  Cambridge,  Watertown,  and  Roxbury,  each,  48  pounds ; 
Lynn,  36 ;  Salem,  28.  At  several  assessments,  Lynn  was  in 
advance  of  Salem. 

Such  great  quantities  of  corn  having  been  used  for  fattening 
swine,  as  to  occasion  a  scarcity,  the  Court  ordered,  on  the  fifth 
of  November,  "  That  no  man  shall  give  his  swine  any  corn,  but 
such  as,  being  viewed  by  two  or  three  neighbors,  shall  be  judged 
unfit  for  man's  meat ;  and  every  plantation  may  agree  how  many 
swine  every  person  may  keep." 

The  Court  ordered,  that  every  man,  in  each  plantation, 
M  .  JO 


146  ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1634. 

excepting  magistrates  and  ministers,  should  pay  for  three  days' 
work,  at  one  shiUing  and  sixpence  each,  for  completing  the  Fort 
in  Boston  harbor. 

The  ministers  of  Lynn  and  the  western  towns  were  in  the 
practice  of  meeting  at  each  other's  houses,  once  in  two  weeks, 
to  discuss  important  questions.  The  ministers  of  Salem  were 
averse  to  the  practice,  fearing  it  might  eventuate  in  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  presbytery. 

On  the  4th  of  December,  corresponding  with  the  15th  of  new 
style,  the  snow  was  "  knee  deep,"  and  the  rivers  frozen. 

'^The  year  1633  was  rendered  memorable  by  the  death  of  the 
three  Indian  sagamores.  In  January,  Poquanum  was  murdered  ; 
and  in  December,  Wonohaquaham  and  Montowampate  died. 
Governor  Winthrop,  in  his  journal,  says: 

"  December  5.  John  Sagamore  died  of  the  small  pox,  aud  almost  all  his 
people ;  above  thirty  buried  by  Mr.  Maverick  of  Winnesemett  in  one  day. 
The  towns  in  the  bay  took  away  many  of  the  children  ;  but  most  of  them  died 
soon  after. 

"James  Sagamore  of  Sagus  died  also  and  most  of  his  folks.  John  Saga- 
more deshed  to  be  brought  among  the  English ;  so  he  was ;  and  promised, 
if  he  recovered,  to  live  with  the  English  and  sen^e  their  God.  He  left  one 
son,  which  he  disposed  to  Mr.  Wilson,  the  pastor  of  Boston,  to  be  brought  up 
by  him.  He  gave  to  the  governor  a  good  quantity  of  wampompeague,  and  to 
divers  others  of  the  English  he  gave  gifts ;  and  took  order  for  the  payment 
of  his  own  debts  and  his  men's.  He  died  in  a  persuasion  that  he  should  go  to 
the  Englishmen's  God.  Divers  of  them,  in  their  sickness,  confessed  that  the 
Englishmen's  God  was  a  good  God,  and  that  if  they  recovered  they  would 
serve  him.  It  wrought  much  with  them,  that  when  their  own  people  forsool: 
them,  yet  the  English  came  daily  and  ministered  to  them  ;  and  yet  few,  only 
two  families,  took  any  infection  by  it.  Amongst  others  Mr.  Maverick,  of  Win- 
nesemett, is  worthy  of  a  perpetual  remembrance.  Himself,  his  wife  aud  sei-v- 
ants,  went  daily  to'^them,  ministered  to  their  necessities,  aud  buried  their  dead, 
and  took  home  many  of  then-  children.     So  did  other  of  the  neighbors." 

After  the  death  of  his  brothers,  Wenepoykin  became  sagamore 
of  the  remaining  Indians  in  this  region. 

1634. 

The  inconvenience  of  having  the  Legislature  composed  of  the 
whole  number  of  freemen,  and  the  danger  of  leaving  the  planta- 
tions exposed  to  the  attacks  of  the  Indians,  induced  the  people 
to  form  a  House  of  Representatives,  who  first  assembled  on  the 
14th  of  May.  Eight  towns  were  represented,  each  of  which 
sent  three  representatives  —  Boston,  Charlestown,  Roxbury, 
Dorchester,  Cambridge,  Watertown,  Lynn,  and  Salem.  The 
representatives  from  Lynn,  were  Captain  Nathaniel  Turner, 
Edward  Tomlins,  and  Thomas  Willis.  The  General  Court  this 
year  consisted  of  the  Governor,  Deputy  Governor,  six  Assist- 
ants,  and  twenty-four  Representatives.  This  number  was  not 
much  increased"^  for  many  years ;  each  town  sending  fewer, 
rather  than  more  representatives. 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1634.  147 

Hon.  John  Humfrey,  with  his  wife,  the  Lady  Susan,  a  daugh- 
ter of  the  Earl  of  Lincoln,  arrived  in  July.  He  brought  with 
him  a  valuable  present  from  Mr.  Richard  Andrews,  an  alderman 
of  London,  consisting  of  fifteen  heifers,  at  this  time  valued  at 
more  than  eighty  dollars  each.  One  of  them  was  designed  for 
each  of  the  eight  ministers,  and  the  remainder  were  for  the 
poor.  He  went  to  reside  on  his  farm  at  Swampscot,  which  had 
been  laid  out  by  order  of  the  Court.  It  consisted  of  five  hun- 
dred acres,  "  between  Forest  river  and  the  cliff."  The  bounds 
extended  "a  mile  from  the  seaside,"  and  ran  "to  a  great  white 
oak  by  the  rock,"  including  "  a  spring  south  of  the  oak."  The 
spring  is  on  Mr.  Stetson's  farm,  [and  the  ''  old  oak  "  stood  about 
a  furlong  north  of  the  spring.  It  was  standing  when  the  first 
edition  of  the  History  of  Lynn  appeared,  and  Mr.  Lewis  pleaded 
for  it  in  these  pathetic  strains : 

O  spare  the  tree,  whose  dewy  tears 
Have  fallen  for  a  thousand  years ! 
Beneath  whose  shade,  in  days  of  old. 
The  careful  shepherd  watched  his  fold ; 
On  whose  green  top  the  eagle  sate, 
To  watch  the  fish-hawk's  watery  weight ; 
And  oft  in  moonlight  by  whose  side, 
The  Indian  wooed  his  dusky  bride !     a 
It  speaks  to  man  of  early  time,  • 

Before  the  earth  was  stained  with  crime, 
Ere  cannon  waked  the  peaceful  plains, 
When  silence  ruled  her  vast  domains, 
O,  as  you  love  the  bold  and  free. 
Spare,  woodman,  spare  the  old  oak  tree ! 

[In  his  second  edition,  the  old  oak  having  disappeared,  Mr. 
Lewis  tartly  exclakiis :  "  But,  alas  !  the  old  oak,  the  last  of  the 
ancient  forest  of  Lynn,  has  been  cut  down.  Some  people  have 
no  sentiment." 

[But  it  seems  beyond  dispute  that  Mr.  Lewis  was  wrong  in 
locating  Mr.  Humfrey  in  what  is  now  Swampscot.  He  owned 
an  extensive  tract  of  land  there,  but  resided,  I  am  satisfied,  on 
the  east  side  of  Nahant  street,  having,  in  that  vicinity,  quite  an 
extensive  farm,  his  windmill  being  on  Sagamore  Hill.    See  p.  201. 

[Timothy  Tomlins  was  appointed  overseer  of  the  "  powder 
and  shott.  and  all  other  amunicon,"  in  the  Saugus  plantation.] 

On  the  3d  of  September,  the  Court  ordered,  •'  That  Mr.  Ed- 
ward Tomlins,  or  any  other  put  in  his  place,  by  the  Commis- 
sioners of  War,  with  the  help  of  an  assistant,  shall  have  power 
to  presse  men  and  carts,  for  ordinary  wages,  to  helpe  towards 
makeing  of  such  carriages  and  wheeles  as  are  wanting  for  the 
ordinances." 

On  training  day,  Captain  Turner,  by  the  direction  of  Colonel 
Humfrey,  went  with  his  company  to  Nahant,  to  hunt  the  wolves. 
This  was  very  pleasant  amusement  for  training  day. 


l48  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1635. 

16  3  5. 

Though  an  agreement  had  been  made  by  Thomas  Dexter  with 
the  Indian  chief,  for  the  proprietorship  of  Nahant,  yet  the  town 
evidently  regarded  it  as  their  property ;  as  will  appear  by  the 
following  extracts  from  the  Town  Records,  preserved  in  the 
files  of  the  General  Court: 

January  11.  "  It  is  also  voted  by  the  fi-eemen  of  the  towne,  that  these  mea 
undei-written  shall  have  libeity  to  plant  and  build  at  Nahant,  and  shall  possess 
each  man  laud  for  the  said  pm-pose,  and  proceeding  in  the  trade  of  fishing. 
Mr.  Humfreys,  Daniel  How,  Mr.  Ballard,  Joseph  Rednap,  Timothy  Tomhns, 
Richard  Walker,  Thomas  Talmage,  Henry  Feakes,  Francis  Dent." 

January  18.  "It  is  ordered  by  the  freemen  of  the  towne,  that  all  such  per- 
sons as  are  assigned  any  land  at  Nahant,  to  further  the  trade  of  making  fish, 
That  if  they  do  not  proceed  accordingly  to  for^vard  the  said  trade,  but  either 
doe  grow  remiss,  or  else  doe  give  it  quite  over,  that  then  all  such  lotts  shall 
be  forfeited  again  to  the  to^^oie,  to  dispose  of  as  shall  be  thought  fitte." 

The  dissensions  which  had  commenced  in  Mr.  Bachiler's 
church  at  an  early  period,  began  again  to  assume  a  formidable 
appearance.  Some  of  the  members,  disliking  the  conduct  of 
the  pastor,  and  "  withal  making  a  question  whether  they  were 
a  church  or  not,"  withdrew  from  the  communion.  Mr.  Bachiler 
requested  them  to  present  their  grievances  in  writing,  but  as 
they  refused  to  do  that,  he  gave  information  that  he  should 
proceed  to  excommuncate  them.  In  consequence  of  this,  a 
council  of  ministers  was  held  on  the  15th  of  March.  After  a 
deliberation  of  three  days,  they  decided,  that  although  the 
church  had  not  been  properly  instituted,  yet  the  mutual  exer- 
cise of  their  religious  duties  had  supplied  the  defect. 

The  difiiculties  in  the  self-constituted  church,  however,  did 
not  cease  with  the  decision  of  the  council,  but  continued  to 
increase,  until  Mr.  Bachiler,  perceiving  no  prospect  of  their 
termination,  requested  a  dismission  for  himself  and  his  first 
members,  which  was  granted. 

The  celebrated  Hugh  Peters,  who  had  just  arrived  in  America, 
was  next  emplo3^ed  to  preach,  and  the  people  requested  him  to 
become  their  minister ;  but  he  preferred  to  exercise  the  duties 
of  that  ofiice  at  Salem.  He  was  a  very  enterprising  man,  but 
seems  to  have  been  much  better  adapted  for  a  politician  than  a 
minister.  He  was  a  great  favorite  of  Johnson,  the  Woburn 
poet,  who  thus  alludes  to  his  preaching,  and  to  the  difficulties 
at  Lynn : 

"  With  courage  Peters,  a  soldier  stout, 

In  wilderness  (or  Clirist  begins  to  war; 
MiK'li  work  he  finds  'mongst  pe()|)le  yet  hold  out; 
"NVitli  fluent  tongue  he  stops  jjliantastic  jar." 

He  returned  to  England  in  1G41,  and  unhappily  became  in- 
volved in  the  ambitious  designs  of  Cromwell  —  preached  the 
funeral  sermon  over  the  "gray  discrowned  head"  of  the  unfor 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1635.  149 

tunate  Charles  the  First  —  and  was  executed  for  treason,  on  the 
16th  of  October,  1660.  [It  is  stated  in  the  European  Magazine, 
September,  1794,  that  while  the  monarch  was  being  conveyed 
from  Windsor  to  Whitehall,  Peters  rode  before  him,  crying  out, 
every  few  minutes,  "  We  '11  whisk  him  !  we  '11  whisk  him,  now 
we  have  him !  Were  there  not  a  man  in  England  besides  him- 
self, he  should  die  the  death  of  a  traitor ! "]  Peters  left  '^  A 
Father's  Legacy  to  an  Only  Child  ;  "  written  in  the  tower  of  Lon- 
don, and  addressed,  "For  Elizabeth  Peters,  my  dear  Child." 
He  says,  "  I  was  the  son  of  considerable  parents  from  Foy,  in 
Cornwall.  I  am  heartily  sorry  I  was  ever  popular,  and  known 
better  to  others  than  to  myself  And  if  I  go  shortly  where 
time  shall  be  no  more,  where  cock  nor  clock  distinguish  hours, 
sink  not,  but  lay  thy  head  in  his  bosom  who  can  keep  thee,  for 
he  sits  upon  the  waves.     Farewell." 

"  I  wish  thee  neither  poverty  nor  riches, 

But  godliness,  so  gainful,  with  content ; 
No  painful  pomp,  nor  gloiy  that  bewitches, 
A  blameless  life  is  the  best  monument ! " 

[The  sentence  of  Peters  was,  that  he  be  carried  back  to  prison, 
thence  be  drawn  on  a  hurdle  to  the  place  of  execution,  there 
hung  by  the  neck,  be  cut  down  while  alive,  have  his  entrails 
taken  out  and  burned  before  his  eyes,  his  head  cut  off,  his  body 
quartered,  and  thus  divided  be  disposed  of  at  the  royal  pleasure. 
His  head  was  set  on  London  Bridge.] 

It  was  the  custom  in  those  early  days  to  have  an  hourglass  in 
the  pulpit,  by  which  the  minister  timed  his  sermons.  A  painter 
of  that  day  made  a  picture  in  which  he  represented  Mr.  Peters 
turning  an  hourglass  and  saying,  ^'  I  know  you  are  good  fel- 
lows ;  stay  and  take  another  glass  I  "  [But  the  picture  was  by 
an  English  painter,  and  intended  for  ridicule.] 

The  standard  borne  at  this  time  was  a  red  cross  in  a  white 
field.  This  emblem  was  not  congenial  to  the  feelings  of  Mr. 
Endicott,  and  he  ordered  it  to  be  cut  out  from  the  banner  at 
Salem.  This  occasioned  much  dissatisfaction  among  the  people, 
and  a  committee  from  each  town  was  appointed,  in  May,  to 
consider  of  the  offence.  They  judged  it  to  be  ''  great,  rash, 
and  without  discretion,"  and  disqualified  him,  for  one  year, 
from  bearing  any  public  office. 

May  6.  "  There  is  500  acres  of  land,  and  a  freshe  Pond,  with 
a  little  Island,  conteyning  about  two  acres,  granted  to  John 
Humfrey,  Esqr.,  lying  between  north  and  west  of  Saugus ;  pro- 
vided he  take  no  part  of  the  500  acres  within  five  miles  of  any 
Town  now  planted.  Also,  it  is  agreed  that  the  inhabitants  of 
Saugus  and  Salem,  shall  have  liberty  to  build  store  bowses  upon 
the  said  Island,  and  to  lay  in  such  provisions  as  they  shall  judge 
necessary  for  their  use  in  tyme  of  neede."  The  land  thus  laid 
M* 


150  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1635. 

out  was  around  Humfrey's  Pond,  in  Lynnfield,  and  was  nearly 
one  mile  in  extent. 

A  fearful  storm  occurred  on  16  August.  It  is  thus  spoken 
of:  "  None  now  living  in  these  parts,  either  English  or  Indian 
had  ever  seen  the  like.  It  began  in  the  morning,  a  little  before 
day,  and  grew,  not  by  degrees,  but  came  with  great  violence  in 
the  beginning,  to  the  great  amazement  of  many.  It  blew  down 
many  houses,  and  uncovered  divers  others.  It  caused  the  sea 
to  swell  in  some  places,  to  the  southward  of  Plymouth,  as  that 
it  rose  to  twenty  feet  right  up  and  down,  and  made  many  of  the 
Indians  to  climb  into  trees  for  their  safety.  It  threw  down  all 
the  corn  to  the  ground,  which  never  rose  more.  It  blew  down 
many  hundred  thousand  of  trees."  A  vessel  was  wrecked  near 
Thacher's  Island,  and  twenty-one  persons  lost.  Mr.  Anthony 
Thacher  and  his  wife,  ancestors  of  Eev.  Thomas  Gushing  Thach- 
er,  afterward  minister  of  Lynn,  were  the  only  persons  saved. 
[And  in  September  a  severe  hurricane  took  place,  the  wind 
being  first  at  the  northeast,  and  then  veering  to  another  quarter. 
It  produced  "  two  tydes  in  six  howres."] 

This  year  brass  farthings  were  prohibited,  and  musket  bullets 
were  ordered  to  pass  for  farthings. 

Many  new  inhabitants  appear  at  Lynn  about  this  time,  whose 
names  it  will  be  well  to  preserve. 

Abraham  Belknap  —  had  two  sons,  Abraham  and  Jeremy; 
and  from  him  descended  Dr.  Jeremy  Belknap,  the  historian  of 
New  Hampshire. 

James  Boutwell  —  a  farmer  —  freeman  in  1638,  died  in  1651. 
His  wife  was  Alice,  and  his  children,  Samuel,  Sarah,  and  John. 

Edmund  Bridges  —  came  over  in  July,  1635,  and  died  in  1686, 
aged  74.  The  name  of  his  wife  was  Mary,  and  he  had  sons 
John  and  Josiah.  He  was  the  second  shoemaker  in  Lynn. 
[He  appears  to  have  been  a  blacksmith,  not  a  shoemaker,  unless 
the  shoemakers  of  those  days  were  expected  to  shoe  horses  as 
well  as  men.  Possibly,  however,  he  may  have  filled  a  double 
calling.  In  May,  1647,  the  Court  ordered  that  "  Edm°  Bridges 
for  his  neglect  in  shooing  M''  Symonds  horse,  (when  he  was  to 
come  to  Co'^te,)  should  be  required  by  warrant  from  this  Co'^te 
to  answere  this  complaint,  &  his  neglect  to  furth^  publike  ser- 
vice, at  y®  next  County  Co^te  for  y*  sheire  to  heare  &  determine 
y®  case,  &  y*  returne  be  made  to  y®  Gen^all  Co^te  of  y®  issue 
thereof."  Mr.  Bridges  came  over  at  the  age  of  23,  in  the  James, 
from  London.  He  had  three  wives.  The  first  was  named  Alice, 
the  second  Elizabeth,  and  the  third  Mary.  And  he  had  eight 
children.     His  son  Hachaliah  was  lost  at  sea,  in  or  about  1671.] 

Edward  Burcham  —  a  freeman  in  1638,  clerk  of  the  writs,  in 
1645.  In  1656  he  returned  to  England.  [But  he  came  back, 
as  may  be  inferred  from  the  following  from  the  Court  records, 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1635.  151 

11  Oct.  1682.  "In  ans'^  to  the  petition  of  Wra.  Hawkins,  it  ap- 
pearing that  Edward  Bircham,  late  of  Lynn,  deceased,  had  a 
tract  of  land  granted  him  by  the  toun  of  Lynn,  to  the  quantity 
of  thirty  acres  which  doth  not  appeare  to  be  lajd  out  in  any 
other  part  of  the  toune  bounds,  this  Court  doth  order,  that 
Capt.  Richard  Walker,  Capt.  Elisha  Hutchinson,  and  M"*  Andrew 
Mansfeild,  be  requested,  and  are  by  this  Court  impowred,  to 
make  further  inquiry  into  sajd  matter  and  to  cause  the  tract 
of  land  mentioned  in  the  petition  to  be  measured  by  a  surveyor 
of  lands,  and  to  make  report  thereof  at  the  next  General  Court." 
Mr.  Burcham  had  a  daughter  Frances,  who  married  Isaac  Willey, 
8  June,  1660.] 

George  Burt  —  came  to  Lynn  in  1635,  and  died  2  Nov.  1661. 
He  was  a  farmer,  and  the  value  of  his  estate  was  £144.4.9.  He 
had  tliree  sons  ;  George,  who  went  to  Sandwich,  in  1637  ;  Hugh, 
born  in  1591 ;  and  Edward,  who  removed  to  Charlestown.  [In 
1652,  the  Court  granted  to  Edward  a  patent  "  to  make  salte, 
after  his  manner,"  for  ten  years,  on  condition  that  he  followed 
the  employment ;  and  desired  of  the  people  of  Gloucester  that 
he  might  "  set  doune  his  saltworke  at  the  very  cape,  where 
there  is  both  wood  and  water  fitting  for  that  worke." 

Henry  Collins — was  a  starch  maker,  and  lived  in  Essex 
street.  He  embarked  in  the  Abigail,  of  London,  30  June,  1635. 
In  1639  he  was  a  member  of  the  Salem  Court.  He  was  born 
in  1606,  and  was  buried  20  Feb.  1687,  at  the  age  of  81.  His 
wife  Ann  was  born  in  1605.  His  children  were,  Henry,  born 
1630;  John,  b.  1632;  Margery,  b.  1633;  and  Joseph,  b.  1635, 
and  his  descendants  remain.  [I  think  this  settler  must  have 
been  the  same  individual  who  is  by  some  genealogists  called 
Henry  Colesworthy.  The  son  John  was  lost  by  shipwreck,  in 
1679.  His  wife  Abigail  survived  him,  and  to  her  administration 
was  granted  in  June,  1680.  His  estate  was  valued  at  £365  Is. 
6d.  He  left  twelve  children,  several  of  whom  were  quite  young. 
A  son  Samuel,  had  "a  good  trade  of  a  gunsmith."] 

John  Cooper  —  embarked  in  the  Hopewell,  of  London,  April 
1,  1635.  He  was  born  at  Oney,  in  Buckinghamshire,  in  1594. 
[He  was  one  of  the  eight  original  undertakers  in  the  Long 
Island  settlement.] 

Timothy  Cooper  —  was  a  farmer,  and  died  in  March,  1659. 
His  children  were,  Mary,  Hannah,  John,  Timothy,  Dorcas,  and 
Rebecca. 

Jenkin  Davis  —  was  a  joiner,  made  a  freeman  in  1637  and 
died  in  1661.  His  wife  was  named  Sarah,  and  he  had  a  son 
John.  [This  Jenkin  Davis  was  too  vicious  a  person  to  be 
allowed  a  place  in  such  honest  company.  Mr.  Lewis  was  rather 
inclined  to  veil  the  dark  features  in  the  characters  of  the  set- 
tlers; a  propensity  which,  though  generous  toward  rogues  might 


152  ANNALS    OF    LYNN  —  1635. 

not  always  prove  just  to  others.  Mr.  Hiimfrey  liad  employed  and 
befriended  Davis,  in  various  ways,  and  had  such  confidence  in 
him  that  when  he  went  to  the  West  Indies  he  placed  his  little 
daughters  at  board  in  his  family.  How  his  confidence  was  met 
may  be  gathered  from  the  following,  which  appears  on  the 
Colony  Records,  14  June,  1642:  "  Jenkin  Davies,  for  his  abuse- 
ing  the  forenamed  Dorcas"  —  Mr.  Humfrey's  daughter,  then 
only  nine  years  old  —  "  was  ordered  to  be  severely  whiped  at 
Boston  on  a  lecture  day,  and  shalbee  returned  to  prison  till 
hee  may  bee  sent  to  Linne,  and  there  to  be  seuerely  whiped 
also  &  from  thencefourth  shalbee  confined  to  the  said  towne 
of  Linne,  so  as  if  hee  shall  at  any  time  go  fourth  of  the  bounds 
of  the  said  towne,  (w^^out  licence  of  this  CoH,)  &  shalbee  duly 
convict  thereof,  he  shalbee  put  to  death  ;  &  also  hee  shall  weare 
a  hempen  roape  apparently  about  his  neck  dureing  the  pleasure 
of  this  Co'"t,  so  as  if  hee  bee  found  to  have  gone  abroad  at  any 
time  w*^out  it,  hee  shalbee  againe  whiped,  &  furth'^,  if  hee  shalbee 
duely  convicted  to  have  attempted  any  such  wickedness  (for 
w*"^  hee  is  now  sentenced)  upon  any  child  after  this  present  day, 
hee  shalbee  put  to  death ;  and  hee  is  to  pay  forty  pounds  to 
M^  Humfrey  for  abuseing  his  daughter."  But  the  Court  allow 
him,  17  October,  1643,  upon  his  wife's  petition,  liberty  to  leave 
off  his  rope  till  they  require  him  to  resume  it.  John  Hudson, 
another  vicious  person,  who  had  been  employed  by  Mr.  Hum- 
frey, had  a  severe  punishment  awarded  him,  by  the  same  Court, 
for  a  similar  ofi'ence.  Likewise  Daniel  Fairfield,  who  seems  to 
have  been,  if  possible,  worse  than  the  others,  his  villany  extend- 
ing also  to  Sarah  Humfrey  a  younger  sister  of  Dorcas.  The 
extreme  youth  of  these  misses,  rendered  the  crime  the  more 
aggravated,  certainly  in  a  moral  sense ;  yet  the  Court  seem  not 
to  have  deemed  Dorcas  entirely  blameless,  as  the  record  adds : 
*' Dorcas  Humfrey  was  ordered  to  bee  privately  severely  cor- 
rected by  this  Co^t,  M"^  Bellingham  &  Increase  Nowell  to  see  it 
done."  The  conduct  of  these  abandoned  men  towards  his  two 
little  daughters,  must  have  been  a  crushing  blow  to  Mr.  Hum- 
frey. God  certainly  gave  him  a  full  share  of  afiliction,  and  he 
seems  to  have  received  his  chastisements  in  a  christian  spirit. 
There  is,  indeed,  far  too  much  evidence  that  society  here,  at 
that  time,  was  in  no  manner  exempt  from  the  keener  sufferings 
attendant  on  irreligion  and  vice.  The  careless  reader  might  be 
led  to  a  false  estimate  of  the  state  of  morals  by  the  occasional 
boastings  of  those  who  were  desirous  of  having  it  a^ppear  that 
above  all  places  on  earth.  Virtue  here  accomplished  her  perfect 
work.  There  were  far  too  many,  in  whom  the  purified  faith 
had  not  wrought  a  purification  of  heart.  However  unwelcome 
may  be  the  task  of  unvieling  the  dark  features  of  the  time  of 
which  he  speaks,  the  hist£)rian,  if  he  would  be  faithful,  must  meet 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1635.  153 

it  unshrinkingly.     One  may   falsify  as   well  by  suppressing  a 
part  of  the  truth  as  by  straight-forward  lying.]    • 

John  Deacon  —  was  the  first  blacksmith  at  Lynn,  and  in  1638 
had  20  acres  of  land  allotted  to  him. 

Edmund  Farrington  —  embarked  in  the  Hopewell,  of  London, 
1  April,  1635,  with  his  wife  and  four  children.  (Record  in  West- 
minster Hall,  London.)  He  was  a  native  of  Oney,  in  Bucking- 
hamshire, and  born  in  1588.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  had  200 
acres  of  land,  part  of  which  was  on  the  western  side  of  Federal 
street,  where  he  lived,  and  part  on  the  western  side  of  Myrtle 
street.  In  1655  he  built  a  corn  mill  on  Water  Hill,  where  a 
pond  was  dug,  and  a  water  course  opened  for  half  a  mile.  [See, 
however,  page  235.]  He  died  in  1670,  aged  82.  The  name  of 
his  wife  was  Elizabeth,  and  she  was  born  in  1586.  His  children 
were,  Sarah,  born  in  1621;  Martha,  b.  1623;  John,  b.  1624; 
Elizabeth,  b.  1627,  and  married  John  Fuller,  in  1646.  He  also 
had  a  son  Matthew,  to  whom  he  gave  half  his  corn  mill,  "  except 
the  tole  of  my  son  ffuller's  grists,  which  is  well  and  duly  to  be 
ground  tole  free,  during  the  life  of  my  daughter  Elizabeth." 

Joseph  Floyd  —  lived  in  Fayette  street.  In  1666,  he  sold 
his  house  and  land  to  "  Henry  Silsbee  of  Ipswich,"  for  thirty- 
eight  pounds,  and  removed  to  Chelsea.  His  land  is  described 
as  bounded  ^'  west  next  the  town  common,  and  east  next  a  little 
river."  The  ^' town  common  "  then  meant  the  public  lands  in 
Woodend;  and  the  ^'little  river"  was  Stacy's  Brook. 

Christopher  Foster  —  embarked  in  the  Abigail,  of  London, 
17  June,  1635.  He  was  a  farmer,  was  admitted  a  freeman  in 
1637,  and  lived  in  Nahant  street.  He  was  born  in  1603.  His 
wife  Frances  was  born  in  1610.  His  children  were  Rebecca, 
born  in  1630;  Nathaniel,  b.  1633;  John,  b.  1634. 

George  Fraile  —  died  9  December,  1663,  [leaving  one  son 
and  two  daughters.  His  widow,  Elizabeth,  was  appointed  ad- 
ministratrix of  his  estate,  which  amounted  to  .£184.4.]  His  son 
George  was  accidentally  killed,  in  1669,  "  by  a  piece  of  timber, 
of  about  fifteen  hundred  weight,  rolling  over  him." 

Edmund  Freeman  —  was  born  in  1590,  and  came  to  Lynn  in 
1635.  He  removed  to  Sandwich  in  1637,  and  was  an  Assistant 
of  Plymouth  colony  in  1640.  His  children  were  Elizabeth, 
Alice,  Edmund  and  John.  Mr.  Freeman  presented  the  colony 
with  twenty  corslets,  or  pieces  of  plate-armor. 

Dennis  Geere  —  came  from  Thesselworth  to  Lynn,  in  1635. 
He  was  born  in  1605,  and  his  wife  Elizabeth  was  born  in  1613, 
His  children  were  Elizabeth  and  Sarah.  He  died  in  1635  and 
gave,  by  his  will,  £300  to  the  colony. 

Nathaniel  Handforth  —  was  a  haberdasher,  from  London, 
and  lived  on  the  north  side  of  the  Common.  He  was  buried, 
13  September,  1687,  aged  79. 


154  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1635. 

EiCHARD  Johnson  —  came  over  in  1630,  and  lived  with  Sir 
Richard  Saltonstall,  at  Watertown.  He  was  admitted  a  freeman 
in  1637.  He  came  to  Lynn  the  same  year,  and  settled  as  a 
farmer,  on  the  eastern  end  of  the  Common.  He  died  in  1666, 
aged  54.  His  children  were  Daniel,  Samuel,  Elizabeth,  and 
Abigail.  His  descendants  remain.  [Abigail  married  a  Collins, 
and  Elizabeth  a  Tolman.    His  estate  was  appraised  at  £368.17.6.] 

Philip  Kertland  —  was  the  first  shoemaker  known  at  Lynn. 
His  name  is  from  the  German  Cortlandt,  or  Lack-land ;  and  I 
think  it  was  afterward  changed  to  Kirkland.  He  was  from 
Sherrington,  in  Buckinghamshire,  and  in  1638  had  ten  acres 
of  land  allotted  to  him  by  the  towm.  He  had  two  sons,  Philip, 
born  in  1614,  and  Nathaniel,  born  in  1616,  who  embarked  on 
board  the  Hopewell,  of  London,  William  Bnndock,  master  on 
the  first  of  April,  1635.  The  two  sons  remained  at  Lynn  five 
years,  and  in  1640  went  to  form  the  new  settlement  of  South- 
ampton, on  Long  Island.  Nathaniel  returned  to  Lynn,  married, 
and  had  three  children ;  Nathaniel,  Sarah,  and  Priscilla.  He 
was  buried  27  Dec.  1686,  aged  70.  [In  an  article  on  the  gene- 
alogy of  the  Kertland  family  of  the  United  States,  by  Rev.  F. 
W.  Chapman,  published  in  the  New  England  Historical  and  Ge- 
nealogical Register,  14th  volume,  it  is  stated  that  the  Kertlands 
of  this  country  are  supposed  to  have  descended  from  Na- 
thaniel Kertland,  of  Lynn,  who  is  reputed  to  have  resided,  pre- 
vious to  his  emigration,  in  Silver  street,  London.  He  had  one 
son,  John,  who  removed  to  Saybrook,  during  his  minority,  and 
was  adopted  by  Mr.  John  and  Mrs.  Susanna  Wastall.  They 
having  no  children,  made  him  their  sole  heir,  as  appears  by  a 
will,  dated  in  1672.  It  is  quite  certain  that  there  was  a  Nathan- 
iel Kertland  in  Lynn,  who  had  a  son  John,  though  Mr.  Lewis 
does  not  appear  to  have  been  aware  of  the  fact.  This  John 
went  to  Saybrook,  and  there  married  and  reared  a  large  family. 
And  from  him  descended  several  eminent  persons ;  among  them 
Rev.  Daniel  Kertland,  who  was  a  minister  at  Norwich,  and 
father  of  Rev.  Samuel  Kertland,  the  well-known  missionary  to 
the  Oneida  Indians,  and  who  was  father  of  the  distinguished 
John  Thornton  Kertland,  president  of  Harvard  University. 
And  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  K.  Lothrop,  of  Boston,  is  a  grandson  of 
Rev.  Samuel,  the  missionary.  By  what  follows,  it  would  seem 
that  there  was  also  a  John  Kertland  here,  a  brother  of  Philip, 
the  first  shoemaker.  And  it  will  also  be  seen  that  Mr.  Lewis 
failed  to  obtain  a  very  perfect  knowledge  of  the  family  of  which 
he  was  speaking.  In  Salem  Court  files,  17  July,  1659,  is  found 
the  following  testimony  of  John  Kertland,  aged  about  52 :  *^  I 
often  hard  my  brother,  Philip  Kyrtland,  say  oftimes  that  his  wife 
shouald  haue  all  that  hee  had  to  dispose  of,  so  long  as  she  live, 
and  to  my  best  remembranc,  he  gave  X15  to  his  dafter  Mary 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1635.  155 

and  ten  pounds  to  his  dafter  Sara,  and  ten  pounds  to  his  dafter 
Susanna,  and  ten  pounds  to  his  dafter  Hanna ;  this  to  be  given 
to  them  at  y®  day  of  marriag,  the  land  not  to  be  sould  so  long 
as  she  lives."  And  William  Harcher,  of  Lynn,  aged  65,  or 
thereabout,  deposed  "  that  when  Philip  Kertland  was  going  to 
see,"  he  told  him  in  substance  as  above.  The  name  of  the  Cap- 
tain of  the  Hopewell,  by  the  way,  was  Bundock,  not  Burdock, 
as  it  is  sometimes  printed,  and  as  Mr.  Lewis  himself  had  it.] 

The  following  is  from  the  Essex  Registry,  14  October,  1659  : 
"  Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  that  I,  Evan  Thomas,  of  Bos- 
ton, being  about  to  marry  the  widow  Alice  Kertland  of  Lynn, 
do  engage  to  and  agree  not  to  sell  or  alienate  her  now  dwelling 
house  and  land." 

Thomas  Laighton  —  was  a  farmer;  a  freeman  in  1638  ;  lived 
in  Franklin  street.  He  was  a  representative  in  1646,  and  town 
clerk  in  1672.  He  died  8  August,  1697.  His  children  were, 
Thomas,  Margaret,  Samuel,  Rebecca,  and  Elizabeth.  [I  have 
strong  doubts  as  to  the  propriety  of  following  the  lead  of  Mr. 
Lewis  in  the  spelling  of  this  name.  The  public,  records,  to  be 
sure,  display  considerable  ingenuity  in  the  multiplied  variations 
of  the  orthography.  But  he  himself  wrote  his  name  Laughton. 
A  fac-simile  of  his  autograph  is  here        /?  ^  nf  />  , 

given,  as  carefully  traced  from  his  / '^v-^"''^"^  Jxi^-^^^Hjyy^ 
signature  as  witness  to  the  will  of  signature  of  Thomas  Laighton. 
Thomas  Newhall,  the  elder,  made  in 

April,  1668.  Laighton  Bank  takes  its  name  from  this  settler; 
also  Laighton  street.] 

Francis  Lightfoot  —  freeman  1636,  died  1646.  He  came 
from  London,  and  the  name  of  his  wife  was  Anne. 

Richard  Longley  —  a  farmer,  had  two  sons;  William," clerk 
of  the  writs  in  1655,  and  Jonathan. 

Thomas  Marshall  (Capt.)  —  came  to  Lynn  in  1635.  He  em- 
barked in  the  James,  of  London,  on  the  17th  of  July,*  and  soon 

*  Hon.  James  Savage.  The  public  are  greatly  indebted  to  this  gentleman 
for  his  intelligent  annotations  of  Gov.  Winthrop's  Journal,  and  for  his  valuable 
researches  in  the  manuscript  records  of  England.  [And  I  take  the  opportu- 
nity to  add,  that  to  the  Genealogical  Dictionary  of  Mr.  Savage  I  am  greatly 
indebted.  That  work  bears  evidence  of  remarkable  fidelity  and  skill.  And 
the  magnitude  of  the  labor  would  have  been  sufficient  to  appall  any  one  not 
endowed  with  more  than  ordinary  industry  and  perseverance.  The  readiness 
with  which  the  author  expresses  a  doubt,  where  one  exists,  gives  additional 
assurance  of  his  uncompromising  determination  to  avoid  misleading,  if  possi- 
ble. Sueh  a  course  is  really  refreshing  in  view  of  the  faithless  multitude  who 
are  in  the  evil  habit  of  fortifying  uncertainty  by  positiveness.  And  the  resolu- 
tion with  which  he  unveils  the  little  romances  of  such  authors  as  unscrupu- 
lously make  detours  from  the  straight  and  narrow  way  of  truth,  to  gather 
flowers  for  tlie  adornment  of  their  narratives,  while  it  cannot  be  more  aptly 
characterized  than  in  the  orthography  of  his  own  surname,  certainly  merits  the 
highest  commendation,] 


156  ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1635. 

after  his  arrival  was  admitted  a  freeman.  With  many  others, 
he  returned  to  England  to  join  in  the  ambitious  designs  of  Crom- 
well, by  whom  he  was  made  a  captain.  He  served  in  the  army 
of  the  anarch  for  several  years,  and  returned  to  Lynn  laden  with 
military  gIor3\  He  was  six  times  chosen  representative.  He 
purchased  the  tavern,  on  the  west  of  Saugus  river,  which  Mr. 
Joseph  Armitage  had  opened.  Here,  with  all  the  frankness  and 
hospitality  of  a  ^' fine  old  English  gentleman,"  he  kept  open 
doors  for  the  accommodation  of  the  traveling  public,  for  more 
than  forty  years.  Mr.  John  Dunton,  who  passed  through  Lynn 
in  1686,  thus  mentions  him  in  his  journal.  "About  two  of  the 
clock  I  reached  Capt.  Marshall's  house,  which  is  half  way  be- 
tween Boston  and  Salem ;  here  I  staid  to  refresh  nature  with  a 
pint  of  sack  and  a  good  fowl.  Capt.  Marshall  is  a  hearty  old 
gentleman;  formerly  one  of  Oliver's  soldiers,  upon  which  he 
very  much  values  himself.  He  had  all  the  history  of  the  civil 
wars  at  his  fingers'  end,  and  if  we  may  believe  him,  Oliver  did 
hardly  any  thing  that  was  considerable  without  his  assistance ; 
and  if  I  'd  have  staid  as  long,  as  he  'd  have  talked,  he  'd  have 
spoiled  my  ramble  to  Salem."  He  died,  23  Dec.  1689.  His 
wife,  Rebecca,  died  in  August,  1693.  He  had  two  sons;  John, 
born  14  Jan.  1659;  and  Thomas,  who  removed  to  Reading. 
[There  was  a  Thomas  Marshall  of  Reading,  who,  at  the  age 
of  22,  is  supposed  to  have  come  over  in  the  James,  from  Lon- 
don, in  1635.  He  had  children,  Hannah,  born  7  June,  1640; 
Samuel,  b.  1  Sept.  1643,  dying  in  one  week;  Abigail;  Sarah, 
who  died  young;  Thomas  and  Rebecca,  twins,  b.  20  Feb.  1648; 
Elizabeth;  Sarah  again,  b.  14  Feb.  1655.  And  this  Thomas 
Marshall,  Savage,  **  after  very  long  deliberation,"  thinks  must 
have  been  "  that  man  of  Lynn  always  called  Captain,"  who  had 
at  Lvnn,  children,  Joanna,  b.  14  Sept.  1657 ;  John,  b.  14  Feb. 
1660"^;  Ruth,  b.  14  Aug.  1662  ;  and  Mary,  b.  25  May,  1665.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Artillery  Company  in  1640.  His  daughter 
Hannah  married,  John  Lewis,  at  Lynn,  17  June,  1659;  Sarah 
married  Ebenezer  Stocker,  15  July,  1674;  and  Mary  married 
Edward  Baker,  7  April,  1685.  It  seems  very  certain  that  Mr. 
Lewis  made  some  confusion  of  persons.  That  Capt.  Marshall 
loved  to  entertain  with  stories  of  his  wonderful  adventures  and 
valiant  exploits,  quite  as  well  as  with  good  dinners,  there  is 
little  doubt.  And  he  seems  to  have  been  easily  wrought  to  a 
fervid  beat  on  matters  pertaining  to  the  Commonwealth.  But 
we  can  hardly  concur  with  the  suggestion  that  he  intended  to 
impose  on  honest  Mr.  Dunton,  though  Dunton  may  have  mista- 
ken his  jolly  host.] 

In  the  Essex  Registry  of  Deeds  is  the  following  testimony, 
which  is  interesting,  as  coming  from  the  venerable  old  hero 
of  Cromwell's  war :  "  Captain  Thomas  Marshall,  aged  about  67 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1635.  157 

jeares,  doe  testifie,  that  about  38  yeares  since,  the  ould  Water 
mill  at  Linn,  which  was  an  under  shott  mill,  was  by  Mr.  Howell 
committed  to  him,  or  before  the  said  time,  and  about  38  j^eares 
since,  the  building  of  an  over  shott  mill  was  moved  to  the  towne 
of  Linn,  and  for  incuragement  to  go  on  with  the  said  worke, 
they  then  of  the  Towne  of  Linn,  Granted  their  Priviledges  of 
water  and  water  Courses  to  the  said  mill,  and  that  this  said 
water  mill  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Henry  Roades ;  as  witness 
my  hand,  Thomas  Marshall;  May  12th,  1683." 

Thomas  Parker  —  embarked  in  the  Christopher,  of  London, 
11  March,  1635.  He  was  born  in  1614.  [Rev.  Theodore  Park- 
er, the  distinguished  theologian,  who  died  at  Florence,  Italy,  10 
May,  1860,  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  this  old  Lynn  settler,  as 
is  shown  by  the  pedigree  traced  by  Hon.  Charles  Hudson,  of 
Lexington.] 

John  Pierson  —  was  a  farmer,  lived  on  Nahant  street,  and 
removed  to  Reading.     The  name  of  his  wife  was  Madeline. 

John  Pool  —  was  a  farmer,  and  had  200  acres  of  land.  His 
descendants  remain.  [But  he  removed  to  Reading,  where  he 
died,  1  April,  1667,  his  wife,  Margaret,  having  died  about  five 
years  before.  His  family  and  the  Armitage  were  closely  con- 
nected. He  is,  perhaps,  the  same  man  who,  at  the  Court,  4  Dec. 
1638,  was  fined  51.  for  "  abuseing  his  servant;  "  and  who,  with 
Timothy  Tomlins  and  another,  7  Oct.  1641,  was  "  admonished 
not  to  go  to  the  Dutch,  because  of  scandall  and  offence."] 

Nicholas  Potter  —  was  a  mason,  and  had  sixty  acres  of  land. 
[Mr.  Potter  appears  to  have  become  much  interested  in  the 
Iron  Works,  after  their  establishment,  but  removed  to  Salem, 
in  1660.  He  was  twice  married,  his  second  wife  being  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  Gedney,  of  Salem.  He  made  a  will,  10  Oct.  1677, 
appointing  his  fether-in-law  sole  executor,  and  in  it  mentions 
six  children  by  his  first  wife,  namely,  Samuel,  Benjamin,  Sarah, 
Mary,  Hannah,  and  Bethia.  He  also  had  children  by  his  second 
wife.  Eight  days  after  the  date  of  his  will,  he  died.  The  in- 
ventory of  his  estate  gives,  in  amount,  .£206.11.  He  must  have 
had  the  confidence  of  the  people,  while  in  Lynn,  for  in  1646,  he 
was  licensed  by  the  Court  to  "  draw  wine,"  in  accordance  with 
the  desire  of  the  town,  expressed  in  a  vote  passed  at  a  public 
meeting.] 

Oliver  Purchis  —  freeman  in  1636,  representative  in  1660, 
town  clerk  in  1686.  [He  was  elected  assistant  in  1685,  but 
*' declined  his  oath."]  He  removed  to  Concord,  in  1691,  and 
died  20  Nov.  1701,  aged  88  years. 

Richard  Sadler  —  a  farmer;  a  freeman  in  1639;  came  from 
Worcester,  England.  He  lived  by  the  great  rock  near  the  junc- 
tion of  Walnut  and  Holyoke  streets.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Salem  Court  in  1639,  and  clerk  of  the  writs  in  1640.  He  had  a 
N 


158  ANNALS   OF    LYNN  —  1635. 

SOU  Elchard,  born  in  1610,  who  returned  to  England  in  1647, 
and  was  ordained  16  May,  1648.  [It  was  Mr.  Sadler  himself 
who  became  a  preacher.  He  went  home  in  1646  or  '7  and  was 
ordained,  at  the  date  mentioned,  at  the  chapel  of  Whixall,  in 
Shropshire.  But  he  was  afterward  advanced  to  a  better  living, 
at  Ludlow,  from  which  he  was  ejected,  at  the  Restoration.  Mr. 
Lewis  does  not  state  the  time  of  his  death,  nor  give  any  date 
from  which  his  age  might  be  inferred  But  Calamy  says  he 
died  in  1675,  aged  55.  The  age,  however,  seems  to  be  wrongly 
stated;  for  if  he  were  born  in  1620,  as  must  have  been  the  case 
if  his  age  was  55  in  1675,  it  is  hardly  probable  that  he  would 
have  been  appointed  to  the  important  public  positions  he  held 
from  1639,  onward,  as  long  as  he  remained  Iiere.  In  1639  he 
was  made  a  freeman.  That  might  have  been,  it  is  true,  had  he 
been  but  19  years  old,  for  youths  of  16  could  take  the  oath  and 
perform  the  duties  of  freemen,  with  the  exception  of  voting  for 
magistrates,  and  with  one  or  two  other  disabilities.  But  in  the 
same  year,  he  was  appointed,  with  John  Oliver  and  Robert 
Keayne,  "  to  run  the  bounds  between  Boston  and  Linn,"  and 
likewise  made  a  member  of  the  Salem  Court.  For  the  last  two 
appointments,  a  person  of  nineteen  years  was  certainl}^  rather 
young.  And  then  again,  taking  Mr.  Lewis's  statement  that  "  he 
had  a  son  Richard,  born  in  1610,"  in  connection  with  the  state- 
ment of  Calamy  that  he  died  in  1675  at  the  age  of  55,  we  have 
the  rather  uncommon  occurrence  of  a  son  being  born  ten  years 
before  his  father.  The  experienced  Farmer,  too,  is  not  exempt 
from  entanglement  in  the  matter.  He,  no  doubt  on  the  author- 
ity of  Calamy,  gives  the  age  of  Mr.  Sadler,  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  in  1675,  as  55  ;  and  adds  that  the  preacher  who  was  or- 
dained at  Whixall,  in  1648,  was  perhaps  his  son.  But  if  he 
himself  was  only  28,  at  the  time  of  the  ordination,  is  it  likely 
that  he  had  a  son  old  enough  to  be  a  settled  preacher?  The 
fact  probably  is,  that  Mr.  Sadler  himself  was  born  in  1610.  The 
error  making  him  55  instead  of  65  at  the  time  of  his  death,  in 
1675,  might  easily  have  occurred ;  and  some  author,  not  imagin- 
ing that  he  could  have  become  a  preacher  himself,  benevolently 
supplied  him  with  a  son  to  fill  the  sacred  office.  Savage  says 
Mr.  Sadler  went  home  in  1646,  as  fellow-passenger  with  John 
Leverett,  Gov.  Sayles,  of  Bermuda,  and  many  others,  of  whom 
were  the  malcontent  Dr.  Child,  Thomas  Fowle,  and  William 
Yassall.  And  he  does  not  seem  to  doubt  that  Mr.  Sadler  him- 
self was  the  preacher  ordained  at  Whixall.  The  complications 
here  exhibited  very  well  illustrate  the  perplexities  that  constant- 
ly beset  the  path  of  one  engaged  on  a  work  like  the  present. 
And  if  now  and  then  a  misstatement  should  be  made  or  a  wrong 
conclusion  drawn,  is  it  very  wonderful?  For  something  more 
regarding  Mr.  Sadler  see  under  date  1638.] 


ANNALS    OF   LYNN  —  1636.  159 

Thomas  Townsend — was  a  farmer,  and  lived  near  the  Iron 
Works.  He  died  22  Dec.  1677.  His  sons  were  John,  Thomas, 
Henry,  and  Richard.  Some  of  his  descendants  remain,  others 
were  among  the  first  settlers  of  the  towns  on  Long  Island. 

1636. 

Mr.  Bachiler  had  been  readily  dismissed  from  his  pastoral 
charge,  in  the  expectation  that  he  would  desist  from  its  exercise, 
or  remove  from  the  town ;  instead  of  which,  he  renewed  his 
covenant  with  the  persons  who  came  with  him  from  England, 
intending  to  continue  his  ministrations.  The  people  opposed 
this  design,  as  its  tendency  would  be  to  frustrate  their  intention 
of  settling  another  minister ;  they  therefore  complained  to  the 
magistrates,  who  forbade  his  proceeding.  Finding  that  he 
disregarded  their  injunctions,  and  refused  to  appear  before 
them,  they  sent  the  marshal  to  compel  him.  He  was  brought 
before  the  Court  of  Assistants,  at  Boston,  in  January,  and  was 
discharged,  on  engaging  to  leave  the  town  within  three  months. 

Whoever  has  attentively  read  the  lives  of  the  early  ministers 
of  New  England,  as  written  by  the  Rev.  Cotton  Mather,  must 
have  noticed  that  they  are  all  represented  to  have  been  men 
of  uncommon  learning,  piety,  and  worth.  This  may  be  imputed 
partly  to  the  embellishments  of  his  pen,  and  partly  to  the  fact 
that  they  were  born  and  educated  in  the  bosom  of  the  church, 
and  in  the  best  universities  of  Europe.  We  are  greatly  indebted 
to  Mr.  Mather  for  his  account  of  those  ministers  ;  but  we  should 
have  been  far  more  grateful  to  him,  if  he  had  been  more  partic- 
ular with  regard  to  dates  and  facts  respecting  the  subjects  of  his 
biography,  instead  of  devoting  so  much  time  and  space  to  the 
worthies  of  Greece  and  Rome ;  for  we  could  easily  have  pre- 
sumed his  acquaintance  with  ancient  history  and  the  classics, 
without  so  ostentatious  a  display  of  it.  In  his  life  of  Mr.  Cob- 
bet,  he  has  given  us  but  one  date  with  certainty  —  the  rest 
have  been  supplied  by  my  laborious  research.  Mr.  Bachiler  he 
did  not  notice,  and  the  following  sketch  of  his  life  is  the  first 
which  has  ever  been  offered  to  the  public. 

The  Rev.  Stephen  Bachiler  was  born  in  England,  in  the 
year  1561,  and  received  orders  in  the  established  church.  In 
the  early  part  of  his  life  he  enjoyed  a  good  reputation  ;  but 
being  dissatisfied  with  some  of  the  ceremonies  of  the  church, 
and  refusing  to  continue  his  conformity,  he  was  deprived  of  his 
permission  to  perform  her  services.  The  church  has  been  much 
censured  for  her  severity  ;  and  all  uncharitableness  and  persecu- 
tion are  to  be  deprecated ;  but  in  simply  ejecting  her  ministers 
for  nonconformity,  after  they  have  approved  her  mode  of  wor- 
ship, and  in  the  most  solemn  manner  possible  engaged  them- 
selves in  her  service,  the  church  is  no  more  censurable  than  all 


160  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1636. 

other  communities,  with  whom  the  same  practice  is  common. 
On  leaving  England,  Mr.  Bachiler  went  with  his  family  to  Hol- 
land, wliere  he  resided  several  years.  He  then  returned  to 
London,  from  which  place  he  sailed,  on  the  ninth  of  March,  1632, 
for  New  England.  He  arrived  at  Lynn  on  the  sixth  of  June, 
having  in  his  company  six  persons,  his  relatives  and  friends, 
who  had  belonged  to  his  church  in  Holland.  With  them,  and 
the  few  who  united  with  them,  he  constituted  a  little  church  at 
Lynn,  without  any  of  the  ceremonies  usual  on  such  occasions. 
He  continued  his  ministrations  here  for  about  three  years,  with 
repeated  interruptions ;  but  he  never  had  the  support  or  the 
affections  of  the  great  body  of  the  people.  He  was  admitted  a 
freeman  on  the  6th  of  May,  1635,  and  removed  from  Lynn  in 
February,  1636.  He  went  first  to  Ipswich,  where  he  received 
a  grant  of  fifty  acres  of  land,  and  had  the  prospect  of  a  settle- 
ment; but  some  difficulty  having  arisen,  he  left  the  place.  In 
the  very  cold  winter  of  1637,  he  went  on  foot  with  some  of  his 
friends,  to  Yarmouth,  a  distance  of  about  one  hundred  miles. 
There  he  intended  to  plant  a  town,  and  establish  a  church ;  but 
finding  the  difficulties  great,  and  "his  company  being  all  poor 
men,"  he  relinquished  the  design.  He  then  went  to  Newbury, 
where,  on  the  6th  of  July,  1638,  the  town  made  him  a  grant 
of  land.  On  the  6th  of  September,  the  General  Court  granted 
him  permission  to  settle  a  town  at  Hampton.  In  1639,  the 
inhabitants  of  Ipswich  voted  to  give  him  sixty  acres  of  upland, 
and  twenty  acres  of  meadow,  if  he  would  reside  with  them 
three  years ;  but  he  did  not  accept  their  invitation.  On  the 
5th  of  July,  he  and  Christopher  Hussey  sold  their  houses  and 
lands  in  Newbury,  for  "  six  score  pounds,"  and  removed  to 
Hampton.  There  a  town  was  planted,  and  a  church  gathered, 
of  which  Mr.  Bachiler  became  the  minister.  The  town  granted 
him  three  hundred  acres  of  land,  and  he  presented  them  with  a 
bell  for  the  meeting-house,  in  1640.  Here  he  was  treated  with 
respect,  and  in  1641,  he  was  appointed  umpire  in  an  important 
case  of  real  estate  between  George  Cleves  and  John  Winter. 
Dissensions,  however,  soon  commenced,  and  the  people  were 
divided  between  him  and  his  colleague.  Rev.  Timothy  Dalton. 
He  was  also  accused  of  irregular  conduct,  which  is  thus  related 
by  Governor  Winthrop : 

"Mr.  Bachiler,  the  pastor  of  the  church  at  Hampton,  who  had  suffered 
much  at  the  hands  of  the  bishops  in  England,  being  about  eighty  years  of  age, 
and  having  a  lusty,  comely  woman  to  his  wife,  did  solicit  the  chastity  of  his 
neighbor's  wife,  who  acquainted  her  husband  therewith  ;  Whereupon  he  was 
dealt  with,  but  denied  it,  as  he  had  told  the  woman  he  would  do,  and  com- 
plained to  the  magistrates  against  the  woman  and  her  husband  for  slandering 
him.  The  church  likewise  dealing  with  him  he  stiffly  denied  it ;  but  soon 
after,  when  the  Lord's  supper  was  to  be  administered,  he  did  voluntarily  con- 
fess the  attempt." 


ANNALS    OP   LYNN — 1636.  161 

For  this  impropriety,  be  was  excommunicated  by  tbe  cburob. 
Soon  after,  his  house  took  fire,  and  was  consumed,  with  nearly 
all  his  property.  In  1643,  he  was  restored  to  the  communion, 
but  not  to  the  office  of  minister.  In  1644,  the  people  of  Exeter 
invited  him  to  settle  with  them ;  but  the  Court  laid  their  injunc- 
tion. In  1647,  he  was  at  Portsmouth,  where  he  resided  three 
years.  In  1650,  being  then  eighty-nine  years  of  age,  and  his 
second  wife,  Helena,  being  dead,  he  married  his  third  wife, 
Mary;  and  m  May  was  fined  ten  pounds,  for  not  publishing  his 
intention  of  marriage,  according  to  law;  half  of  which  fine  was 
remitted  in  October.  In  the  same  year,  the  Court  passed  the 
following  order,  in  consequence  of  their  matrimonial  disagree- 
ment : 

"  It  is  ordered  by  this  Court,  that  Mr.  Batchelor  and  his  wife  shall  ly ve 
together  as  man  and  wife,  as  in  this  Court  they  have  publiquely  professed  to 
doe ;  and  if  either  desert  one  another,  then  hereby  the  Court  doth  order  that 
the  marshal  shall  apprehend  both  the  said  Mr.  Batchelor  and  Mary  his  wife, 
and  bring  them  forthwith  to  Boston,  there  to  be  kept  till  the  next  Quarter 
Couit  of  Assistants,  that  farther  consideration  thereof  may  be  had,  both  of  them 
moving  for  a  divorce ;  and  this  order  shall  be  sufficient  order  soe  to  doe ;  pro- 
vided, notwithstanding,  that  if  they  put  in  £50,  each  of  them,  for  their  appear- 
ance, with  such  sureties  as  the  commissioners  or  any  one  of  them  for  the 
county  shall  think  good  to  accept  of,  that  then  they  shall  be  under  their  baile, 
to  appear  at  the  next  Court  of  Assistants ;  and  in  case  Mary  Batchelor  shall  live 
out  of  the  jurisdiction,  without  mutual  consent  for  a  time,  that  then  the  clarke 
shall  give  notice  to  the  magistrate  att  Boston,  of  her  absence,  that  farther  order 
may  be  taken  therein." 

Soon  after  this,  in  1651,  Mr.  Bachiler  left  the  country  and 
returned  to  England,  where  he  married  his  fourth  wife,  being 
himself  ninety  years  of  age,  and  his  third  wife,  Mary,  being  still 
living.  In  October,  1656,  she  petitioned  the  Court,  in  the  follow- 
ing words,  to  free  her  from  her  husband : 

"To  the  Honored  Governor,  Deputy  Governor,  with  the  Magistrates  and 
Deputies  at  the  General  Court  at  Boston: 
"The  humble  petition  of  Mary  Bachelor  sheweth  —  Whereas  your  peti- 
tioner, having  formerly  lived  with  Mr.  Stephen  Bachelor,  a  minister  of  this 
Collany,  as  his  lawfull  wife,  and  not  unknown  to  divers  of  you,  as  I  conceive, 
and  the  said  Mr.  Bachelor,  upon  some  pretended  ends  of  his  owne,  hath  trans- 
ported himself  unto  ould  England,  for  many  yeares  smce,  and  betaken  him- 
self to  another  wife,  as  your  petitioner  hath  often  been  credibly  informed,  and 
there  continueth,  whereby  your  petitioner  is  left  destitute,  not  only  of  a  guide 
to  her  and  her  children,  but  also  made  uncapable  thereby  of  disposing  herselfe 
in  the  way  of  marriage  to  any  other,  without  a  lawful  permission ;  and  having 
now  two  children  upon  her  hands,  that  are  chargeable  unto  her,  in  regard  to 
a  disease  God  hath  been  pleased  to  lay  upon  them  both,  which  is  not  easily 
cura.ble,  and  so  weakening  her  estate  in  prosecuting  the  means  of  cure,  that 
she  is  not  able  longer  to  subsist,  without  utter  ruining  her  estate,  or  exposing 
herself  to  the  common  charity  of  others;  which  your  petitioner  is  loth  to  put 
herself  upon,  if  it  may  be  lawfully  avoided,  as  is  well  known  to  all,  or  most 
part  of  her  neighbors.  And  were  she  free  from  her  engagement  to  Mr.  Bach- 
elor, might  probably  soe  dispose  of  herselfe,  as  that  she  might  obtain  a  meet 
helpe  to  assist  her  to  procui-e  such  means  for  her  livelyhood,  and  the  recovery 

N»  ,  11 


162  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1636. 

of  her  children's  health,  as  might  keep  them  from  perishing ;  which  your 
petitioner,  to  her  great  grief,  is  much  afraid  of,  if  not  timely  prevented.  Your 
petitioner's  humble  request  therefore  is,  that  this  Honored  Court  would  be 
pleased  seriously  to  consider  her  condition,  for  matter  of  her  relief  in  her  free- 
dom from  the  said  IMr.  Bachelor,  and  that  she  may  be  at  liberty  to  dispose 
of  herselfe  in  respect  of  any  engagement  to  him,  as  in  your  wisdomes  shall 
seem  most  expedient ;  and  your  petitioner  shall  humbly  pray. 

Mart  Bacheler." 

No  record  appears  that  the  Court  took  any  order  on  this 
petition ;  nor  are  we  informed  whether  the  lady  succeeded  to 
"  dispose  of  herselfe,"  in  the  manner  which  she  seems  to  have 
had  so  much  at  heart.  It  is  to  be  hoped,  however,  that  her 
request  was  granted,  for  the  woman  had  undoubtedly  suffered 
enough  for  her  lapses,  as  the  reader  will  probably  agree,  when 
he  shall  have  read  the  sentence,  which  may  serve  to  clear  up 
at  least  one  of  the  mysteries  in  this  strangest  of  all  the  lives 
of  our  early  ministers.  In  the  records  of  York,  on  the  fifteenth 
of  October,  1651,  is  the  following  entry:  ''We  do  present 
George  Rogers  and  Mary  Batcheller,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Stephen 
Batcheller,  minister,  for  adultery.  It  is  ordered  that  Mrs.  Batch- 
eller, for  her  adultery,  shall  receive  40  stripes  save  one,  at  the 
first  town  meeting  held  at  Kittery,  6  weeks  after  her  delivery, 
and  be  branded  with  the  letter  A."  In  the  horrible  barbarity 
of  this  Sentence  we  blush  for  the  severity  of  the  punishment, 
rather  than  for  the  crime.  The  husband  and  his  erring  wife 
have  long  since  gone  to  their  last  account,  and  their  errors  and 
follies  must  be  left  to  the  adjustment  of  that  tribunal  which  we 
hope  is  more  merciful  than  the  decisions  of  men.  Mr.  Bachiler 
had,  undoubtedly,  many  virtues,  or  he  would  not  have  had  many 
friends,  and  they  would  not  have  continued  with  him  through 
all  the  changes  of  his  varied  life.  Mr.  Prince  says  that  he  was 
"a  man  of  fame  in  his  day,  a  gentleman  of  learning  and  ingenu- 
ity, and  wrote  a  fine  and  curious  hand."  It  was  on  his  separa- 
tion from  the  church  at  Lynn,  with  his  subsequent  misfortunes, 
that  Edward  Johnson  wrote  the  following  lines : 

"  Through  ocean  large  Christ  brought  thee  for  to  feed 

His  wandering  flock,  with  's  word  thou  oft  hast  taught; 
Then  teach  thyself,  ^vith  others  thou  has  need ; 
Thy  flowmg  fame  unto  low  ebb  is  brought. 

"  Faith  and  obedience  Christ  full  near  hath  joined ; 
Then  trust  in  Chi-ist  and  thou  again  mayst  be 
Brought  on  thy  race,  though  now  far  cast  behind ; 
Run  to  the  end  and  crowned  thou  shalt  be." 

Mr.  Bachiler  died  at  Hackney,  near  London,  in  1660,  in  the 
one  hundredth  year  of  his  age.  He  had  four  sons  and  three 
daughters.  Theodate  married  Christopher  Hussey,  and  re- 
moved to  Hampton.  Deborah  married  John  Wing,  of  Lynn, 
and  removed  to  Sandwich.     The  third  daughter  married  a  San- 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1636.  163 

born ;  Francis  and  Stephen  remained  in  London ;  Henry  went 
to  Reading;  Nathaniel  removed  to  Hampton,  where,  in  1656, 
he  married  Deborah  Smith,  by  whom  he  had  nine  children. 
After  her  death,  he  called  on  widow  Mary  Wyman,  of  Woburn, 
and  offered  himself.  She  discouraged  his  hopes  because  he  had 
so  large  a  family.  He  replied,  '•  It  was  the  first  time  he  had 
ever  known  a  woman  to  object  to  a  man  because  he  got  chil- 
dren ;  he  was  going  to  Boston  on  business,  and  when  he  re- 
turned he  would  call  for  her  answer."  He  called  as  he  promised, 
she  became  his  wife,  and  presented  him  with  eight  more  children. 
Among  the  descendants  from  the  Rev.  Stephen  Bachiler,  may  be 
mentioned  the  Hon.  Daniel  Webster.  [Ebenezer  Webster,  the 
grandfather  of  Daniel,  the  distinguished  statesman,  was  born  at 
Hampton,  10  October,  1714,  and  married,  20  July,  1738,  Susanna 
Bachilor,  who  was  probably  a  descendant  of  Rev,  Stephen, 
through  his  eldest  son,  Nathaniel,  who  lived  at  Hampton,  and 
of  whom  Mr.  Lewis  tells  the  foregoing  curious  anecdote.  But 
I  find  it  elsewhere  stated  that  he  had  three  wives. 

[Li  Morgan's  Sphere  of  Gentry,  printed  in  1661,  may  be 
found  Mr.  Bachiler's  coat  of  arms.  It  consists  of  a  plough, 
beneath  which  is  a  rising  sun  ;  or,  to  use  the  technical  language 
of  heraldry,  vert  a  plough  in  fesse  and  in  base  the  sun  rising  or. 
The  author  calls  it  the  coat  of  "  Cain,  Adam's  son,"  and  says  it 
"  did  appertain  to  Stephen  Bachelor  the  first  pastor  of  the 
church  of  Ligonia,  in  New  England ;  which  bearing  was  an- 
swerable to  his  profession  in  plowing  up  the  fallow  ground 
of  their  hearts,  and  the  sun  appearing  in  that  part  of  the  world, 
symbolically  alluded  to  bis  motto,  sol  justitice  exoriturJ^  Does 
not  "the  church  of  Ligonia,"  mean  the  church  of  Lynn  —  an 
attempt  being  made  to  Latinize  the  name  of  the  town  ?  Another 
work  on  heraldry  gives  the  name  Livonia;  but  this  is,  no  doubt, 
a  misspelling.  Where  the  witty  old  author  speaks  of  the  plough 
as  answering  to  Mr.  Bachiler's  profession  in  breaking  up  the 
fallow  ground  of  their  hearts,  he  might  have  passed  on  to  the 
sun's  office  of  warming  and  rendering  fruitful  the  broken  ground. 
There  is,  however,  no  very  pleasing  compliment  in  the  reference 
to  "  Cain,  Adam's  son."  Yet  the  author  takes  occasion  to  note, 
here  and  there,  a  comforting  fact  that  seems  to  have  become 
suddenly  established  in  his  mind,  with  or  without  connection 
with  the  matter  in  hand.  Witness  the  following  which  appears 
as  a  marginal  note  :  "  Women  have  soules."  And  this  seems  to 
have  been  proved  to  his  satisfaction  by  the  first  temptation,  for 
he  says,  "  had  she  not  had  a  precious  and  rational  soul  the 
Devil  would  never  have  attempted  her."  This  is  plausible,  but 
it  might  be  argued  that  he  only  operated  on  her  as  an  instru- 
ment for  the  destruction  of  her  husband.  And  he  seems  inclined 
to  give  the  evil  one  more  credit  for  his  sagacity,  than  Eve  for 


164  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1636. 

her  integrity,  by  asking,  "  indeed  bow  could  slie  withstand  such 
temptation  that  did  intice  her  to  curiosity  and  pride,  the  com- 
mon sin  of  all  their  sex  to  this  day  ?" 

[The  reader's  attention  is  here  soKcited  for  a  moment  to  the 
singular  spectacle  brought  to  view  in  the  affairs  of  Mr.  Bachiler. 
Wiiile  pastor  of  the  church  at  Hampton,  he  is  charged  with 
having  solicited  the  chastity  of  a  neighbor's  wife;  yet  the  church 
at  Exeter,  knowing  the  fact,  invite  him  to  settle  over  them. 
Did  they  discredit  the  charges,  or  consider  the  offence  not 
worth  weighing?  In  1650  he  marries  a  woman  who  proves  to 
be  an  adultress,  leaves  her,  and  petitions  for  a  divorce.  This  the 
government  refuses,  and  going  farther,  orders  that  they  *'  shall 
lyve  together  as  man  and  wife."  Now  what  is  to  be  thought 
of  a  government  that  compels  a  thing  so  revolting  and  so  unne- 
cessarily cruel?  From  all  the  circumstances  I  am  led  to  the 
conviction  that  the  whole  truth  does  not  appear;  that  extenu- 
ating facts  are  concealed  ;  that  there  was  a  settled  determination 
to  make  his  continuance  here  uncomfortable,  to  say  the  least. 
The  truth  is,  he  had  ventured  to  question  the  right  of  the  civil 
authorities  to  supremacy  in  spiritual  affairs.  And  that  was 
enough  to  excite  their  indignation.  The  proof  of  his  moral 
delinquencies,  however,  seems  sufficient.  It  would  be  a  bold 
step  to  attempt  to  discredit  Winthrop;  though  it  may  not  be 
unreasonable  to  suggest  that,  considering  his  ire  towards  those 
who  were  inclined  to  any  thing  like  active  opposition  to  the 
ruling  powers,  he  might  not  have  examined  with  sufficient 
severity  the  slanders  which  Mr.  Bachiler's  enemies  put  in  circu- 
lation. Not  only  did  Mr.  Bachiler  oppose  the  incipient  union 
of  church  and  st'ite,  but  he  also  espoused  the  interests  of  New 
Hampshire  when  they  clashed  with  the  assumptions  of  the  Bay 
Colony.  And  that  was  enough  to  bring  a  heavy  load  of  fuel  to 
the  fire.  And,  furthermore,  as  is  well  known,  his  colleage  at 
Hampton,  Mr.  Dalton,  was  strongly  set  in  the  Massachusetts 
interest,  and  virulently  opposed  to  his  associate.  Mr.  Bachiler 
was  evidently  an  opponent  not  easily  overcome ;  was  well  edu- 
cated; an  adept  in  controversy;  strong  willed.  He  was  a  sin- 
ner, but  greatly  sinned  against.  And  he  probably  had  little 
more  sympathy  in  the  colonial  councils  than  Williams,  Hutchin- 
son or  Wheelwright.] 

The  dissensions  in  the  churches  at  Salem  and  Lynn,  and  the 
scarcity  of  provisions,  occasioned  a  fast  to  be  proclaimed,  which 
was  observed  on  the  21st  of  February. 

On  the  third  of  March,  the  Court  enacted  that  each  town 
should  have  power  to  regulate  its  own  affairs ;  to  set  fines  on 
offenders,  not  exceeding  twenty  shillings  ;  and  to  choose  a  num- 
ber of  "  prudential  men,"  not  exceeding  seven,  to  order  their 
municipal  concerns.     This  was  the  legal  origin  of  those  officers 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1636.  165 

since  called  Selectmen;  though  some  of  the  towns  had  similar 
officers  before.  They  were  at  first  chosen  for  only  three  months : 
and  the  town  of  Lynn  continued  to  choose  seven,  until  the  year 
1755,  when  the  number  was  reduced  to  three.  They  also  had 
a  number  of  officers,  called  tythingmen,  because  each  one  was 
set  over  ten  families,  to  observe  their  conduct,  and  to  report  any 
violation  of  the  public  order. 

Mr.  Timothy  Tomlins  was  licensed  as  a  retailer,  *'  to  draw 
wine  for  the  town  of  Saugus."  [He  was  also  licensed  to  "  keepe 
a  house  of  intertaineraent."] 

Mr.  John  Humfrey  and  Capt.  Nathaniel  Turner  were  appointed 
by  the  Court  to  lay  out  the  bounds  of  Ipswich. 

Mr.  Humfrey  built  a  windmill  on  the  eastern  mound  of  Saga- 
more Hill,  which  was  thence  called  Windmill  Hill. 

A  Court  was  established  at  Salem,  to  be  held  quarterly,  for 
the  benefit  of  that  and  the  adjacent  towns.  The  judges  con- 
sisted of  a  magistrate,  and  several  freemen,  selected  from  each 
town,  by  the  General  Court.  This  year  there  were  four,  of 
whom  Capt.  Nathaniel  Turner  was  one,  [and  Mr.  Humfrey  an- 
other.] The  first  session  commenced  on  the  27th  of  June.  A  / 
fine  of  ten  shillings  was  imposed  on  Thomas  Stanley,  the  con- 
stable of  Lynn,  for  not  appearing ;  and  a  record,  made  in  Sep- 
tember, says,  ''  Now  it  is  in  corn,  in  William  Wood's  hands." 
[Captain  Turner  was  also  appointed  one  of  a  valuation  com- 
mittee, raised  preparatory  to  the  levying  of  a  tax  on  the  several 
plantations.] 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Whiting  arrived  from  England  in  June, 
and  was  installed  pastor  of  the  church  at  Lynn,  on  Tuesday,  the 
8th  of  November.  The  Council  remained  two  days,  and  found 
much  difficulty  in  organizing  a  church;  which  was  composed 
of  only  six  members,  besides  the  minister.  The  following  is  a 
copy  of  the  original  church  covenant  transcribed  by  me  from  a 
leaf  of  a  pocket  Bible  belonging  to  one  of  the  ministers: 

"The  Covenant  of  the  First  Church  of  Christ  in  Lynn. 
"  We  do  give  up  ourselves  to  God,  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  as  to 
the  only  true  and  living  God ;  avouching  God  the  Father  to  be  our  father ; 
embracing  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  our  only  Savior,  in  all  his  offices,  prophet- 
ical, sacerdotal  and  regal ;  depending  on  the  blessed  Spirit  of  Grace  to  be  our 
Sanctifier,  Teacher,  Guide,  and  Comforter,  and  to  make  effectual  application 
of  the  redemption  purchased  by  Christ  unto  us ;  promising  by  the  assistance, 
and  through  the  sanctifying  influences  of  that  Blessed  SpiritJ  to  cleave  unto 
this  one  God  and  Mediator,  as  his  covenant  people.  We  believe  the  revelation 
God  hath  made  of  himself,  and  our  duty,  in  his  word,  to  be  true  ;  and  tlii'ough 
grace  strengthening,  we  promise  to  comply  with  the  whole  will  of  God,  so  far 
as  he  shall  discover  it  to  us.  We  promise,  by  the  assistance  of  Divine  Grace, 
to  walk  before  God  in  our  houses,  in  sincerity  of  heart ;  that  we  will  uphold 
the  worship  of  God  therein  ;  endeavoring  to  bring  up  all  under  our  inspection, 
in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord.  We  shall  endeavor  the  mortifica- 
tion of  our  own  sins,  and  we  covenant  to  reprove  sin  in  others,  as  far  as  the 
rule  requu-es ;  promising  in  brotherly  love  to  watch  over  one  another,  and  to 


166  ANNALS    OF    LYNN  —  1636. 

submit  ourselves  to  the  government  of  Christ  in  this  church,  and  to  attend  the 
orders  thereof.  We  do  hkewise  solemnly  agree  by  all  means  to  study  and 
endeavor  tlie  peace  of  this  church,  and  the  maintenance  of  the  purity  of  the 
worship  of  God  therein ;  that  so  the  blessing  of  God  may  be  vouchsafed 
to  this  his  heritage.  We  do  also  give  up  ourselves  to  one  another  in  the 
Lord,  solemnly  binding  ourselves  to  walk  together  in  the  ways  of  his  worship, 
and  to  cleave  to  his  ordinances,  according  to  the  rules  of  his  word.  .  .  H  This 
you  heartily  comply  with  and  consent  to.  .  .  H  You  are  now  members  in  full 
communion  W'ith  this  church,  purchased  by  the  blood  of  Christ;  and  you  do  now 
seriously,  solemnly,  deliberately,  and  forever,  in  the  presence  of  God,  by  whom 
you  expect  shortly  to  be  judged,  and  by  whom  you  hope  to  be  acquitted,  in 
the  presence  of  an  innumerable  company  of  elect  angels,  and  in  the  presence 
of  this  assembly,  give  up  yourselves  to  God,  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost; 
avouching  the  Lord  Jehovah  to  be  your  God.  You  give  up  yourselves  unto 
this  church ;  submitting  to  the  holy  rule  and  ordinance  of  it ;  putting  your- 
selves under  the  care  and  inspection  of  it ;  promising  to  embrace  counsel  and 
reproofs  with  humbleness  and  thankfulness ;  and  duly  to  attend  the  adminis- 
tration of  the  ordinances  of  the  Gospel  in  this  church;  so  long  as  your  oppor- 
tunities thereby  to  be  edified  in  your  holy  faith  shall  be  continued.  .  .  H  We, 
then,  the  church  of  the  Lord,  do  receive  you  into  our  sacred  fellowship,  as 
those  whom  we  ti'ust  Christ  hath  received ;  and  we  promise  to  admit  you  to 
all  the  ordinances  of  the  Gospel  in  fellowship  Avith  us ;  to  watch  over  you 
with  a  spirit  of  love  and  meekness,  not  for  your  halting  but  helping ;  to  treat 
you  with  all  that  affection  which  your  sacred  relation  to  us  now  calleth  for ; 
and  to  continue  om*  ardent  prayers  for  you,  to  the  Father  of  Light,  that  you  may 
have  grace  to  keep  this  solemn  covenant,  you  have  now,  before  God,  angels, 
and  men,  entered  into ;  that  so  the  sure  mercies  of  the  everlasting  covenant 
may  be  your  portion  forever.     Amen." 

To  those  persons  who  did  not  wholly  unite  with  this  church, 
but  only  assented  to  the  covenant,  for  the  privilege  of  having 
their  children  baptized,  the  following  was  read  immediately 
after  the  words  "  consent  to." 

"  You  do  now,  in  the  presence  of  God,  angels,  and  this  assembly,  avouch 
this  one  God  in  thi-ee  persons  to  be  your  God ;  engaging  to  be  his,  only,  con- 
stantly, and  everlastingly.  You  do  further  promise  to  labor  in  preparing  for 
the  table  of  the  Lord,  that  in  due  time  you  may  make  your  approaches  to  God, 
and  the  Lord  Jej?]«  Christ,  the  Lord  and  Giver  of  eternal  life,  in  all  his  ordi- 
nances and  appointments ;  that  at  last  you  may  give  up  your  account  with  joy 
unto  Christ,  the  Judge  of  all." 

[Mr.  Lewis  was  no  doubt  mistaken  in  supposing  this  to  be 
the  original  church  covenant.  The  supplementary  portion  em- 
braces the  "  half-way  "  element,  which  was  not  known  in  New 
England  till  some  time  later.  '  It  is  uncertain  whether  it  was 
fully  accepted  in  the  Lynn  church  before  1768.  It  was  adopted 
in  different  churches  at  different  periods,  and  in  some  does  not 
appear  to  have  been  known  at  all.  To  this  half-way  covenant, 
which  was  not  the  same  in  form  in  all  the  churches,  such  per- 
sons as  desired,  were  admitted,  if  they  sustained  acceptable 
characters.  The  common  way  was  for  the  candidates  to  pre- 
sent themselves  before  the  congregation,  on  Sunday.  And  if 
they  answered  affirmatively  the  question  which  was  in  substance 
whether  they  believed  the  Bible  to  be  the  word  of  God,  and 


I 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1637.  167 

would  promise  to  receive  it  as  their  rule  of  faith  and  practice, 
they  were  admitted  to  baptism  for  themselves  or  their  children, 
though  they  might  never  become  church  members  in  full  com- 
munion. The  Lynn  church,  in  1768,  voted  "  that  none  be  allow- 
ed the  privilege  of  baptism  for  their  children,  but  such  as  are 
members  of  the  church,  without  their  personally  owning  the 
covenant."  And  hence  that  date  is  fixed  on  as  the  time  when 
the  half-way  covenant  was  adopted.  It  does  not  seem  to  have 
been  common  among  the  churches  here,  in  the  earliest  times,  to 
adopt  doctrinal  covenants  or  confessions  of  faith,  there  being 
no  essential  disagreements  in  matters  of  doctrine.  They  rather 
entered  into  simple  agreements  to  walk  together,  with  the  Bible 
as  their  rule  of  faith.  The  compact  of  the  first  church  of  Salem, 
may  be  taken  as  an  example  :  "  We  covenant  with  our  Lord  and 
one  with  another,  and  we  do  bind  ourselves  in  the  presence 
of  God,  to  walk  together,  in  all  his  ways,  according  as  he  is 
pleased  to  reveal  himself  unto  us."  Had  Mr.  Lewis  informed  us 
which  of  the  ministers  the  pocket  Bible  from  which  he  copied 
the  foregoing  covenant  of  the  church  of  Lynn  belonged  to,  we 
might  have  been  the  better  able  to  judge  as  to  the  time  of  its 
adoption ;  for  it  is  evidently  not  the  "  original  church  cove- 
nant."] 

Some  of  the  Pequot  Indians,  having  committed  several  mur- 
ders upon  the  whites,  induced  the  people  of  Massachusetts  to 
commence  a  war  upon  them.  On  the  16th  of  June,  this  year, 
Gov.  Henry  Vane  ordered  Lieut.  Edward  Howe  to  have  his 
men  in  readiness ;  and  in  August,  four  companies  of  volunteers 
were  called  out,  one  of  which  was  commanded  by  Capt.  Na- 
thaniel Turner,  of  Lynn.  They  were  directed  to  demand  the 
murderers,  with  a  thousand  fathom  of  wampum,  and  some  of  the 
Indian  children,  as  hostages.  At  Block  Island,  they  destroyed 
seven  canoes,  sixty  wigwams,  and  many  acres  of  corn,  and  killed 
one  Indian.  At  New  London,  they  burnt  the  canoes  and  wig- 
wams, killed  thirteen  Indians,  and  returned,  14  September. 

1637. 

On  the  18th  of  April,  175  men  were  raised  for  a  second  expe- 
dition against  the  Pequots.  Boston  furnished  26,  Lynn  21, 
(16  at  first  and  5  afterward,)  Cambridge  19,  Salem  18,  Ipswich 
17,  Watertown  14,  Dorchester  13,  Charlestown  12,  Roxbury 
10,  Newbury  8,  Hingham  6,  Weymouth  5,  Marblehead  3,  and 
Medford  3.  The  Connecticut  troops  attacked  the  Pequots  on 
the  26th  of  May,  a  little  before  daybreak.  Sassacus,  the  Pequot 
Sachem,  had  built  a  rude  fort,  surrounded  by  a  palisade  of  trees. 
The  soldiers  came  to  the  fort  in  silence,  discharged  their  mus- 
kets on  the  slumbering  natives,  and  then  set  fire  to  the  camp. 
Stoughton,  who  commanded  the  expedition,  says,  of  "  six  or 


168  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1637. 

seven  hundred  Indians,"  many  of  whom  were  women,  and  old 
men,  and  helpless  children,  only  "  about  seven  escaped."  The 
soldiers  from  Lynn  arrived  three  days  after  the  massacre,  and 
returned  on  the  26th  of  August.  Sassacus,  after  this  desolation 
of  his  tribe,  fled  to  the  Mohawks,  where  he  was  soon  afterward 
murdered,  as  it  was  supposed,  by  an  Indian  of  the  Narragansett 
tribe,  who  were  his  enemies.  Thus  perished  Sassacus,  the  last 
and  bravest  of  the  Pequots  ;  a  chief,  who  in  the  annals  of  Greece 
would  have  received  the  fame  of  a  hero  —  in  the  war  of  Ameri- 
can freedom,  the  praise  of  a  patriot.  [Under  date  7  June,  Mr. 
Humfrey  writes  to  Gov.  Winthrop,  concerning  the  Pequot  affairs, 
as  follows : 

"Much  Honoured: 

"Hitherto  the  lord  hath  beene  w*^  us,  blessed  forever  be  his  ever 
blessed  name.  Our  nation,  the  gospel,  the  blood  of  those  mui'thered  per- 
sons of  ours  scemes  to  triumph  in  the  present  successe.  Now  I  only  desire 
to  suggest  it  to  yor  wise  and  deeper  considerations  whether  it  be  not  probable 
the  confederates  of  the  Pequotts  ^vill  not  be  glad  to  purchase  a  secure  and 
feareles  condition  to  themselues,  by  delivering  up  those  men,  or  their  heads, 
wjio  have  wrought  and  brought  so  much  miserie  upon  themselues  and  theu'S. 
Or  if  not  so,  whither  (if  they  give  good  assurance  of  hostages,  &c.,)  the  blood 
shed  by  them  may  not  sceme  to  be  sufficiently  expiated  by  so  great  an  uie- 
qualitie  on  their  sides.  Hitherto  the  horror  and  terror  of  our  people  to  all  the 
natives  is  aboundantly  vindicated  and  made  good.  If  providence  for  our 
humbling  (as  in  regard  to  my  self  I  much  feare)  should  flesh  them  so  by  some 
new  cruelties  upon  anie  of  ours,  how  low  wee  may  be  laid  both  in  their  and 
the  eyes  of  our  confederate  Indians,  and  to  how  great  daunger  to  us,  yea  possi- 
blie  our  posterities,  I  leave  to  your  graver  thoughts,  if  it  be  worth  the  consid- 
eration ;  only  to  my  shallownes  it  scemes  considerable.  1st.,  whither  it  were 
not  safe  pawsing  to  see  what  effect  this  will  or  may  worke  upon  such  a  de- 
mand ;  2dly,  whither  not  best  to  rest  m  ceitaine  victorie  and  honor  acquked 
upon  so  small  a  losse;  3d]y,  whither  (if  we  cany  away  the  greatest  glory  of 
these  poore  barbarous  people  in  our  triumphs  over  them,)  the  losse  of  3  men 
more  (if  we  should  not  exceede)  may  not  be  paraleld  wt^  so  manie  hundreds 
more  of  theirs;  4thly,  whither  wee  must  not  be  forced  at  last  (and  it  may  be 
in  worse  cu'cumstances)  to  take  this  course  unlesse  divine  iustice  will  miracu- 
lously shew  it  selfe  m  bringing  them  all  into  our  net,  W^^  according  to  reason 
is  not  likely ;  5thly,  wliither  the  dreadfulnes  of  our  maine  Battallios  (as  it  were) 
be  [not  ?]  better  to  be  measured  by  their  feares  raised  on  this  last,  than  to  see, 
say,  or  think,  that  our  former  victorie  was  not  so  much  by  valor  as  accident, 
w'^^  wee  ourselves  doe  acknowledge  providence ;  6thly,  whither  if  we  refuse 
to  give  or  take  such  conditions  now,  they  may  not  be  likely  to  hold  us  to 
worse,  or  necessitate  us  to  a  perpetual  war  if  for  om-  owne  ease  wee  after 
seke  them,  and  when  they  see  us,  (as  they  may)  afraide  in  the  like  manner. 
Much  more,  and  to  as  little  purpose,  might  be  saide.  But  if  you  continue 
yo^  resolutions  to  proceed  according  to  former  intentions  you  may  please  to 
consider  whither  these  bottles  to  bee  used  granado  wise  may  not  be  of  some 
use ;  and  whither  (if  the  fort  be  so  difficulte  as  it  is  reported  into  w^^  they 
shall  for  then*  last  refuge  retire,)  it  were  not  [advisable  ?]  to  prspsre  a  petar  or 
two  to  comaund  entrance.  Thus  laying  my  low  thoughts  and  my  selfe  at 
yo^  feete,  to  be  kick*^  out  or  admitted  as  you  see  good,  being  glad  to  hope  of 
the  continuance  of  yo^  purpose  to  see  us  in  yo^^  way  to  Ipswich,  w*^  my  ser- 
vice to  you  and  yours,  I  rest  yet  and  ever. 

Yom-s  (if  anie  thing)  to  sei-ve  you,  Jo:  Humfret. 

June  7th,  1637." 


I 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1637.  169 

[A  fast  was  held  in  all  the  churches,  20  June,  on  account  of 
the  Indian  war  and  antinomian  disturbances,  occasioned  by  Ann 
Hutchinson.  Among  her  advocates,  were  Gov.  Yane  and  Rev. 
Messrs.  Cotton  and  Wheelwright;  and  among  her  opponents, 
Gov.  Winthrop  and  Rev.  John  Wilson.] 

On  the  23d  of  June,  Gov.  Winthrop  visited  Lynn,  and  was 
escorted  by  the  inhabitants  to  Salem.  He  returned  on  the 
28th,  traveling  in  the  night,  in  consequence  of  the  heat,  which 
was  so  excessive  that  many  persons  died. 

Graham  says  there  were  at  this  time  but  thirty-seven  ploughs 
in  the  colony,  most  of  which  were  at  Lynn. 

The  members  of  the  Quarterly  Court,  this  year,  were  John 
Humfrey  and  Edward  Howe. 

In  a  tax  of  £400,  the  proportion  of  Lynn  was  X28.16. 

The  Gcmeral  Court  ordered  that  no  person  should  make  any 
cakes  or  buns,  "  except  for  burials,  marriages,  and  such  like 
special  occasions. '' 

[The  Court  ordered  that  corn  should  be  received  as  legal 
tender,  at  five  shillings  the  bushel.] 

This  year  a  large  number  of  people  removed  from  Lynn,  and 
commenced  a  new  settlement  at  Sandwich.  The  grant  of  the 
town  was  made  on  the  3d  of  April,  by  the  colony  of  Plymouth. 
"  It  is  ordered,  that  these  ten  men  of  Saugus,  namely,  Edmund 
Freeman,  Henry  Feake,  Thomas  Dexter,  Edward  Dillingham, 
William  Wood,  John  Carman,  Richard  Chadwell,  William  Almy, 
Thomas  Tupper,  and  George  Knott,  shall  have  liberty  to  view 
a  place  to  sit  down  on,  and  have  land  sufficient  for  three  score 
families,  upon  the  conditions  propounded  to  them  by  the  Gov- 
ernor and  Mr.  Winslow."'  Thomas  Dexter  did  not  remove,  but 
the  rest  of  the  above  named  went,  with  forty-six  other  men 
from  Lynn. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Cobbet  arrived  from  England,  on  the  26th 
of  May,  and  was  soon  after  installed  in  the  ministry,  as  a  col- 
league with  Mr.  Whiting.  The  two  ministers  continued  together 
eighteen  years.  Mr.  Whiting  was  styled  pastor,  and  Mr.  Cobbet 
teacher. 

This  year  the  name  of  the  town  was  changed  from  Saugus  to 
Lynn.  The  record  of 'the  General  Court,  on  the  15th  of  No- 
vember, consists  of  only  four  words  : 

"  Saugust  is  called  Lin." 
This  relates  merely  to  the  change  of  the  name,  the  town  having 
been  incorporated  in  1630.  [See  page  134.]  The  name  was 
given  in  compliment  to  Mr.  Whiting,  who  came  from  old  Lynn, 
in  Norfolk  county,  England.  [Mr.  Lewis  makes  a  slight  mistake 
in  the  first  date.  The  order  changing  the  name  of  the  town 
was  passed  20  November,  corresponding  with  30  November 
of  the  present  style.     And  in  the  word  LiN  the  N  has  a  line 


170  ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1637. 

over  it,  denoting  that  it  should  be  doubled.  So  the  true  spell- 
ing was  Linn.  But  the  orthography  soon  went  through  all 
the  mutations  possible,  in  which  the  sound  could  be  preserved, 
and  finally  settled  down  on  Lynn.  Swampscot  is  just  now 
being  teased  in  regard  to  the  spelling  of  her  name ;  some  doub- 
ling the  final  letter,  others  not.  I  believe  the  act  of  incorpora- 
tion spells  it  with  two  t^ ;  but  I  have  followed  Mr.  Lewis,  in 
using  but  one,  it  seeming  more  simple  and  more  in  accordance 
with  the  style  of  the  Indian  language  from  which  the  name  comes. 
As  to  the  time  when  the  town  was  incorporated,  it  is  not  certain 
that  he  is  entirely  right  on  principle,  when  he  claims  that  the 
recognition  of  her  representatives  in  the  General  Court  was  a 
constructive  incorporation.  If  I  mistake  not  Dane  does  not 
allow  such  a  rule.  Yet,  it  may  be  asked,  if  Lynn  was  not  incor- 
porated in  1630,  when  was  she?] 

Old  Lynn,  in  England,  was  called  Lynn  Regis,  or  King's  Lynn. 
It  was  patronized  by  King  John,  who,  in  1215,  received  great 
service  from  that  town  in  his  war  against  France.  "  He  granted 
them  a  mayor,  and  gave  them  his  own  sword  to  be  carried  be- 
fore him,  with  a  silver  gilt  cup,  which  they  have  to  this  day." 
(Camden's  Britannia.)  The  ancient  Britons  gave  it  the  name 
oi  Lhyn,  a  word  signifying  a  lake  or  sheet  of  water.  Camden 
says,  it  was  '^  so  named  from  its  spreading  waters. '^  Speed,  in 
his  Chronicles  of  England,  calls  the  waters  before  the  old  town, 
'^  the  Washes  of  Linne."  [Others  afiirm  that  the  true  name  was 
Len,  from  the  Saxon  word  len,  a  farm  or  tenure  in  fee ;  though 
the  Saxons  sometimes  used  the  word  to  signify  church  lands.  In 
Doomsday  Book,  (1086,)  it  is  called  Lenne.  It  was  about  1607 
that  it  was  called  Bishop's  Linne,  it  then  belonging  to  the  Bish- 
op of  Norwich.  When  the  revenues  of  the  bishopric  came  into 
the  hands  of  the  king,  those  of  Linne  among  the  rest,  it  began 
to  be  called  Lynn  Regis,  or  King's  Lynn.  And  by  that  name 
or  simply  as  Lynn,  it  has  been  known  to  this  day.] 

An  old  British  legend  of  1360,  asserts  that  the  "  Friar  of 
Linn,"  by  magic  art,  went  to  the  North  Pole,  and  came  to  Ameri- 
ca. There  is  a  very  beautiful  ballad,  of  an  early  date,  entitled 
"The  Heire  of  Linne."     I  have  only  room  for  two  stanzas  : 

"  The  bonnie  heire,  the  weel  faured  heu^e, 
And  the  weary  heire  of  Linne, 
Yonder  he  stands  at  his  father's  gate, 
And  naebody  bids  him  come  m. 

#  #  *  # 

"  Then  he  did  spy  a  Httle  wee  lock, 
And  the  key  gied  Unking  in, 
And  he  gat  goud  and  money  therein, 
To  pay  the  lands  o'  Linne." 

[The  first  burial  in  the  Old  Burying  Ground,  at  the  west  end 
of  the  Common,  so  far  as  is  certainly  known,  took  place  this  year. 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN 


1638. 


171 


The  remains  interred  were  those  of  John  Bancroft,  the  same 
individual  spoken  of  on  page  118,  as  ancestor  of  George  Ban- 
croft the  distinguished  historian.] 

A  town  meeting  was  held  this  year,  in  which  Daniel  Howe, 
Richard  Walker,  and  Henry  ColHns,  were  chosen  a  committee 
to  divide  the  lands ;  or,  as  it  was  expressed  in  the  record,  "  To 
lay  out  ffarmes."  The  land  was  laid  out  in  those  parts  of  the 
town  best  adapted  to  cultivation ;  and  the  woodlands  were 
reserved  as  common  property,  and  called  the  ^'  town  common," 
not  being  divided  until  sixty-nine  years  after. 

1638. 

The  committee  appointed  by  the  town  to  divide  the  lands, 
completed  their  task,  and  a  book  was  provided,  in  which  the 
names  of  the  proprietors,  with  the  number  of  acres  allotted  to 
each,  were  recorded.  That  book  is  lost;  but  a  copy  of  the  first 
three  pages  has  been  preserved  in  the  files  of  the  Quarterly 
Court,  at  Salem,  from  which  the  following  is  transcribed.  I 
have  taken  the  justifiable  libert}'',  in  this  instance,  to  spell  the 
words  correct!}^,  and  to  supply  a  few  omissions,  which  are  in- 
cluded in  brackets.  The  word  "  ten,"  which  is  added  to  many 
of  the  allotments,  implies  that  a  separate  lot  of  ten  acres  was 
granted.  [The  first  allotment,  it  will  be  seen,  was  to  Lord 
Brook.  And  the  Court,  13  March,  1639,  empower  Edward 
Holyoke  to  manage  the  estate  of  his  lordship,  ''  vntill  the  Lord 
Brooke  do  otherwise  dispose  of  it.] 


PAGE    I. 

These  lands  following  were  given  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Lynn, 
Anno  Domini  1638. 


Honorable    the    Lord 
acres,    as    it    is    esti- 


To  the  Right 
Brook,  800 
mated. 

To  Mr.  Thomas  Willis,  upland  and 
meadow,  500  acres,  as  it  is  esti- 
mated. 

Mr.  Edward  Holyoke,  upland  and 
meadow,  500  acres,  as  it  is  esti- 
mated. 

Henry  Collins,  upland  and  meadow, 
80  acres,  and  ten. 

Mr.  [Joseph]  Floyd,  upland  and  mea- 
dow, 60  acres,  and  ten. 

Edmund  and  Francis  Ingalls,  upland 
and  meadow,  120  acres. 

Widow  Bancroft,  100  acres. 

Widow  Hammond,  60  acres. 

George  Burrill,  200  acres. 

John  Wood,  100  acres. 

Thomas  Talmage,  200. 

Nicholas  Brown,  200. 


William  Cowdrey,  60. 

Thomas  Laighton,  60. 

John  Cooper,  200. 

Allen  Breed,  200. 

John  Pool,  200. 

Edward  Howe,  200  and  ten. 

Thomas  Sayre,  60. 

Job  Sayre,  60. 

Thomas  Chadwell,  60. 

William  Walton,  60. 

Christopher  Foster,  60. 

William  Ballard,  60. 

Josias  Stanbury,  100. 

Edmund  Farrington,  200. 

Nicholas  Potter,  60. 

William  Knight,  60. 

Edward  Tomlins,  200.  and  twenty. 

["Mr."  ]  South,  100. 

Boniface  Burton,  60. 

John  Smith,  60. 

Mr.  Edward  Howell,  500. 


172 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1638. 


PAGE    11 


To  Nicholas  Batter,  60. 

Mr.  [Richard]  Sadler,  200,  and  the 
rock  by  his  house. 

Joseph  Armitage,  60. 

Godfrey  Armitage,  60. 

To  Matthew  West,  upland  and  mea- 
dow, 30,  and  ten. 

George  Farr,  30,  and  ten. 

James  Boutwell,  60  acres. 

Zachary  Fitch,  30,  and  ten. 

Jarrett  Spenser,  30  acres. 

Jenkin  Davis,  30,  and  ten. 

George  Tavlor,  30,  and  ten. 

[William]  Tkorn,  30,  and  ten. 

Thomas  Townsend,  60. 

Thomas  Parker,  30,  and  ten. 

Francis  Lightfoot,  30,  and  ten, 

Richard  Johnson,  30,  and  ten. 


Edward  Burcbam,  30»  and  ten. 
Anthony  Newhall,  30. 
Thomas  Newhall,  30. 
Thomas  Marshall,  30,  and  ten. 
Michael  Spenser,  30. 
Timothy  Tomlins,  80. 
[William]  Harcher,  20. 
Richard  Roolton,  60. 
[Nathaniel]  Handforth,  20. 
Thomas  Hudson,  60. 
Thomas  Halsye,  100. 
Samuel  Bennett,  20. 
John  Elderkiu,  20. 
Abraham  Belknap,  40. 
Robert  Driver,  20. 
Joseph  Rednap,  40. 
[John]  Deacon,  20. 
Philip  Kertland,  senior,  10. 


PAGE    III, 


To  Philip  Kertland,  junior,  10. 
[Goodman]  Crosse,  10. 
Hugh  Burt,  60. 
[Goodman]  Wathin,  10. 
Richard  Brooks,  10. 
Francis  Godson,  30. 

George  Welbye, . 

William  Partridge,  upland,  10  acres. 

Henry  Gains,  40. 

Richard  Wells,  10. 

[Joseph]  Pell,  10. 

John  White,  20. 

Edward  Baker,  40. 

James  Axey,  40. 

William  Edmonds,  10. 

Edward  Ireson,  10. 

Jeremy  Howe,  20. 

William  George,  20. 


Nathaniel  Whiteridge,  10. 

George  Frail,  10. 

Edmund  Bridges,  10. 

Richard  Longley,  40. 

Thomas  Talmage,  junior,  20. 

Thomas  Col  dam,  60. 

Adam  Hawkes,  upland,  100. 

Thomas  Dexter,  350. 

Daniel  Howe,  upland  and  meadow,  60, 

Richard  Walker,  upland  and  meadow, 

200. 
Ephraim  Howe,  next  to  the  land  of  his 

father,  upland,  10. 
[Thomas]  Ivory,  10. 
Timothy  Cooper,  10. 
Samuel  Hutchinson,  10,  by  estimation. 
Mr.  Samuel  Whiting,  the  pastor,  200. 
Mr.  Thomas  Cobbet,  the  teacher,  200. 


( 

I 


These  three  pages  were  taken  out  of  the  Town  Book  of  the  Records  of 
Lynn,  the  10th  1  mo.  Anno  Domini,  59,  60,  [March  10,  1660,]  by  me, 

Andrew  Mansfield,  Town  Recorder. 

The  "  Lord  Brook "  to  whom  the  grant  of  800  acres  was 
made,  "  was  one  of  those  patriots,"  says  Ricraft,  '^  who  so  ar- 
dently longed  for  liberty,  that  he  determined  to  seek  it  in 
America."  He  was  shot  with  a  musket  ball,  through  the  visor 
of  his  helmet,  in  the  civil  war  of  1642,  while  storming  the  cathe- 
dral of  Litchfield.  Sir  Walter  Scott  alludes  to  this  sacrilege,  in 
Marmion, 

"  When  fanatic  Brook 

The  fair  cathedral  stormed  and  took : 
But  thanks  to  heaven  and  good  St.  Chad, 
A  guerdon  meet  the  spoilei'  had." 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1638.  173 

"He  was  killed  by  a  shot  fired  from  St.  Cbad^s  Cathedral,  on 
St.  Chad^s  day,  and  received  his  death  wound  in  the  very  eye 
with  which  he  had  said  he  hoped  to  see  the  ruin  of  all  the 
cathedrals  in  England." 

[In  the  foregoing  list  of  distributees  are  a  few  whose  names 
appear  nowhere  else  in  Mr.  Lewis's  pages.  Concerning  some 
of  these  I  have  been  able  to  collect  interesting  facts.  And  of 
some  of  the  others,  a  few  matters,  deemed  worthy  of  note  will 
be  added.     They  will  be  distinguished  by  italics. 

[  William  Walton.  This  was  probably  Rev.  WilHam  Walton, 
who,  as  Farmer  says,  was  minister  at  Marblehead  nearly  thirty 
years,  though  not  ordained  ;  having  gone  there  in  1639.  He 
could  have  been  at  Lynn  but  a  short  time,  as  nothing  is  found 
of  him  here  before  1635  or  after  1638.  He  seems  to  have  been 
a  man  of  enterprise  and  w^orth.  And  he  was  well  educated, 
having  taken  his  degrees  at  Emanuel  college.  We  find  him  at 
Hingham,  in  1635;  and  he  was  admitted  a  freeman  in  1636. 
He  became  interested  in  the  settlement  of  Manchester ;  and  it 
seems  not  improbable,  went  there,  more  or  less,  every  year,  to 
teach.  The  passage  from  Marblehead  to  Manchester,  by  water, 
it  will  be  observed,  is  short  and  safe.  He  died  in  September, 
1668.     Mather  misnames  him  Waltham. 

[ifr.  South.  There  is  difficulty  in  determining  with  certainty 
who  this  individual  was.  The  "  Mr."  appears  to  have  been 
supplied  by  Mr.  Lewis.  It  was  a  title  of  dignity,  and  more 
charily  used  than  "Esq."  is  at  the  present  day.  Perhaps  he 
bestowed  it,  in  this  case,  on  the  supposition  that  because  a  hun- 
dred acres  were  allotted,  the  recipient  must  have  been  more 
eminent  than  the  "  Goodmen,"  who  received  but  ten.  But 
judgment  founded  on  such  a  circumstance  would  be  quite  un- 
safe, for  the  miserable  Jenkin  Davis  received  "  30  and  ten." 
There  was  a  William  South,  who,  at  a  Court  of  Assistants,  4  Sep- 
tember, 1638,  was  "censured  to  bee  severely  whiped  and  kept 
to  the  Generall  Courte.  By  whom  he  was  banished,  to  returne 
no  more  vpon  paine  of  death."  His  ofi'ence  is  not  stated.  But 
this  seems  to  dispose  of  him,  and  confirm  the  belief  that  he  could 
not  have  been  the  Lynn  settler.  There  is  among  the  Salem 
Court  files  a  will  of  Ann  Crofts,  of  Lynn,  wherein  she  speaks  of 
her  father  South.  Now  this  Ann  Crofts,  or  Crafts,  as  Mr.  Lewis 
has  the  name,  was  grandmother  of  Hon.  John  Burrill,  the  shi- 
ning legislative  light,  her  first  husband  having  been  Thomas 
Ivory,  and  their  daughter  Lois  having  married  John  Burrill, 
senior.  And  by  recurring  to  the  deposition  of  Clement  Coldam, 
on  page  143,  it  will  be  found  that  there  was  a  "  mr.  South  "  here 
about  the  year  1650,  for  whom  the  deponent  says  he  "kept 
the  key  of  the  old  sluce."  But  it  will  not  profit  to  pursue 
inquiries  respecting  this  rather  mysterious  individual. 
0* 


174  ANNALS  OP  LYNN — 1638. 

[Bichard  Sadler.  Mr.  Sadler,  it  appears,  had  granted  to  hiin, 
in  addition  to  his  200  acres,  "the  rock  by  his  house."  And 
this  lofty  porphyry  cHff,  which  towers  up  near  the  junction  of 
Wahiut  and  Holyoke  streets,  is  still  known  as  Sadler's  Rock. 
The  view  from  it  is  extensive  and  beautiful,  commanding  the 
whole  compass  of  the  great  plain  on  which  the  city  stands,  with 
the  exception  of  a  small  portion  of  the  northern  and  eastern 
fringe,  and  almost  the  whole  extent  of  the  Bay.  The  stone 
dwelling,  erected  near  its  base,  in  1854,  by  the  writer,  stands  a 
few  rods  farther  up  the  hill,  than  the  romantic  nestling  place 
of  Mr.  Sadler's  modest  habitation.  That  our  worthy  predeces- 
sor in  this  locality  stood  high  in  public  estimation,  is  manifest 
from  the  responsible  duties  he  was  elected  to  perform.  And 
that  he  was  a  man  of  education  seems  evident  from  the  fact  that 
soon  after  his  return  to  England  he  was  ordained  as  a  minister 
at  Whixall,  in  Shropshire.     See  pages  157  and  '8. 

[JosejyJi  Armitage.  Mr.  Armitage,  at  the  Ipswich  Court,  26 
March,  1661,  then  aged  "about  sixty  years,"  under  oath  stated 
as  follows  :  "  In  this  division  of  lands,  I  and  my  brother  Godfrey 
Armitage  had  given  vnto  vs  about  fourscore  acres.  I  sold  it 
about  twenty  and  one  years  since  for  fifteene  pounds  in  gold. 
And  that  the  Land  in  Lyn  Village,  the  thirty  and  forty  acre 
lotts,  are  worth  and  sold  for  twenty  shillings  p'^  acre." 

[Jarrett  Spenser.  I  think  the  baptismal  name  of  this  individ- 
ual should  be  spelled  Garrett.  He  was  the  person  to  whom  the 
"  fferry  at  Linn"  was  granted  in  1639.  He  came  to  Lynn  in  1637, 
and  was  admitted  a  freeman  the  same  year.  Sometime  before 
1660  he  removed  to  Haddam,  Ct.,  and  was  there  a  representa- 
tive in  1674  and  '5.  He  was  the  father  of  a  numerous  family. 
About  1665  his  daughter  Hannah  married  Daniel  Brainard,  grand- 
father of  the  celebrated  missionary. 

[Thomas  Halsye.  Mr.  Halsye  was  one  of  the  Long  Island 
settlers  who  went  from  Lynn.  He  remained  many  years  at 
Southampton,  and  was  the  richest  man  in  the  place.  He  had 
much  influence,  and  was  active  in  establishing  the  Connecticut 
jurisdiction.  In  1664,  he  was  a  representative.  In  1666,  his 
wife,  or  possibly  the  wife  of  his  son  Thomas,  was  murdered  by  a 
drunken  Indian.  And  that  was  the  only  Indian  murder  com- 
mitted in  the  Southampton  colony.  The  murderer  was  promptly 
surrendered  and  executed. 

[John  Elderhin.  Mr.  Elderkin  seems  to  have  ren>oved  from 
Lynn  soon  after  these  land  allotments  were  made.  He  became 
a  sojourner  in  divers  places.  In  1651  he  was  at  New  London, 
and  there  built  the  first  church  and  the  first  mill.  He  finally 
settled  at  Norwich,  in  1664,  and  there  likewise  built  the  first 
church  and  the  first  mill,  and  died  23  June,  1687.  He  had  two 
wives  and  several  children.     His  widow  died  at  the  ma^re  age 


ANNALS    OF   LYNN — 1638.  175 

of  95,  in  1716,  at  Norwich.     While  at  Lynn,  Mr.  Elderkin  owned 
the  mill  which  previously  belonged  to  Mr.  Howell. 

[Richard  Brooks.  Tliis  settler  arrived  in  1635,  and  was  then 
25  years  of  age.  He  came  in  the  Susan  and  Ellen.  In  1650  he 
went  to  Easthampton,  being  one  of  the  first  settlers  there. 

[Francis  Godson.  This  individual  was  a  laborer,  or  crafts- 
man. On  the  Colony  Records,  5  Aug.  1634,  appears  this  entry : 
''Frauncis  Godson  hath  bound  himselfe  in  xZ.  for  his  psonall 
appearance  att  the  Court  to  be  holden  in  Octob^  nexte  to  an- 
swer  for  breach  of  an  order  of  Court  in  takeing  to  greate  wages, 
&c."  It  will  be  remembered  that  the  wages  of  mechanics  and 
laborers  were  regulated  by  the  Court. 

[Richard  Wells.  Mr.  Wells  removed  to  Salisbury,  where  he 
became  a  prominent  citizen,  and  a  deacon  in  the  church.  He 
died  12  July,  1672. 

[Jeremy  Howe.  This  was  a  son  of  Edward  Howe,  and  he 
came  over  with  his  father,  in  the  Truelove,  1635.  He  removed 
to  New  Haven,  where  he  reared  a  family.  Jeremiah  Howe,  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  Wallingford,  in  1670,  was  probably  his 
son,  though  at  that  time  but  about  20  years  old.  He  died  in 
1690. 

[Richard  Longley.  A  singular  dispute  arose  respecting  this 
grantee,  a  William  Longley,  or  Langley,  claiming  that  he  was 
the  person  intended.  By  the  records,  it  appears  that  at  the 
Court  held  at  Ipswich,  26* March,  1661,  Andrew  Mansfield,  aged 
"  about  thirty  eight  yeares,"  made  affidavit  that  he  had  been  an 
inhabitant  of  Lynn,  "  aboute  two  or  three  and  twentye  yeares," 
and  that  William  Longley  came  at  the  time  he  did,  and  "by 
him  selfe  and  familye "  had  remained  an  inhabitant,  having 
bought  a  house  and  land;  that  about  1649,  this  Wilham  Long- 
ley,  at  a  general  town  meeting,  demanded  that  his  portion  of 
land  should  be  laid  out,  according  to  the  town  records ;  that 
"the  Records  were  vewed  and  therein  was  found  40  acores 
granted  to  one  Richard  Longlye ;  but  his  name  being  William, 
and  not  Richard,  as  alsoe  sum  asking  the  s^  Longlye  whether 
hee  had  p'^  for  the  Laying  it  out ;  he  Answering  that  he  had 
not,"  the  majority  voted  that  it  was  not  his.  Mr.  Mansfield 
also  testified  that  Longley  had  been  called  by  the  name  of 
Langley,  and  that  he  never  knew  an  inhabitant  of  Lynn  "  called 
Longlye  or  Langlye,  but  this  William  Longlye  and  his  ff*amilye.'' 
Clement  Coldam  and  Hugh  Burt,  at  the  same  Court,  gave  simi- 
lar testimony,  Coldam  declaring  —  "the  s*^  W.  Longley  did  in 
my  hearing  demand  his  proportion  of  land  according  to  a  former 
grant,  and  this  demand  being  at  a  generall  Town  Meeting,  some 
present  answered  that  if  he,  the  s*^  Longley,  could  prove  Landed 
to  be  granted  to  him  by  the  Towne,  he  might  have  it,  or  else 
nott;  some   present  granting  that  there  was  land  granted  to 


176  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1638. 

Richard  Langlej,  but  none  to  William  Langley;  further,  this 
deponent,  being  an  Inhabitant  of  the  Towne  of  Linn  before 
William  Longley  came  into  the  s"^  Towne,  and  many  years  after, 
affirme  that  the  sayed  Longley  was  for  many  years  caled  Langh, 
and  nott  Longley,  and  is  frequently  so  called  vnto  this  day; 
neither  hath  this  deponent  knowne  any  Inhabitant  of  Linn  called 
by  the  name  of  Langley  or  Longley  but  onely  this  William  Long- 
ley  and  his  ffamiley."  On  the  question  of  laying  out  the  land  to 
William  Longley,  however,  the  town  voted  in  the  negative. 
But  it  is  a  little  remarkable  that  at  the  "  generall  towne  meet- 
ing "  at  which  his  petition  was  considered,  there  should  not 
have  been  numbers  who  really  knew  whether  he  was  the  person 
intended  in  the  distribution,  which  was  made  but  twelve  years 
before.  It  is  difficult  to  conclude  that  the  town  was  deter- 
mined to  withold  the  land,  right  or  wrong,  or  that  the  petitioner 
was  fraudulently  endeavoring  to  gain  it  by  boldly  claiming  what 
he  knew  was  intended  for  another.  It  seems,  however,  on  the 
whole,  pretty  well  established,  though  there  remained  room  for 
doubt,  that  William  was  intended.  Yet  it  must  be  added,  that 
there  was  a  Richard  Longley  in  some  part  of  Lj-nn,  in  1636, 
who  had  two  sons,  William  and  Jonathan.  He  may  have  left 
town  before  the  distribution  and  without  the  deponents'  having 
any  knowledge  of  him.  In  conclusion  of  the  mysterious  mat- 
ter, it  must  be  remarked  that  William  Longley,  the  petitioner, 
finally  recovered  a  judgment,  in  the  Court,  for  the  land,  or 
forty  pounds  in  money.  And  it  was  out  of  this  affair  that  the 
charge  of  perjury  which  John  Hathorne  made  against  Andrew 
Mansfield  and  William  Longley,  grew;  an  accusation  which,  in 
its  turn,  produced  a  jar  between  the  legal  and  ecclesiastical 
powers.  See  under  dates  1662  and  1663.  It  was  a  small  mat- 
ter but  it  kindled  a  great  fire. 

[Thomas  Talmage,  jr.  This  is  thought  to  be  the  same  Lieut. 
Talmage,  of  New  Haven,  who  was  killed  in  the  savage  attack 
on  Schenectady,  8  Feb.,  1690,  though  he  must  then  have  been 
ripe  in  years.] 

Though  the  8680  acres  of  land  thus  laid  out  among  100  fam- 
ilies, comprised  the  best  portion  of  the  plantation,  the  people 
thought  they  had  not  sufficient  room,  and  petitioned  the  Court 
for  more.  On  the  13th  of  March,  "  Lynn  was  granted  6  miles 
into  the  country ;  and  Mr  Hawthorne  and  Leift.  Davenport  to 
view  and  inform  how  the  land  beyond  lyeth,  whether  it  be  fit 
for  another  plantation  or  no."  The  land  laid  out  by  this  order 
was  for  many  years  called  Lynn  End,  and  now  constitutes  the 
town  of  L^'nnfield.  The  Court  afterward  very  prudently  or- 
dered that  the  Governor  and  Assistants  should  ^'  take  care  that 
the  Indians  have  satisfaction  for  their  right  at  Lynn." 

The  preceding  winter  was  extremely  severe,  the  snow  con- 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1638.  177 

tinuing  from  16  November  to  4  April,  and  the  spring  was  so 
cold  that  the  farmers  were  compelled  to  plant  their  corn  ''  two 
or  three  times." 

On  the  first  of  June,  between  the  hours  of  three  and,  four  in 
the  afternoon,  there  was  an  earthquake.  It  shook  the  whole 
country  very  heavily,  making  a  noise  like  the  rattling  of  coaches, 
and  continued  about  four  minutes.  The  earthquake  was  very 
great;  people  found  it  difficult  to  stand,  and  furniture  and 
chimneys  were  thrown  down.  Other  smaller  shocks  occurred 
for  several  weeks  after.  [This  appears  to  have  been  the  first 
earthquake  noticed  by  the  settlers.  It  seemed  to  proceed  from 
the  northwest,  and  began  with  a  noise  resembling  the  roar  of 
distant  thunder. 

[The  celebrated  Military  Company,  which  has  continued  in 
existence  to  this  day,  and  is  now  known  as  the  Ancient  and 
Honorable  Artillery  Company,  was  formed  on  the  first  of  June. 
Daniel  Howe,  of  Lynn,  was  chosen  lieutenant.  And  two  other 
Lynn  men,  Edward  Tomlins  and  Nathaniel  Turner,  became 
members  at  the  same  time.  And  from  time  to  time  during  the 
long  period  from  that  day  to  the  present  our  townsmen  have 
been  found  in  the  ranks.  The  early  settlers  did  not  come  for 
purposes  of  conquest,  and  were  accompanied  by  no  military 
force ;  the  common  means  of  defense,  indeed,  seem  to  have 
been  grudgingly  supplied  by  the  Directors.  There  were  few 
among  the  first  immigrants,  possessing  skill  in  the  arts  of  war, 
for  they  especially  prided  themselves  on  being  followers  of 
the  Prince  of  Peace.  It  soon,  however,  became  apparent,  that 
in  retaining  their  foothold  here,  they  would  occasionally  be 
compelled  to  resort  to  carnal  weapons ;  that  guns  as  well  as 
catechisms  would  be  called  in  requisition ;  that  whatever  might 
be  the  views  of  the  government  at  home,  or  their  own  views, 
on  political  doctrine  or  abstract  questions  of  right,  the  natives, 
in  their  rude  conceptions  of  justice,  would  view  them  as  intruders 
or  occupants  at  sufferance.  And  having  the  shrewdness  to  per- 
ceive that  with  adequate  preparation  the  battle  would  be  half 
won,  they  speedily  set  about  perfecting  some  sort  of  military 
organization.  Train-bands,  as  they  were  called,  were  presently 
formed  in  every  considerable  settlement,  officered  by  the  most 
experienced  and  fearless.  And  these  held  themselves  in  readi- 
ness to  do  their  utmost  for  defense.  But  under  a  system  so 
inadhesive  it  was  seen  that  much  force  must  be  wasted  through 
diversity  of  organization  and  mode  of  discipline.  It  was  there- 
fore thought  advisable  that  a  company  should  be  formed  at 
Boston,  embracing  members  from  the  various  sections,  which 
should  operate  as  a  sort  of  regulator  in  military  affairs,  and  a 
school  for  instruction  in  tactics.  Action  was  soon  taken ;  a 
charter  was  obtained ;  and  on  the  first  Monday  of  June,  1638, 

12 


178  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1638. 

the  renowned  Ancient  and  Honorable  Artillery  Company  was 
formed. 

[In  the  charter,  it  is  called  the  ''  Military  Company  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts.^^ But  having  soon  obtained  field  pieces,  it  began 
to  be  called  the  Artillery  Company,  or  the  Great  Artillery,  As 
late  as  1691,  Cotton  Mather,  in  his  election  sermon,  calls  it  the 
Artillery  Company.  In  1708,  however,  Mr.  Danforth,  in  the 
title-page  of  his  sermon,  prefixes  the  word  ''  Honorable. '^  Fi- 
nally, in  1738,  Dr.  Colman,  who  preached  the  centennial  sermon, 
gives  the  full  title,  '^Honorable  and  Ancient  Artillery  Company." 
The  charter  granted  privileges  to  the  Company,  and  it  was  fos- 
tered with  much  solicitude.  There  were  some,  however,  who 
viewed  the  new  institution  with  distrust,  fearing  that  it  might 
prove  the  germ  of  a  power  that  would  subvert  or  endanger  the 
liberties  of  the  people.  Indeed  there  was  some  difficulty  in  ob- 
taining the  charter,  on  the  ground  that  several  of  the  proposed 
members  were  known  adherents  of  Mrs.  Hutchinson. 

[At  the  organization,  Robert  Keayne,  an  eminent  merchant 
of  Boston,  was  elected  Captain.  He  was  father  of  Benjamin 
Keayne,  who  lived  a  short  time  at  Lynn,  and  of  whom  some 
particulars  may  be  found  under  date  1645.  Daniel  Howe,  as 
before  stated,  was  elected  lieutenant.  He  was  a  Lynn  man,  and 
an  officer  of  the  train-band  here.  Such  was  the  beginning  of 
this  famous  military  Company,  and  it  yet  continues  in  health- 
ful existence.  The  elections  are  still  made  on  the  first  Monday 
of  June.  And  the  pleasant  holiday  of  Artillery  Election  con- 
tinues to  be  honored  by  a  sermon,  and  a  dinner.  And  the  Gover- 
nor dispenses  the  commissions  from  his  seat  on  Boston  Common. 

[It  is  not  now  known  whether  the  Company  had  a  uniform  at 
the  time  of  its  organization.  There  is  a  tradition,  however,  that 
they  soon  appeared  in  enormous  white  wigs.  Dr.  Colman,  in 
his  centennial  sermon,  before  alluded  to,  remarks,  "  The  captains 
awed  their  families  and  neighbors  by  their  gravity  and  piety, 
as  well  as  frightened  their  enemies  by  their  boldness  and  firm- 
ness. The  natives  trembled  when  they  saw  them  train,  and  old 
as  well  as  young  stood  still  and  reverenced  them  as  they  passed 
along  in  martial  order."  Though  they  do  not  inspire  precisely 
such  feelings,  as  they  parade,  at  the  present  day,  they  yet  re- 
ceive marked  attention.  And  may  the  venerable  organization 
flourish  through  centuries  to  come.  A  list  of  the  members 
from  Lynn  will  appear  among  the  tables  at  the  close  of  the 
volume. 

[This  year,  some  of  the  Pequot  captives  were  sent  to  the 
West  Indies  and  sold  for  return  cargoes  of  cotton,  tobacco,  and 
negroes.  And  this  was  the  beginning  of  negro  slavery  here. 
Along  in  the  next  century  large  quantities  of  rum  were  shipped 
from  New  England  to  the  coast  of  Africa  and  exchanged  for 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1638.  179 

negroes,  some  of  whom  were  carried  into  the  southern  colonies 
and  others  disposed  of  here.  It  is  not  easy  to  determine  pre- 
cisely what  the  real  feelings  of  our  puritan  ancestors  were 
regarding  negro  slavery.  To  judge  from  the  occasional  Court 
orders,  it  would  appear  that  for  the  most  part  it  was  entirely 
discountenanced  or  existed  only  in  a  greatly  modified  form. 
But  from  other  sources  are  derived  hints  that  it  was  favored,  in 
some  of  its  most  inhuman  features.  In  1641,  the  Court  declare, 
by  a  general  act,  that  "  There  shall  never  be  any  bond  slaverie, 
villianage,  or  captivitie  amongst  us,  unless  it  be  lawfull  captives 
taken  in  just  warres,  and  such  strangers  as  willingly  selle  them- 
selves  or  are  sold  to  us.  This  exempts  none  from  servitude 
who  shall  be  judged  thereto  by  authoritie."  This  is  very  loose. 
What  is  to  prevent  the  existence  of  negro  slavery,  under  the 
clause  "such  strangers  as  selle  themselves  or  are  sold  to  us"? 
And  under  the  clause  "  lawfull  captives  taken  in  just  warres," 
where  stand  the  poor  Inaians?  In  1701,  the  people  of  Boston 
passed  a  vote,  desiring  their  representatives  to  use  exertions  to 
encourage  the  in-coming  of  white  servants  and  to  put  a  period 
to  the  enslaving  of  negroes.  Judge  Sewall  writes,  22  June, 
1716,  "I  essayed  to  prevent  negroes  and  Indians  being  rated 
with  horses  and  cattle,  but  could  not  succeed."  There  were 
4.489  slaves  in  Massachusetts,  in  1754.  It  was  not,  in  reality, 
till  1783,  that  slavery  came  to  an  end  in  the  state,  though  there 
were  some  Court  orders  professedly  aimed  at  its  extinguish- 
ment, at  a  much  earlier  date.  The  following  appeared  as  an 
advertisement  in  the  Boston  News  Letter,  in  August,  1742  :  "  A 
negro  woman  to  be  sold  by  the  printer  of  this  paper ;  the  very 
best  negro  woman  in  town, —  who  has  had  the  small-pox,  and 
the  measles,  —  is  as  healthy  as  a  horse,  —  as  brisk  as  a  bird,  and 
will  work  like  a  beaver."] 

A  settlement  was  this  year  begun  at  Hampton,  in  New  Hamp- 
shire, by  Rev.  Stephen  Bachiler,  Christopher  Hussey,  and  four- 
teen others,  most  of  whom  had  been  inhabitants  of  Lynn. 

Many  farmers  pastured  their  cows  in  one  drove,  and  watched 
them  alternately.  When  it  came  to  Mr.  John  Gillow's  turn,  an 
ill-minded  man  detained  him  in  conversation  till  the  cows  strayed 
into  a  field  of  corn,  where  two  of  them  ate  so  much  that  they 
became  sick,  and  one  of  them  died.  It  happened  that  these 
two  cows  belonged  to  the  man  who  had  occasioned  the  mis- 
chief, who  complained  of  Mr.  Gillow  before  the  Court  of  Assist- 
ants, at  Boston,  7  September.  As  it  was  proved  that  the  man 
had  boasted  of  having  designed  that  the  cattle  should  stray,  the 
case  was  decided  in  Mr.  Gillow's  favor. 

On  the  sixth  of  September,  Mr.  John  Humfrey  sold  to  Eman- 
uel Downing,  of  Salem,  "  the  2  ponds  and  so  much  high  ground 
about  the  ponds,  as  is  needful  to  keep  the  Duck  Coys,  privately 


180  ANNALS    OF    LYNN  —  1639. 

set,  from  disturbance  of  ploughmen,  herdsmen,  and  others  pass- 
ing by  that  way,  which  he  may  enclose,  so  as  to  take  not  in 
above  fifty  acres  of  the  upland  round  about  the  same."  These 
two  ponds  were  probably  Coy  and  Deep  p-^nds,  near  Forest 
river.  In  the  Registry,  at  Salem,  where  the  above  is  recorded, 
Mr.  Humfrey  is  called  of  Salem ;  but  that  is  not  a  copy  of  the 
original  grant.  In  early  time,  the  deeds  were  not  recorded 
literally,  but  only  a  sketch  of  them  was  entered  by  the  clerk. 
A  common  form  of  beginning  deeds  then  was,  "  To  all  Christian 
People."  One  deed  is  recorded,  which  commences  thus  — 
^'  To  all  Christian  People,  Fishermen,  and  Indians." 

16  3  9. 

Among  those  who  promoted  the  settlement  of  New  England, 
were  several  of  the  name  of  Lewis.  Some  of  them  were  in 
the  country  at  a  very  early  period,  but  the  name  first  appears 
at  Lynn,  this  year.  I  have  copious  memoirs  of  this  family,  from 
which  I  shall  make  a  few  brief  extracts,  that  I  may  not  be  like 
the  poet  described  by  Leyden,  who 

"  Saved  other  names,  and  left  bis  own  unsung." 

When  the  whole  country  was  a  wilderness,  Thomas  Lewis 
came  from  Wales  to  establish  a  plantation.  He  made  his  first 
visit  to  Saco,  then  called  by  the  Indians,  Saga-dahock,  in  1628; 
and  on  the  12th  of  Februar}^,  1629,  received  the  following  grant, 
a  copy  of  which  was  preserved  in  the  archives  of  Massachusetts. 

To  all  Christian  People,  to  whom  this  present  wi*iting  indented  shall  come : 

The  Council  for  the  Affairs  in  New  England  ...  in  consideration  that 
Thomas  Lewis,  Gentleman,  hath  already  been  at  the  charge  to  transport  him- 
self and  others  to  take  a  view  of  New  England  .  .  .  for  the  bettering  of  his 
experience  in  the  advancing  of  a  Plantation,  and  doth  now  wholly  intend  by 
God's  assistance,  to  plant  there,  both  for  the  good  of  his  Majesty's  realms  and 
for  the  propagation  of  the  Clmstian  Religion  among  those  infidels ;  and  in 
consideration  that  the  said  Thomas  Lewis,  together  with  Captain  Richard 
Bonython,  and  then-  associates  have  undertaken,  at  theu'  own  proper  costs  and 
charges,  to  ti'ansport  Fift)^  Persons  thither,  within  seven  years  .  .  .  have  given 
all  that  part  of  the  Maine  Land,  commonly  called  and  known  by  the  name  of 
Sagadahock  .  .  .  containing  in  breadth,  from  northeast  to  southwest,  along 
by  the  Sea,  Four  Miles  in  a  straight  line,  accounting  seventeen  hundred  and 
three  score  yards,  according  to  the  standard  of  England,  to  every  mile,  and 
Eight  English  Miles  upon  the  Maine  Land,  upon  the  nortla  side  of  the  River 
Sagadahock  ...  He  and  they  yielding  and  paying  unto  our  Sovereign  Lord, 
the  King,  one  fifth  part  of  gold  and  silver,  one  other  fifth  part  to  the  Council 
aforesaid. 

This  deed  was  signed  by  Edward  Gorges ;  and  the  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Blaxton,  of  Boston,  was  named  attorney  for  the  Council. 
This  grant  included  32  square  miles,  and  comprised  the  whole 
of  the  town  of  Saco.  Thomas  Lewis  died  in  1640.  Judith,  his 
eldest  daughter  and  heiress,  married  James  Gibbins. 

William   Lewis    was  descended  from  a  very  respectable 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1639.  181 

family  in  Wales,  His  descendants  enjoy  great  satisfaction  in 
being  able  to  trace  their  descent  from  a  very  high  antiquity. 
He  came  to  Boston  in  1636.  In  the  year  1640,  he  and  his  wife 
Amy  are  recorded  by  Rev.  John  Eliot,  of  Roxbury,  as  attend- 
ants at  his  church.  In  1653,  he  became  one  of  the  proprietors 
of  the  pleasant  inland  town  of  Lancaster,  on  the  Nashua  river, 
and  was  the  third  person  in  regard  to  wealth  among  the  settlers 
of  that  town.  He  died  1  Dec.  1671.  He  had  eight  children; 
1.  John,  born  1  Nov.  1635.  2.  Christopher,  b.  2  Dec.  1636. 
3.  Lydia,  b.  25  Dec.  1639.  4.  Josiah,  b.  28  July,  1641.  5.  Isaac, 
b.  14  April,  1644.  6.  Mary,  baptized  2  Aug.  1646.  7.  Hannah, 
baptized  18  March,  1648.  8.  Mordecai,  born  1  June,  1650.  His 
son  John  returned  to  Boston,  and  built  a  house  on  land  which 
his  father  had  purchased  of  Governor  Richard  Bellingham. 

[At  this  point  Mr.  Lewis  gives  his  own  lineage  thus: 
William  Lewis,  of  Wales,  and  Amy  his  wife,  had  children,  John, 
Christopher,  Lydia,  Josiah,  Ulsaac^,  of  Boston,  Mary,  Hannah, 
Mordecai. 
Isaac  Lewis^,  of  Boston,  married  Mary  Davis,  and  had  children. 

Mary,  Ijlsaac^  of  Boston,  Joseph,  John,  Abraham. 
Isaac  Lewis'^,  of  Boston  married  Hannah  Hallett,  and  had  chil- 
dren, Isaac,  John,  Hannah,  William,  Abijah,  Mary,  ||Nathan, 
of  Boston,  Joseph. 
Nathan  Lewis,  of  Boston,  married  Mary  Newhall,  and  had  chil- 
dren, Lois,  Nathan,  John,  Thomas,  David,  Henry,  Benjamin, 
llZachariah,  of  Lynn,  Stephen,  William. 
ZacJiariah  Leivis,  of  Lynn,  married  Mary  Hudson,  and  had  chil- 
dren, II A  L  0  N  z  0,  of  Lynn,  the  historian,  Irene,  Mary,  William. 
[But  since  Mr.  Lewis  traced  his  pedigree  additional  facihties 
for  genealogical  research  have  been  secured,  and  many  doubtful 
points  determined.     It  now  seems  quite  clear  that  the  first  of 
the  two  Isaacs  named  was  not  a  son  of  William  of  Wales ;  and 
that  the  following,  is  a  correct  pedigree : 

[John  Leivis,  of  Maiden,  by  his  second  wife,  Mary,  daughter 
of  Abraham  Browne,  of  Watertown,  had  Isaac,  who,  by  his  wife 
Mary  Davis,  had  Isaac,  of  Rumney  Marsh  (Chelsea),  who,  by  his 
wife  Hannah  Hallett,  had  Nathan,  of  Boston,  who  by  his  wife 
Mary  Newhall,  had  Zachariah,  of  Lynn,  who  by  his  wife  Mary 
Hudson,  had  Alonzo,  the  historian.  ^' .  .  .  it  must  be  ob- 
served," says  Savage,  in  speaking  of  the  first  Isaac,  "  that  this 
Isaac  is  by  Lewis,  in  History  of  Lynn,  made  son  of  William  of 
Roxbury  [or  Wales]  ;  and  the  historian  asserts  that  his  grand- 
father Nathan  was  grandson  of  this  person.  But  court  records, 
as  brought  out  in  the  invaluable  History  of  Watertown,  by  Bond, 
p.  125,  show  the  contrary."] 

Edmund  Lewis — was  one  of  the  early  proprietors  of  Water- 
town,  and  was  admitted  a  freeman,  25  May,  1636.     On  the  14th 
P 


182  ANNALS    OP   LYNN — 1639. 

of  October,  1638,  be  was  one  of  tbe  committee  appoiiitetl  to  lay 
out  tbe  lands  in  tbat  town.  He  came  to  Lynn  in  1639,  and  was 
tbe  first  settler  in  Lewis  street.  He  died  in  January,  1651. 
Tbe  name  of  his  wife  was  Mary,  and  bis  cbildren  were  Jobn, 
Tbomas,  James  and  Natbaniel.     His  descendants  remain. 

George  Lewis  came  from  East  Greenwicb,  in  tbe  county  of 
Kent,  England.  He  was  at  Plymoutb,  in  1633.  He  removed 
to  Scituate,  and  afterward  to  Barnstable.  He  married  Sarah 
Jenkins,  in  England,  and  had  nine  cbildren,  of  whom  Joseph 
and  Jobn  were  killed  by  the  Indians,  in  tbe  war  of  1675.  Dr. 
Winslow  Lewis,  of  Boston,  descended  from  this  family. 

On  tbe  14th  of  January  there  was  an  earthquake. 

[There  was  an  unusual  drought  in  the  early  part  of  this  year. 
Scarcely  any  rain  fell  between  26  April  and  4  June.] 

Another  grant  of  land  was  made  to  tbe  town,  by  tbe  General 
Court,  on  the  ninth  of  September.  "  Tbe  petition  of  tbe  Inhab- 
itants of  Lynn,  for  a  place  for  an  inland  plantation,  at  the  head 
of  their  bounds  is  granted  them  4  miles  square,  as  tbe  place 
will  aiFoard ;  upon  condition  tbat  tbe  petitioners  shall,  within 
two  years,  make  some  good  proceeding  in  planting,  so  as  it  may 
be  a  village,  fit  to  contain  a  convenient  number  of  inhabitants, 
which  may  in  dewe  time  have  a  church  there ;  and  so  as  such 
as  shall  remove  to  inhabit  there,  shall  not  withall  keepe  their 
accommodations  in  Linn  above  2  years  after  their  removal  to 
the  said  village,  upon  pain  to  forfeit  tjieir  interest  in  one  of 
them  at  their  election;  except  this  court  shall  see  fit  cause  to 
dispense  further  with  them."  The  settlement  thus  begun  was 
called  Lynn  Village,  and  included  Reading,  South  Reading,  and 
North  Reading.  [The  land  was  purchased  of  the  Indians  for 
£10.16,  and  tbe  deed  signed  in  1640,  by  Sagamore  George,  his 
sister  Abigail,  and  one  or  two  others.] 

Two  other  settlements  were  this  year  begun  by  people  who 
removed  from  Lynn  ,*  one  at  Barnstable,  and  the  other  at  Yar- 
mouth. 

Tbe  General  Court  allowed  tbe  tawn  fifty  pounds  to  build  a 
bridge  over  Saugus  river,  and  fifty  shillings  annually  to  keep  it 
in  repair.  They  forbade  the  people  to  spread  bass  or  codfish 
upon  their  lands,  as  they  had  been  accustomed  to  do,  for  the 
enrichment  of  tbe  soil.  A  tax  of  one  thousand  pounds  was 
laid,  of  which  tbe  proportion  of  Lynn  was  £79.19.9.  On  tbe 
third  of  December,  the  Court  laid  a  fine  often  pounds  upon  tbe 
town,  for  not  maintaining  a  watch  against  the  Indians. 

Tbe  following  order,  passed  by  the  General  Court  for  tbe 
regulation  of  women's  dresses,  will  be  interesting  to  my  lady 
readers.  "  No  garment  shall  be  made  with  short  sleeves ;  and 
such  as  have  garments  already  made  with  short  sleeves,  shall 
not  wear  the  same,  unless  they  cover  the  arm  to  the  wrist ;  and 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1G40.  183 

hereafter  no  person  whatever  shall  make  any  garment  for  women 
with  sleeves  more  than  half  an  ell  wide ; "  that  is,  twenty-two 
and  a  half  inches.  Our  early  legislators  were  anxious  to  keep 
the  minds,  as  well  as  the  persons,  of  their  women  "  in  good 
shape."  It  seems  that  in  1637,  the  ladies  of  Boston  were  accus- 
tomed to  meet  for  social  improvement;  on  which  Governor 
Winthrop  remarks,  *'  That  though  women  might  meet,  some 
few  together,  to  pray  and  edify  one  another,  yet  such  a  set 
assembly,  where  sixty  or  more  did  meet  every  week,  and  one 
woman  in  a  prophetical  way,  by  resolving  questions  of  doctrine, 
and  expounding  scripture,  took  upon  her  the  whole  exercise, 
w^as  agreed  to  be  disorderly,  and  without  rule."  [The  alarm 
of  the  Governor  at  the  power  and  success  of  Mrs.  Hutchinson 
is  conspicuous.  If  women  had  been  allowed  greater  sway  than 
they  were,  in  those  early  times,  some  things  might  have  been 
better  managed.  One  cause  of  the  harsh  tone  of  the  whole 
economy  of  the  period  is  to  be  looked  for  in  the  restricted 
influence  of  the  gentler  sex.]  What  loould  they  have  thought 
in  these  later  times,  when  women  write  books,  and  supply  our 
pulpits.  It  might  have  been  well  for  human  welfare,  if  our 
legislators  had  always  been  as  harmlessly  employed,  as  when 
they  were  cutting  out  dresses  for  the  ladies. 

[John  Oliver,  Robert  Keayne,  and  Richard  Sadler,  were  ap- 
pointed to  run  the  bounds  between  Boston  and  Lynn. 

[At  the  same  Court,  Lynn  was  fined  IO5.  for  ''their  bad 
wayes,"  and  admonished  to  mend  them  by  the  next  Court. 
There  is  something  a  little  equivocal  in  this ;  but  highways  are 
probably  intended.  At  the  December  Court,  she  was  fined  55. 
for  want  of  sealed  weights,  and  5s.  for  not  giving  in  a  transcript 
of  her  lands. 

[This  year,  the  Court  granted  to  Garrett  Spenser,  "the 
fi'erry  at  Linn,  for  two  yeares,  taking  2^  for  a  single  person  to 
the  furthest  place,  and  but  a  l'^  a  person  for  more,  to  the  fur- 
thest place,  and  but  a  1*^  for  a  single  person  to  the  nearest  place." 
This  ferry,  was,  without  doubt,  from  Needham's  Landing,  be- 
tween Chase's  mill,  and  the  Turnpike,  in  Lynn,  to  Ballard's 
Landing,  in  East  Saugus,  and  was  a  great  convenience.] 

1640. 

Many  new  inhabitants  appear  at  Lynn  about  this  time.  The 
great  tide  of  immigration  ceased  in  1641,  and  after  that  time 
not  many  came  over. 

Samuel  Aborne  —  was  a  farmer,  and  resided  at  first  on  the 
Common.  He  afterward  removed  to  Lynnfield,  where  his  de- 
scendants remain. 

Hugh  Alley  —  was  a  farmer,  and  lived  at  the  south  end 
of  Market  street.     He  had  a  son  Hugh,  who  married  Rebecca 


184  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1640. 

Hood,  9  Dec.  1681,  and  had  seven  children.  Solomon,  born  11 
Oct.  1682;  Jacob,  b.  28  Jan.  1683;  Eleazer,  b.  1  Nov.  1686; 
Hannah,  b.  16  Aug.  1689;  Richard,  b.  31  July,  1691;  Joseph, 
b.  22  June,  1693  ;  Benjamin,  b.  24  Feb.  1695.  [The  first-named 
Hugh  came  over  in  1635,  at  the  age  of  27,  and  had  sons,  John, 
born  30  Nov.  1646;  Hugh,  b.  15  May,  1653;  Solomon,  b.  2 
Aug.  1656;  Jacob,  b.  5  Sept.  1663  — and  daughters,  Mary,  b. 
6  Jan.  1642  ;  Martha,  b.  31  July,  1649  ;  Sarah,  b.  15  April,  1651 ; 
Hannah,  b.  1  June  1661.  He  died,  25  Jan.  1674.  His  son  Sol- 
omon, at  the  age  of  nineteen,  was  killed  at  Bloody  Brook, 
1675,  having  been  one  of  the  "flower  of  Essex,"  under  La- 
throp.] 

John  Alley — was  a  farmer,  lived  in  Market  street,  and  had 
five  children.  John,  born  in  January,  1675;  Hannah,  b.  22 
Jan.  1679 ;  Rebecca,  b.  28  May,  1683 :  Hugh,  b.  15  Feb.  1685  ; 
William,  b.  14  July,  168-.  The  descendants  of  Hugh  and  John 
Alley  are  very  numerous. 

Thomas  Bancroft  (Lieut.) — was  a  son  of  widow  Bancroft, 
and  had  two  children ;  Ebenezer,  born  26  April,  1667 ;  Mary, 
b.  16  May,  1670.  He  died  12  March,  1705.  His  wife  Elizabeth 
died  1  May,  1711.     His  descendants  remain. 

William  Bassett  —  was  a  farmer,  and  died  31  March,  1703. 
He  had  two  sons ;  William,  who  married  Sarah  Hood,  25  Oct. 
1675;  and  Elisha,  whose  wife's  name  was  Elizabeth.  His  de- 
scendants remain.  [He  lived  on  Nahant  street,  on  land  which  is 
still  (1863)  in  possession  of  his  descendants.  He  married  Sarah, 
daughter  of  Hugh  Burt,  who  died  in  1661.  He  was  an  ensign 
in  the  company  of  Capt.  Gardner,  of  Salem,  in  the  Indian  war, 
and  was  at  the  "  swamp  fight."  For  his  services,  the  General 
Court  made  him  a  grant  of  land.  Capt.  William  Bassett,  sup- 
posed to  be  the  same  individual,  was  one  of  a  council  of  war, 
with  Major  Benjamin  Church,  at  Scarborough,  Me.  11  Nov.  1689. 
His  name  often  appeal's  in  the  oldest  town  records  of  Lynn, 
where,  in  1691,  he  is  called  Quartermaster  Bassett.  He  died 
31  March,  1703.  His  son  William,  who  married  Sarah  Hood,  as 
stated  above,  by  Mr.  Lewis,  succeeded  to  the  estate.  This  Sa- 
rah was  the  same  person  spoken  of  under  date  1692,  as  having 
been  imprisoned  for  witchcraft.  He  also  had  a  daughter  Eliza- 
beth, who  married  John  Proctor,  of  Danvers,  who  was  executed 
for  witchcraft.  She  was  condemned,  but  pardoned.  She  had  a 
second  husband,  named  Richards.  His  children,  besides  those 
named,  were  Sarah,  who  married  Thomas  Elwell,  of  Gloucester, 
in  1675,  and  in  1701  lived  in  Salem  county,  N.  J.;  Rebecca; 
John,  born  in  1653;  Miriam,  b.  1655;  Mary,  b.  1657,  who  was 
also  imprisoned  for  witchcraft,  in  1692;  Hannah,  b.  1660,  who 
married  John  Lilley,  of  Woburn;  Samuel,  b.  1664;  and  Rachel, 
b.  1666,  who  married  Ephraim  Silsbee.     And  this  is,  perhaps,  as 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1640.  185 

convenient  an  opportunity  as  any  that  will  occur,  to  follow  the 
line  down  to  the  present  time. 

(2)  William  Bassett,  son  of  William  the  first  Bassett  here,  married  Sarah 
Hood,  25  Oct.  1675,  and  had  children,  Sarah,  born  1676,  who  married 
Joseph  Griffin,  for  her  first  husband,  and  a  Newbold  for  her  second ;  ||  Wil- 
liam, b.  1678,  who  married  Rebecca  Berry,  in  1703.  His  father's  lands 
were  divided  between  him  and  his  brother  John  ;  Mary,  b.  1680,  who  mar- 
ried a  Hill ;  John,  b.  1682,  who  married  Abigail  Berry,  of  Boston  ;  Hannah, 
b.  1685,  who  married  John  Estes,  of  Salem ;  Ruth,  b.  1689,  who  married 
Abraham  Allen,  of  Marblehead  ;  Joseph,  b.  1692,  lost  at  sea  ;  Deliverance, 
b.  1695,  who,  in  1719,  married  Samuel  Breed ;  Abigail,  who,  in  1728,  mar- 
ried Samuel  Alley. 

(3)  William  Bassett,  son  of  (2)  William,  had  children,  Rebecca,  born 
1709 ;  Miriam,  b.  1712,  who,  in  1732,  married  David  Northey,  of  Salem  ; 
||Joseph,  b.  1715,  who  inherited  his  father's  lands,  and  married  Eunice 
Hacker ;  Elizabeth,  who  in  1729,  married  Benjamin  Hood. 

(4)  Joseph  Bassett,  son  of  (3)William,  had  children,  William,  born  1738, 
who  died  young ;  ||Isaac,  b.  1741,  who,  in  1769,  married  Mary,  daughter 
of  Joshua  Collins,  was  a  farmer  and  shoemaker,  and  inherited  one  half 
of  the  lands  of  his  father,  and  died  in  1829 ;  Nehemiah,  b.  1749,  who 
married  Abigail  Fern  ;  Rebecca,  b.  1754,  who  married  James  Breed ;  Sa- 
rah, b.  1757,  who  married  Abraham  Breed ;  Eunice,  b.  1759 ;  Hannah,  b. 
1763,  who  married  William  Breed,  of  Nahant. 

(5)  Isaac  Bassett,  son  of  (4)  Joseph,  had  children,  Ehzabeth;  William, 
who  died  young ;  Eunice ;  William,  again,  who  also  died  young ;  jjlsaac, 
who  married  Ruth  Breed ;  Eunice,  again,  who  married  Ezra  Collins ;  Han- 
nah, who  married  Samuel  Neal. 

(6)  Isaac  Bassett,  son  of  (5)Isaac,  who  is  now  (1863)  at  the  mature  age 
of  83,  residing  in  Nahant  street,  on  the  site  occupied  by  his  forefathers, 
has  long  held  position  as  a  citizen  of  energy,  enterprise,  and  wealth.  His 
son  William  is  cashier  of  Lynn  Mechanics  Bank.  And  William's  son 
William  is  cashier  of  the  Bank  of  the  Republic,  at  Boston.] 

Robert  Bridges  —  was  admitted  a  freeman,  2  June,  1641.  In 
the  same  year  he  was  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Artillery  Com- 
pany and  a  captain  in  the  militia.  He  had  a  large  share  in  the 
Iron  Works.  In  1644,  he  was  chosen  representative,  and  ap- 
pointed a  member  of  the  Quarterly  Court  at  Salem.  In  1646, 
he  was  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  the  next 
year  became  an  Assistant,  in  which  office  he  continued  until  his 
death,  in  1656. 

William  Clark  —  a  farmer,  died  5  March,  1683.  His  chil- 
dren were  Hannah,  John,  Lydia,  Sarah,  Mary,  and  Elizabeth. 
His  descendants  remain. 

John  Diven  —  died  4  Oct.  1684.     He  had  a  son  John. 

Thomas  Farrar  —  was  a  farmer,  and  lived  in  Nahant  street. 
He  died  23  Feb.  1694.  His  wife  Elizabeth,  died  8  Jan.  1680. 
[And  he  married  his  second  wife,  Abigail  Collins,  3  March,  1681.] 
He  had  one  son,  Thomas,  who  married  Elizabeth  Hood,  6  Dec. 
1682,  and  had  four  daughters ;  Hannah,  Sarah,  Susanna,  and 
Elizabeth.  [He  also  had  Peleg,  and  Mehitabel,  twins,  born  6 
Oct.  1660,  who  died  young.  Susanna  married  Joseph  Newhall, 
son  of  the  Thomas  who  was  the  first  white  child  born  in  Lynn. 


1.86  ANNALS    OF    LYNN  —  1G40. 

This  Joseph  settled  in  LyDiifield,  aud  had  eleven  children ; 
among  them  Samuel,  who  was  adopted  by  his  uncle  Thomas 
Farrar,  who  was  a  farmer  and  lived  on  Nahant  street.  Thomas 
Farrar,  the  elder,  was  familiarly  called  "  old  Pharaoh,"  and  was 
one  of  those  accused  of  witchcraft,  in  1692.] 

John  Fuller  —  came  from  England,  with  his  brother  Samuel, 
in  1630,  and  when  they  arrived  in  Boston,  "  only  seven  huts 
were  erected."  After  residing  there  several  years,  Samuel 
went  to  Scituate,  and  John,  in  1644,  came  to  Lynn,  and  settled 
at  the  western  end  of  Waterhill  street.  He  was  chosen  repre- 
sentative in  1655,  and  clerk  of  the  writs,  in  1662.  He  died  29 
June,  1666.  The  name  of  his  wife  was  Elizabeth,  and  he  had 
five  children  —  Lieut.  John  Fuller,  who  married  Elizabeth  Far- 
rington,  and  died  24  April,  1695  ;  William;  Susanna;  Elizabeth; 
James.  Several  of  his  descendants  have  borne  respectable  offi- 
ces, and  some  of  them  remain. 

John  Gillow  —  died  in  1673.  The  name  of  his  wife  was 
Rose.     He  had  two  sons,  Benjamin  and  Thomas. 

Zaccheus  Gould  —  owned,  at  one  time,  the  mills  on  Saugus 
river.     He  had  a  son  Daniel. 

Nathaniel  Hathorne  —  had  two  children;  Ebenezer,  who 
married  Esther  Witt,  26  Dec.  1683,  and  Nathaniel. 

Richard  Haven  —  was  a  farmer,  and  lived  near  the  Flax 
pond.  [He  was  '' 40  odd"  years  old  in  1666.]  His  wife  Su- 
sanna, [a  daughter  of  Thomas  Newhall,  senior,]  died  7  Feb.  1682. 
His  children  were  Hannah,  born  1645  ;  Mary;  Joseph  ;  Richard  ; 
Susanna;  Sarah;  John;  Martha;  Samuel;  Jonathan;  Nathan- 
iel ;  Moses.  Several  of  his  sons  were  among  the  first  settlers 
of  Framingham.  [A  great  family  gathering  of  the  descendants 
of  this  Lynn  settler  was  had  in  Framingham,  a  number  of  years 
since,  at  which  some  fifteen  hundred  were  present.  Many  emi- 
nent persons  appear  in  the  family  line.  E.  0.  Haven,  LL.  D. 
president  of  the  Michigan  State  University,  recently  informed 
me  that  he  is  a  lineal  descendant.] 

Joseph  Holloway  —  died  29  November,  1693.  He  had  a 
son  Joseph,  whose  wife's  name  was  Mary,  and  who  had  four 
children  —  Mary,  born  16  April,  1675;  Samuel,  b.  2  Nov.  1677; 
Edward,  b.  1  Feb.  1683;  John,  b.  11  Oct.  1686.  His  descend- 
ants remain,  and  spell  their  name  Hallowell. 

Richard  Hood  —  came  from  Lynn,  in  England.  He  lived  in 
Nahant  street,  and  died  12  Sept.  1695.  He  had  three  sons; 
Richard,  born  1670;  Joseph,  b.  8  July,  1674;  Benjamin,  b.  3 
Jan.  1677.  His  descendants  remain.  In  those  early  days,  a 
young  man,  who  was  inclined  to  indulge  in  the  laudable  custom 
of  courting,  went  to  visit  a  young  lady  of  this  family  named 
Agnes.  As  he  was  returning,  late  one  evening,  he  was  over- 
beard  saying  to  himself — ''  Well,  so   far  proceeded    towards 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1640.  187 

courting  Agnes."     This  phrase  became  common,  and  has  been 
introduced  into  an  English  comedy. 

Robert  Howard  —  had  a  son  Edward,  whose  wife  was  named 
Martlia,  and  who  had  two  children;  Amos,  born  16  April,  1696; 
Jane,  b.  4  March,  1699.     His  descendants  remain. 

Edward  Ireson — died  4  Dec.  1675.  His  son  Benjamin  mar- 
ried Mary  Leach,  1  Aug.  1680,  and  had  a  son  Edward,  born  9 
April,  1681. 

Thomas  Keyser  —  was  mate  of  a  vessel  which  sailed  from  Bos- 
ton. Governor  Winthrop  tells  a  story  of  one  of  his  men,  who 
was  whipped  for  stealing  a  gold  ring,  and  some  other  articles 
from  him  at  Portsmouth.  [He  sailed  for  Guinea,  to  traffic  in 
slaves.  And  James  Smith,  a  church  member,  of  Boston,  joined 
with  him.] 

Andrew  Mansfield  —  came  from  Exeter,  in  England,  to  Bos- 
ton, in  1636.  He  came  to  Lynn,  in  1640.  He  was  a  farmer, 
and  lived  in  Boston  street.  The  neighborhood  in  which  he 
lived  was  called  Mansfield's  End.  He  was  town  clerk  in  1660, 
and  died  in  1692,  aged  94.  He  had  a  son  Andrew,  who  was 
representative  in  1680,  and  who  married  Elizabeth  Conant,  10 
Jan.  1681.     His  descendants  remain. 

John  Mansfield  —  was  a  tailor.  He  was  a  freeman,  1643; 
died  in  1671,  aged  52. 

Lady  Deborah  Moody  —  came  to  Lynn,  in  1640.  Five  years 
before,  she  went  from  one  of  the  remote  counties  in  England,  to 
London,  where  she  remained  in  opposition  to  a  statute,  which 
enjoined  that  no  person  should  reside,  beyond  a  limited  time, 
from  their  own  homes.  On  the  21st  of  April,  the  court  of  the 
star-chamber  ordered,  that  "  Dame  Deborah  Moodie,  and  the 
others,  should  return  to  their  hereditaments  in  forty  days,  in 
the  good  example  necessary  to  the  poorer  class."  On  the  5th 
of  April,  1640,  soon  after  her  arrival  at  Lynn,  she  united  with 
the  church  at  Salem.  On  the  13th  of  May,  the  General  Court 
granted  her  400  acres  of  land,  ['^  where  it  may  not  hinder  a  plan- 
tation nor  any  former  grant."]  In  1641,  she  purchased  Mr.  John 
Humfrey's  farm,  "called  Swampscot,"  for  which  she  paid  £1.100. 
Lechford,  in  1641,  says,  "Lady  Moody  lives  at  Lynn,  but  is  of 
Salem  church.  She  is,  good  lady,  almost  undone,  by  buying 
Master  Humphrie's  farm,  Swampscot."  [See  p.  201.]  Afterward 
she  became  imbued  with  the  erroneous  idea  that  the  baptism  of 
infants  was  a  sinful  ordinance  ;  for  which,  and  other  opinions, 
she  was  excommunicated.  In  1643,  she  removed  to  Long  Island. 
Governor  Winthrop  says,  "  the  Lady  Moodye,  a  wise,  and  an- 
ciently religious  woman,  being  taken  with  the  error  of  denying 
baptism  to  infants,  was  dealt  with  by  many  of  the  elders  and 
others,  and  admonished  by  the  church  of  Salem,  whereof  she 
was  a  member ;  but  persisting  still,  and  to  avoid  further  trouble, 


188  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1640. 

she  removed  to  the  Dutch,  against  the  advice  of  all  her  friends. 
After  her  arrival  at  Long  Island,  she  experienced  much  trouble 
from  the  Indians,  her  house  being  assaulted  by  them  many 
times.  Her  wealth  enabled  her  to  render  assistance  to  Gov. 
Stuy  vesant,  of  New  York,  in  some  difficulties  which  he  encoun- 
tered in  1654 ;  and  so  great  was  her  influence  with  him,  that  he 
conceded  the  nomination  of  the  magistrates  that  year  to  her. 
She  was  of  a  noble  family,  and  had  a  son,  Sir  Henry  Moody. 
With  the  exception  of  her  troubling  the  church  with  her  reli- 
gious opinions,  she  appears  to  have  been  a  lady  of  great  worth. 
[But  was  it  not  rather  that  the  church  troubled  her  and  itself 
about  her  religious  opinions? 

[Edmund  Needham.  —  came  in  1639.  He  was  one  of  the 
Long  Island  grantees,  but  does  not  appear  to  have  gone  with 
the  settlers.  He  died  at  Lynn,  in  1677.  For  something  relating 
to  his  descendants,  see  notices  of  Daniel  and  Ezekiel  Needham, 
under  date  1650.  His  will  may  be  found  in  the  Salem  Court 
files.  It  is  a  quaint  and  curious  document.  He  was  a  man  of 
property,  and  one  evidently  occupying  no  mean  position  in  his 
own  estimation.  Several  matters  appear  in  the  will  which 
would  be  more  appropriate  in  some  other  form  of  writing,  and 
throughout,  his  piety  is  more  conspicuous  than  his  modesty. 
He  was  connected  with  the  Harts  and  the  Mansfields,  and  did 
not  forget  them  in  the  distribution  of  his  effects.  He  had  sons 
Daniel  and  Ezekiel,  and  several  daughters,  by  whom  he  became 
connected  as  above  and  likewise  with  the  Armitages.  Some 
passages  from  the  will  are  here  given — enough  to  illustrate 
certain  habits  of  thought  and  pecuharities  of  the  testator,  to 
give  an  idea  of  the  amount  and  character  of  a  very  fair  estate 
for  that  time,  and  to  show  something  of  his  family  connections. 

The  will  and  Last  Testament  of  Edmund  Needham  of  Lyn  in  Nu  England, 
being",  blessed  be  God,  in  his  perfect  knowledge,  memory,  and  understanding, 
tho  otherwise  ill  in  Body,  mak  y^  ^vl•itin  by  min  on  [mine  own]  hand  and  ac- 
cording to  min  on  mind  to  my  children  and  grandchildi'en  as  follows,  and 

First,  I  humbly  Desire  my  only  true  God,  maker  and  creator  of  heaven, 
ye  earth,  the  sea,  and  all  that  is  therein,  (01/^  Exodus  20,  11 ;  Psalms  95,  3,  4, 
5,  and  146,  5,  6;  Jonah  1,  9„-/]]() )  and  me  his  most  poor  and  unworthy  crea- 
ture amungst  ye  Rest  and  to  resone  my  poor  and  unworthy  soull  of  his  moor 
pur  and  only  free  Grace  and  love  for  y^  sake  of  his  only  and  well  beloved  son 
Jesus  Christ  sake  alone,  excluding  all  things  of  min  on  carnall  or  (torrupte 
natur  in  or  of  myself,  in  any  natur  or  means  in  all  or  in  part  to  my  Justifica- 
tion but  to  Jesus  Christ  alon,  my  only  and  alon  mediator,  advocat  and  inter- 
cessor at  ye  throne  of  grase  and  alon  propisiation  for  all  my  sinnes.  1st 
John  2,  2.' 

Next,  I  desiar  and  impower  my  sou  Ezekiel  Needham,  my  true  and  lawfull 
executor  to  this  my  last  will  and  Testiment,  to  se  my  body  desently  and  Chi-is- 
tianly  hurried  as  near  my  old  wife,  being  his  own  mother,  as  may  be. 

Next,  I  give  to  my  son  Daniell  Needham,  .... 

Next,  I  give  to  my  sim  Ezekiell  Needham,  .... 

Next,  I  give  to  my  dafter,  Hannah  Dmen.  and  her  two  cliildren,  .... 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1640.  189 

Next,  I  give  unto  my  son-in-Lawe  Samuell  Harts  children,  .... 
Next,  I  give  to  ray  son-in-law  Joseph  Mausfields  children,  .... 
And  further  this  I  ad  as  a  codasell  or  breefe  inventoiy  to  this  ray  last  w^ill 
and  testament,  that  my  sun  Ezekiell  Needhara,  ray  Lawfull  Executor,  shall 
not  be  j)ut  to  any  oath  or  oathes  at  any  court  or  any  manner  or  intent  what 
soever ;  therefor  I  have  set  this  according  to  rain  own  valuation  of  my  holl 
estate,  and  if  this  will  not  save  him  from  any  oath  in  court  he  shall  safly  swer 
that  y*  is  all  my  holl  estate,  I  having  firmly  given  him  as  his  own  propar  estate 
as  if  it  had  never  bin  rain,  so  soon  as  ever  y®  breat  is  out  of  ray  body,  and  I 
quite  dead,  all  ye  rest ;  I  well  knowing  y*  he  canot  give  any  just  othat  w*h  out 
wronging  his  consience,  as  I  only  know  how  my  estate  lieth  and  this  min  on 
valuation  or  inventory  as  following :  First,  all  my  housing,  barn  and  outhousing, 
and  all  my  lands,  w'th  all  the  range  of  ston  wall  fensing,  £400  0  Od;  two  holl 
peses  of  bales  one  red  and  ye  other  of  ye  collar  of  a  chesnut  on  or  to  [one  or 
two]  and  forty  yards  apease  at  ye  lest,  £12  00  00 ;  on  holl  peese  of  red  penis- 
ton  on  or  to  and  fortie  yards  long  at  ye  lest,  £6  00 ;  3  parsells  of  Canvis  now 
about  on  hundred  yards,  and  other  parsells  of  linin  cloth  and  Calico,  £10  00  00 ; 
ray  silver  watch  and  silver  box  and  other  silver  cupes  and  spoones  and  otliar 
plate,  £15  00  00 ;  My  clock  y*  striks,  and  another  wach  and  larum  that  dus 
hot  strik  £5  00  OOd ;  sura  putar,  sum  old  and  sura  new,  £2  00  OOd ;  sum  par- 
sells  of  Carsies  and  sura  parsells  of  serges,  and  ray  wearing  clothes,  £26  00  OOd ; 
sura  pots  and  kettles  and  tramels  and  clothes  and  bedsteed,  £7  00  00 ;  beds  and 
beding,  £7  00  00 ;  Debts  in  old  England  in  suffisient  Bonds  and  most  in  Abell 
Mores  hands  as  the  company  of  ye  marchant  adventurers  and  another  like  it 
as  a  great  rith  citizen,  fit  for  an  Alderman  of  London,  tho  they  do  what  they 
can  to  deseve  us,  y*  is  to  say,  my  brothers  and  sisters  lo  whom  they  o  us  about 
three  thousand  pounds,  £600. 

£    s.  d. 

400  0  0 

12  0  0 

06  0  0 

10  0  0 

15  0  0 

5  0  0 

2  0  0 

26  0  0 

7  0  0. 

7  0  0 

600 


1090 
and  one  horse  y*  was  forgot,  £  3 

and  4  cows  and  two  young  bullock,  forgot  allso,  £17 
and  20  sheepe,  forgot  allso,  £  7 

to  be  added  to  this  inventory,  £27 

to  all  with  this  addition  is £1117 

This  addition  was  made  before  it  was  signed  or  sealed  or  confirmed  by  the 
witnesses. 

[The  above  certainly  indicates  that  Mr.  Needham  occupied  a 
very  respectable  position.  And  the  chirography  shows  that  he 
was  by  no  means  unskilled  in  the  use  of  the  pen.  There  are 
some  interlineations,  and  the  will  closes  thus :  ''  all  thes  inter- 
lines were  dun  by  me  before  it  was  signed  or  sealed,  and  y*  this 
is  the  last  will  and  testament  of  me,  Edmond  Needliam,  in  lin,  the 
Lin  in  New  England."] 


190  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1640. 

Robert  Rand  —  was  a  farmer,  at  Woodeiid.  He  died  8  Nov. 
1694.  His  wife  Elizabeth,  died  29  Aug.  1693.  His  children 
were  Robert,  Zachary,  EHzabeth,  and  Mary,  and  his  descendants 
remain. 

Henry  Rhodes  —  was  a  farmer,  and  lived  on  the  western  side 
of  Saugus  river.  He  was  born  in  1608,  and  had  three  sons. 
Jonathan,  who  died  7  April,  1677;  Henry;  Josiah.  Their  de- 
scendants remain. 

John  Tarbox  —  had  two  sons;  John;  and  Samuel,  who  mar- 
ried Rebecca  Armitage,  14  Nov.  1665,  and  had  eighteen  children. 
Samuel  died  12  Sept.  1715,  aged  93.  His  descendants  remain. 
[In  his  will,  dated  25  Nov.  1673,  he  says,  "  I  bequeath  unto 
every  one  of  my  sonn  John  Tarbox  his  children  and  my  son 
Samuel's  children,  one  ewe  sheep  a  peece."  See  under  date 
1649,  for  what  befel  his  daughter.  See  also  under  date  1674.] 
Shubael  Walker,  (Capt.)  —  was  buried  24  Jan.  1689.  He 
lived  at  the  Swampscot  farms. 

Thomas  Welman  —  died  in  1672.  His  children  were  Abigail, 
Isaac,  Elizabeth,  Sarah,  and  Mary. 

John  Witt  —  died  in  December,  1675.  His  children  were 
Ann,  EHzabeth,  Sarah,  Mary,  Martha,  John,  who  married  Eliza- 
beth Baker,  14  Jan.  1676,  and  Thomas  who  married  Bethia 
Potter,  26  Feb.  1675.  [John  was  great-grandfather  of  Thomas 
Witt,  now  living  on  North  Common  street,  at  the  ripe  age  of 
86  —  a  gentleman  of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence  and  con- 
stitutional vigor,  and  one  who  can  number  a  large  and  respecta- 
ble circle  of  descendants.  He  was  a  son  of  Benjamin  Witt,  who 
was  born  in  1739  —  which  Benjamin  was  a  son  of  Thomas,  born 
in  1696  —  which  Thomas  was  a  son  of  the  before-named  John, 
who  married  Elizabeth  Baker.  Some  of  the  family,  in  other 
places,  write  the  name  DeWitt,  as  was  the  case  with  a  late 
secretary  of  the  commonwealth ;  and  they  adopt  that  orthog- 
raphy, it  is  understood,  on  the  supposition  that  they  are  de- 
scended from  the  DeWitts  of  Holland,  or  from  a  Huguenot.] 

Other  inhabitants  were:  Andrew  Allen,  Theophilus  Bayley, 
who  died  in  1694,  Hugh  Churchman,  who  died  in  1644,  John 
Cole,  Wentworth  Daniels,  Daniel  Fairfield,  John  Farring- 
TON,  Henry  Fitch,  Thomas  Gaines,  Tobias  Haskell,  Joseph 
Howe,  James  Hubbard,  William  Hubbard,  William  Knight, 
Michael  Lambard,  Robert  Mansfield,  Thomas  Mansfield,  Mi- 
chael Milner,  who  went  to  Long  Island  in  1640,  Richard 
Mower,  Abraham  Ottley,  Adam  Ottley,  Edward  Paine,  Quen- 
TiN  Pray,  Richard  Pray,  Thomas  Purchis,  [spoken  of  under  date 
1678,]  Thomas  Putnam,  Hugh  Stacey,  John  Stagey,  George 
Taylor,  William  Taylor,  John  Tilton,  William  Tilton,  Dan- 
iel Trumbull,  Nathaniel  Tyler,  William  Wells,  Jonathan 
Witt. 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1640.  191 

[Something  may  be  added  regarding  a  few  of  the  individuals 
named  in  this  list.  Those  under  notice  will  be  distinguished 
by  italics. 

[Andrew  Allen  —  married  Faith,  a  daughter  of  Edmund  In- 
galls.  He  removed  to  Andover,  and  there  died,  in  1690.  There 
was  also  a  George  Allen  here,  who  came  in  1636,  and  soon  after 
removed  to  Sandwich.  His  house,  built  in  1646,  Savage  re- 
marks, (1860),  is  said  to  be  still  in  good  repair,  and  occupied. 

\_Hugh  Churchman.  Of  this  individual  little  is  known.  He 
was,  no  doubt,  the  same  person  alluded  to  in  the  presentation 
to  the  Salem  Court,  27  May,  1643  :  "  Wee  present  oulde  Church- 
man for  liveing  7  or  8  yeares  without  his  wife ;  and  for  haveing 
the  wife  of  Hugh  Burt  locked  with  him  alone  in  his  house.  Wit- 
ness, Joseph  fflood,  Jarrard  Spenser."  And  again :  "  Ould  Church- 
man for  living  7  or  8  yeares  without  his  wyflf,  unless  he  bring 
unto  M^  Endecot,  our  dep*y  Gov'^  a  certificat  f""  M^  Dumer,  y*  he 
hath  used  meanes  for  his  wyfs  comeing,  and  then  he  is  discliarg- 
ed."  Churchman  left  a  will,  which  was  probated  in  1644.  Hugh 
Burt  and  Robert  Driver  were  appraisers.  The  amount  of  his 
estate  was  £24.9.11. 

\_Daniel  Fairfield,  was  the  abandoned  fellow,  who,  with  Jen- 
kin  Davis  and  John  Hudson,  so  abused  the  little  daughters  of 
Mr.  Humfrey.  He  was  sentenced  to  a  severe,  though  well- 
merited  punishment.  He  was  ordered,  on  the  fourteenth  of 
June,  1642,  to  be  whipped,  have  his  nostrils  slit  and  seared,  and 
be  "  confined  to  Boston  neck,  so  as  if  hee  bee  found  at  any 
time  dureing  his  life  to  go  out  of  Boston  neck,  that  is,  beyond 
the  rayles  towards  Rox berry,  or  beyond  the  low  water  marke 
hee  shalbee  put  to  death  upon  due  conviction  thereof;  and  hee 
is  also  to  weare  a  hempen  roape  about  his  neck,  the  end  of  it 
hanging  out  two  foote  at  least,  and  so  often  as  he  shalbee  found 
abroad  w^^'out  it,  hee  shalbee  whiped  .  .  .  and  hee  is  to  pay 
M'^  Humfrey  forty  pounds."  A  year  or  two  after,  however,  he 
was  ^^alowed  to  go  to  work  w*Mn  any  part  of  Boston  lymits, 
both  in  the  ilands  and  elsewhere,  and  also  at  Roxberry,  so  as 
hee  go  not  above  five  miles  from  Boston  meeting  house."  And 
by  the  Court,  2  May,  1649,  on  the  petition  of  Elizabeth,  his  wife, 
leave  was  granted  for  *'  her  husband,  shee  and  their  children, 
to  depart  out  of  this  iurisdiction  unto  such  other  parts  of  the 
world  as  it  shall  please  God  to  dispose  ;  pvided  that  her  husband 
shall  be  under  his  former  censure  if  hee  returne  hith^  againe." 
But  they  do  not  appear  to  have  availed  themselves  of  this  lib- 
erty to  depart ;  or  if  they  did,  they  must  have  soon  returned, 
for  on  27  May,  1652,  the  Court,  on  another  petition  of  the  wife, 
give  him  leave  to  "  lay  the  rope  aside."  Finally,  14  Oct.  1656, 
the  Court  granted  him  liberty  ^'  to  goe  in  one  of  theire  shipps, 
to  England,  as  he  desires."     He  had  lived  in  Lynn  but  a  short 


192  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1640. 

time,  when  he  committed  the  abominable  otienee.  See  Colony 
Records,  vol.  ii. ;  also  notice  of  Jenkin  Davis,  under  date  1635. 
The  John  Hudson  alluded  to  as  a  partner  in  guilt  with  Fairfield 
and  Davis,  is  mentioned  by  Winthrop  as  an  unworthy  servant 
of  Mr.  Humfre}^. 

[Nathaniel  Tyler,  does  not  seem  to  have  remained  in  Lynn 
many  years  after  this  date.  By  a  record  on  page  20  of  the  first 
book  of  the  Essex  Registry,  it  appears  that  he  and  his  wife  Jane 
sold  "  unto  Philip  Kirtland,  shoemaker,"  all  their  "  lands  and 
houses,  with  their  appurtenances,  in  Lynn,"  by  deed  dated  1 
Oct.,  1652.  And  on  the  16th  of  the  same  month,  he  made  a 
will,  dated  at  Boston,  being  then  about  to  embark  on  board  the 
ship  New  England  Merchant,  "  and  because  our  lives  are  ficle 
and  mortail,  and  dangers  at  sea  are  many."  In  this  will  he  men- 
tions his  wife  Jane,  his  son  Joseph,  and  his  sister  Jane  Sanford, 
wife  of  Edward  Sanford,  living  in  London. 

[William  Wells  is  thought  to  be  the  person  who  was  "  enjoyn- 
ed  in  lOL"  by  the  Court,  7  Sept.,  1641,  to  answer  "for  oppres- 
sion." But  little  concerning  him  can  be  gathered.  He  seems 
to  have  been  one  of  the  Long  Island  settlers. 

[Jonathan  Witt,  may  have  been  of  the  family  of  John  Witt  who 
was  under  notice  a  few  paragraphs  back,  and  the  one  who  mar- 
ried Mary  Dinan,  23  March,  1663.  He  had  one  child,  Esther, 
born  5  Feb.,  1665.  And  he  died  during  the  latter  year.  Oliver 
Purchis  was  one  of  the  appraisers  of  his  estate,  which  was 
small.] 

In  the  short  space  of  ten  years  from  its  settlement,  we  have 
seen  six  other  towns  deriving  their  origin  from  Lynn ;  yet  the 
place  continued  to  abound  with  inhabitants,  and  this  year  beheld 
the  commencement  of  the  seventh.  About  forty  families,  "find- 
ing themselves  straightened,"  left  the  town  with  the  design  of 
settling  a  new  plantation.  They  invited  Mr.  Abraham  Pierson, 
of  Boston,  to  become  their  minister,  who,  with  seven  of  the  emi- 
grants, entered  into  a  church  covenant,  before  they  left  Lynn. 
[Hugh  Peters  was  present  at  the  formation  of  the  church.] 
They  sailed  in  a  vessel  commanded  by  Capt.  Daniel  Howe,  to 
Scout's  Bay,  in  the  western  part  of  Long  Island,  where  they 
purchased  land  of  Mr.  James  Forrett,  agent  of  Lord  Stirling,  and 
agreed  with  the  Indians  for  their  right.  On  receiving  informa- 
tion of  this,  the  Dutch  laid  claim  to  that  part  of  the  island,  on 
account  of  a  previous  purchase  of  the  Indians,  and  sent  men  to 
take  possession,  who  set  up  the  arms  of  the  Prince  of  Orange 
on  a  tree.  The  Lynn  people,  disregarding  the  claims  of  the 
Dutch,  cut  down  the  trees  and  began  to  build.  Capt.  Howe, 
likewise  took  down  the  Prince's  arms,  and  instead  thereof  an 
Indian  drew  a  very  "  undhandsome  face."  This  conduct  highly 
incensed  the  Dutch  governor,  William  Kieft,  whom  Mr.  Irving, 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1G40.  193 

m  one  of  his  humorous  works,  has  characterized  by  the  appella- 
tion of  "  William  the  Testy,"  but  whom  Mr.  Hubbard  denomi- 
nates '^a  discreet  man,"  who,  on  the  13th  of  May.  sent  Cornelius 
Van  Ten  Hoven,  the  secretary,  the  under-sheriff,  a  cergeant,  and 
twenty-jQve  soldiers,  to  break  up  the  settlement.  They  found 
eight  men,  with  a  woman  and  an  infant,  who  had  erected  one 
cottage,  and  were  engaged  in  building  another.  They  took  six 
of  the  men,  whose  names  were  John  Farrington,  William  Har- 
cher,  Philip  Kertland,  Nathaniel  Kertland,  Job  Sayre,  and  George 
Wells,  and  brought  them  before  the  governor.  These  he  exam- 
ined on  oath,  and  then  put  them  in  prison,  where  they  remained 
while  he  wrote  a  Latin  letter  to  the  governor  of  Massachusetts. 
To  this  Mr.  Winthrop  replied,  in  the  same  language,  that  he 
would  neither  maintain  the  Lynn  people  in  an  unjust  action,  nor 
suffer  them  to  be  injured.  On  the  reception  of  this  reply,  the 
Dutch  governor  liberated  the  men,  after  they  had  signed  an 
agreement  to  leave  the  place.  They  accordingly  removed  more 
than  eighty  miles,  to  the  eastern  part  of  the  island,  where  they 
purchased  land  of  the  Indians,  and  planted  a  town,  which,  in 
remembrance  of  the  place  from  which  they  sailed,  in  England, 
they  called  Southampton. 

[It  was  evidently  expected,  from  the  character  of  many  of 
those  engaged  in  the  Long  Island  enterprise,  and  from  their 
stipulations,  that  the  settlement  should  be  one  of  importance, 
and  not  an  inconsiderable  and  straitened  little  community.  The 
agreement  with  Captain  Howe  required  that  the  vessel  should 
be  "  reddy  at  the  Towne  of  Lynne  to  transport  such  goods  as 
the  aforesaid  undertakers  shall  appoint ;  that  is  to  say,  three 
tymes  in  the  yeare."  And  they  furthermore  "thought  good  to 
express  the  tymes,  viz:  the  first  moneth,  the  fourth  moneth,  and 
the  eighth  moneth  "  —  March,  June,  and  October.  A  few  of  the 
general  stipulations  will  be  here  given,  for  the  purpose  of  illus- 
trating their  ideas  of  the  formation  and  government  of  a  new 
plantation.  From  some  of  the  points,  it  might  be  imagined 
that  they  fancied  themselves  founding  an  independent  common- 
wealth. 

"  Furthermore,  because  delaying  to  lay  out  the  bounds  of  townes  and  all 
such  lande  withm  the  said  bounds,  hath  bene  generally  the  ruin  of  Townes  in 
this  Countiy,  therefore  wee,  the  said  undertakers,  have  thought  goode  to  take 
upon  us  the  dispose  of  all  landes  within  our  said  boundes  soe  that  that  which 
wee  lay  out  for  a  house  lott  shall  at  all  tymes  from  tyme  to  tyme  hereafter 
continue  to  be  a  house  lott,  and  but  one  dwellinge  house  shall  be  builded  upon 
it;  and  those  lottes  that  we  lay  out  for  planteing  lotts  shall  not  at  any  tyme  nor 
tymes  hereafter  be  made  house  lotts,  whereby  more  inhabitants  might  be 
receaved  into  our  Plantacon  to  the  over  chargeing  of  commons  and  the  im- 
poverishinge  of  the  towne  ;  and  that  alsoe  what  is  layd  out  for  common  ;  and 
noe  man  shall  p^sume  to  incroach  upon  it,  not  soe  much  as  a  hands  breadth. 
Whatsoever  wee  lay  out  for  farmes,  shall  remain  so  after  tyme ;  and  y®  dispose 
of  all  such  landes  so  layed  out  shall  alsoe  be  at  all  tymes  and  from  tyme  to 

Q  .  13 


194  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1640. 


tjrme  according  to  the  will  and  pleasure  of  us,  the  said  undertakers,  our  exec- 
utors, administmtors,  and  assigns,  namely,"  —  at  this  point  the  manuscript 
record  is  so  injured  as  to  render  some  words  illegible ;  but  the  substance  is, 
that  whoever  disposes  of  his  estate,  shall  not  subdivide  it,  but  shall  sell  "  house 
lott  and  j:>lantinge  lott  or  lotts,  and  meddow,  intirely,  and  if  hee  sell  his  farme 
liee  shall  not  divide  it,  but  sell  it  together,  viz :  his  ffarm  intirely  and  his  ac- 
commodations in  ye  towne,  intirely.  Moreover,  whosoever  cometh  in  by  us 
hould  hhnself  sattisfyed  with  foure  achores  to  an  house  lott,  and  twelve  achores 
to  a  plautinge  lott,  and  so  much  meddow  and  upland  as  may  make  his  accom- 
modation fifty  achoi's,  except  wee,  the  said  undertakers,  shall  see  cause  to 
inlarge  that  proportion  by  a  farme  or  othei-wise.  Fm-thermore,  noe  person 
whatsoever  shall  challenge  or  claime  any  proper  interest  in  seas,  rivers,  creeks, 
or  brookes,  howsoever  boundinge  or  passinge  through  his  grounde ;  but  ffree- 
dome  of  fishinge,  fowliuge,  and  navigation,  shall  be  common  to  all  within  the 
bankes  of  the  said  waters,  whatsoever." 

[The  requirements,  generally,  were  rigid,  and  strongly  ex- 
pressed. But  they  closed  in  the  following  pious  and  liberal 
strain : 

"  Lastly,  wee,  the  said  undeiiakers,  testify  by  these  presents  in  our  admit- 
tinge  of  mhabitants  to  our  intended  Plantacon  that  wee,  without  any  kind  of 
resei'vation  leave  euery  man  ffree  to  choose  and  determine  all  causes  and  con- 
ti'overseys  arbitraiy  among  themselves,  and  that  whensoever  it  shall  please  the 
Lord,  and  he  shall  see  it  good  to  adde  to  us  such  men  as  shall  bee  fitt  matter 
for  a  church,  that  then  wee  will,  in  that  time,  lay  ourselves  doune  before  ye 
constitutes  thereof  either  to  bee  or  not  to  be  receaved  as  members  thereof, 
according  as  they  shall  discerne  the  work  of  God  to  be  in  our  hearts." 

[The  articles  were  signed  by  John  Cooper,  Edward  Howell, 
Edmund  Needham,  Josiah  Stanbury,  Henry  Walton,  Allen  Breed, 
William  Harcher,  Thomas  Newhall,  John  Farrington,  Bichard 
Yatt,  Edmund  Farrington,  Thomas  Sayre,  Daniel  Howe,  Job 
Sayre,  George  Webb,  Thomas  Halsye,  Philip  Kertland,  Nathan- 
iel Kertland,  Thomas  Fadington,  Thomas  Terry.  Almost  every 
one  of  these  names  is  familiar  to  those  who  are  versed  in  the  early 
history  of  Lynn.  Two  or  three  signed  by  their  marks ;  but 
from  their  names  being  signed  in  full  in  other  places,  it  seems 
probable  that  they  made  their  marks  on  this  solemn  occasion, 
because  they  deemed  them  more  dignified  or  ornamental.  There 
is  a  supplementary  declaration  which  contains  one  or  two  mat- 
ters that  may  facilitate  an  understanding  of  the  spirit  which 
moved  in  the  enterprise : 

"  Know  all  men  whome  these  presents  may  consern  y*  whereas  it  is  ex- 
pressed in  om-  Articles  that  the  power  of  disposinge  of  lands  and  admission 
of  Inhabitants  into  our  Plantacon  shall  at  all  tjTnes  remaine  in  the  hands  of  us 
the  said  undertakers,  to  us  and  our  heirs  forever,  our  true  intent  and  meane- 
inge  is,  that  when  our  plantation  is  laid  out  by  those  appointed  according  to 
our  A'ticles,  and  that  there  shall  be  a  church  gathered  and  constituted  accord- 
inge  to  the  minde  of  Christ,  that  then  wee  doe  ffreely  lay  down  our  power, 
both  m  orderiuge  and  disposeinge  of  the  plantacon  and  receaving  of  Inhabit- 
ants, or  any  other  things  that  may  tende  to  the  goode  and  welfare  of  ye  place, 
at  the  ffeete  of  Christ  and  his  church  —  provided  that  they  shall  not  doe  any 
thing  contrary  to  the  true  meaneinge  of  the  fformer  articles." 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN 1640.  195 

[The  probable  meaning  of  this  is  not  well  expressed.  It 
seems  to  say  that  Christ  and  his  church  may  manage  the  affairs 
of  the  colony  provided  they  do  so  according  to  "  the  fformer 
articles."  But  the  intent  doubtless  was  simply  to  confirm  that 
sort  of  union  of  church  and  state  which  existed  in  Massachusetts. 

[Mr.  Lewis's  brief  allusion  to  the  perils  which  surrounded 
the  first  of  the  Long  Island  settlers,  is  perhaps  sufficient  for 
the  purpose.  And  one  or  two  items,  giving  glimpses  of  their 
situation,  are  all  that  need  be  added.  The  Court  —  as  it  was 
called,  though  in  reality  but  a  general  town  meeting — ordered, 
29  Oct.,  1645,  that  the  inhabitants  should  be  relieved  from  the 
practice  of  taking  their  arms  to  the  meeting-house  on  the  Lord's 
day,  from  the  first  of  November  to  the  first  of  March  ensuing. 
And  on  25  January,  1655,  it  was  ordered  that  no  one  should 
sell  strong  liquors  within  the  bounds  of  the  town,  excepting 
"our  neighbor  John  Cooper;"  and  he  was  not  to  sell  to  any 
Indian,  nor  to  any  but  those  who  would  use  them  properly.  And 
he  was  prohibited  from  selling  more  than  three  ankers  —  about 
a  hundred  gallons  —  a  year;  a  third  part  being  for  the  people 
of  the  North  Sea,  so  called,  a  small  settlement  three  miles  from 
the  village  of  Southampton.  It  will  be  well  for  the  reader  to 
bear  in  mind  that  some  of  the  Lynn  men  who  joined  in  the 
Long  Island  enterprise  did  not  remove  there,  and  some  who 
did,  returned  in  a  short  time.  (See  an  article  communicated  by 
G.  R.  Howell,  of  Southampton, —  and  probably  a  descendant  from 
Edward  Howell,  who  was  among  the  first  who  went  from  Lynn — 
in  N.  E.  Historical  and  Genealogical  Register,  1861.) 

[The  Rev.  Abraham  Pierson,  who  went  with  the  Long  Island 
colony,  as  their  minister,  and  who  was  a  man  of  excellent  edu- 
cation, and  unstained  character,  I  had  not  supposed  was  ever  a 
resident  of  Lynn.  And  Mr.  Lewis  states  that  he  was  of  Boston  ; 
yet  Savage  gives  him  a  son  Abraham,  born  at  Lynn,  who  grad- 
uated at  Harvard,  in  1668.  Mr.  Pierson  left  Long  Island,  about 
1647,  and  went  to  Branford,  Ct.,  it  having  become  necessary  to 
divide  the  church,  and  his  removal  being  approved  by  a  council. 
Twenty  years  after  the  last  date  we  find  him  at  Newark,  N.  J. 
His  son  Abraham  was  settled  as  his  colleague,  at  Newark,  in 
1672.  In  1692,  the  son  went  to  Connecticut,  and  in  1701  was 
made  the  first  president  of  Yale  College,  in  which  office  he 
remained  till  his  death,  in  1707.  The  Southampton  church  was, 
of  course,  constituted  according  to  the  Congregational  order ; 
but  it  became  Presbyterian.  In  1716,  the  Presbytery  of  Long 
Island  was  set  off  from  the  Philadelphia  Presbytery,  and  organ- 
ized at  Southampton,  17  April,  1717,  being  the  first  Presbytery 
in  the  state  of  New  York.  It  was  in  1640  that  the  Southampton 
settlers  erected  their  first  church  edifice ;  the  second  was  built 
in  1651,  and  the  third  in  1707.     The  last  one  is  still  standing. 


196  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1G40. 

A  fourtb,  however,  was  erected  in  1843.  Tbe  colony  placed 
themselves  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Hartford,  in  1644,  but  con- 
tinued very  much  in  the  way  of  a  pure  democracy.  ''  Tbe  gov- 
ernment of  the  town  was  vested  in  tbe  people.  They  assembled 
at  their  town  meetings,  bad  all  power  and  all  authority.  They 
elected  town  officers,  constituted  courts,  allotted  lands,  made 
laws,  tried  difficult  and  important  cases,  and  from  their  decision 
there  was  no  appeal.  The  Town  Meeting,  or  General  Court,  as 
it  was  sometimes  called,  met  once  a  month.  Every  freeholder 
was  required  to  be  present  at  its  meetings  and  take  a  part  in 
tbe  burdens  of  government.  All  delinquents  were  fined  for 
non-attendance  at  each  meeting."] 

Dr.  P.  S.  Townsend,  of  New  York,  says  the  people  of  Lynn 
also  settled  five  other  towns  on  Long  Island  ;  Flushing,  Graves- 
end,  Jamaica,  Hempstead,  and  Oyster  Bay. 

At  tbe  Court,  on  tbe  13th  of  May,  William  Hatborne,  Samuel 
Symonds,  and  Timothy  Tomlins,  were  appointed  to  lay  out  '^  the 
nearest,  cheapest,  safest,  and  most  convenient  way,"  between 
Lynn  and  Winnisimet  ferry. 

Lynn  Village,  now  South  Reading,  was  ordered  to  be  exempt- 
ed from  taxes,  for  two  years,  as  soon  as  seven  bouses  should  be 
built,  and  seven  families  settled. 

William  Hatborne  and  Timothy  Tomlins,  having  been  ap- 
pointed to  lay  out  the  bounds  of  the  town  of  Lynn,  made  report, 
on  the  4th  of  June,  that  they  bad  fixed  the  bounds  at  Charles- 
town  line,  Reading  pond,  Ipswich  river,  and  Salem. 

[It  appears  by  the  Suffolk  Records,  that  Thomas  Dexter  this 
year  mortgaged  lands  in  Lynn,  to  Humfrey  Hooke,  an  alderman 
of  the  city  of  Bristol,  and  others. 

[At  the  September  Court,  Salem,  an  action  for  defamation, 
Timothy  Tomlins,  of  Lynn,  against  John  Pickering  was  tried, 
and  the  jury  found  ''  that  y®  said  John  Pickering  shall  not  only 
pay  fforty  shillings  damage  and  ff'ower  shillings  coste,  but  y*  in 
some  publik  meeting  at  Lynn,  before  next  Courte,  the  said  Jno. 
Pickering  shall  publiklie  acknowledge  the  wronge  done  y®  s'' 
Tomlins,  or  else  shall  pay  and  make  his  fi"orty  shillings  Tenn 
pounds." 

[A  good  many  goats  were  kept  in  this  vicinity  in  the  early 
days  of  the  colony.  Josselyn  says  they  were  "  the  first  small 
cattle  they  bad  in  the  countrey ;  be  was  counted  no  body,  that 
had  not  a  trip  or  flock  of  goats."] 

The  Court  ordered  that  grain  should  be  received  as  a  lawful 
payment  for  debts ;  Indian  corn  at  5s.,  rye  at  6s.  8d.,  and  wheat 
at  7s.  a  bushel.     The  price  of  a  cow  was  X5. 

Richard  Sadler  was  appointed  clerk  of  the  writs. 

Mr.  Humfrey's  barn,  Nahant  street,  with  all  bis  corn  and  hay, 
to  the  value  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  pounds,  was  burned  by 


ANNALS    OF   LYNN — 1641.  197 

the  carelessness  of  his  servant,  Henry  Stevens,  in  setting  fire 
to  some  gunpowder.  At  the  Court  of  Assistants,  on  the  first 
of  November,  "  Henry  Stev(5ns,  for  firing  the  barn  of  his  master, 
Mr.  Jolin  Hurafrey,  he  was  ordered  to  be  servant  to  Mr.  Hum- 
frey,  for  21  years  from  this  day,  towards  recompensing  him." 
The  Court  afterward  allowed  Mr.  Humfrey  for  his  loss  and  his 
good  services,  £250. 

There  was  one  woman  in  the  town,  at  this  time,  who  contended 
that  all  things  ought  to  be  common,  as  at  one  time  among  the 
early  Christians ;  but  she  found  it  difficult  to  persuade  the  peo- 
ple that  she  had  as  good  a  right  to  their  property  as  themselves. 
She  went  ^'  from  house  to  house,"  helping  herself  to  such  little 
accommodations  as  she  wished,  till  her  demands  became  so  ex- 
travagant, that  she  was  brought  before  the  Quarterly  Court,  at 
Salem.  On  the  29th  of  September,  the  following  record  was 
made.  ''  Mary  Bowdwell,  of  Lyn,  for  her  exorbitancy,  not  work- 
ing, but  liveing  idly,  and  stealing,  and  taking  away  other  victuals, 
pretending  communitie  of  all  things :  The  court  sentence  that 
she  shall  be  whipped;  but  throwe  their  clemency  she  was  only 
admonished,  and  respited  till  next  courte." 

[It  was  this  year  voted  that  Lynn  meeting-house  be  permitted 
to  be  used  for  a  watch-house.] 

This  year  a  new  version  of  the  Psalms  was  made  for  public 
worship.  It  was  an  octavo  volume  of  400  pages,  and  was  the 
first  book  printed  in  America.  The  following  is  a  specimen 
of  the  poetry,  from  Psalm  44. 

Oui'  eares  have  heard  our  fathers  tell 

and  reverently  record 
The  wondrous  workes  that  thou  hast  done 

in  olden  time,  O  Lord. 

How  thou  didst  cast  the  Gentiles  out 

and  stroid  them  with  strong  hand ; 
Planting  our  fathers  in  then*  place 

and  gavest  to  them  their  land. 

They  conquered  not  by  sword  nor  strength, 

the  land  of  thy  behest, 
But  by  thy  hand,  thy  arm,  thy  grace, 

because  thou  louedst  them  best." 

1641. 

Lord  Say,  having  an  intention  of  forming  a  plantation  at  New 
Providence,  one  of  the  Bahama  Islands,  had  engaged  Mr.  Hum- 
frey in  the  design,  with  the  promise  of  making  him  governor 
of  the  new  colony.  Some  of  the  Lynn  people  had  determined 
to  accompany  him;  but  the  intention  was  frustrated  by  the 
Island  falling,  for  a  time,  under  the  government  of  Spain. 

Mr.  John  Humfrey  was  a  native  of  Dorchester,  in  Dorsetshire 
England,  a  lawyer,  and  a  man  of  considerable  wealth  and  ^ood 


198  ANNALS  OF  LYNN IGil. 

reputation.  He  married  Susan,  the  second  daughter  of  Thomas, 
Earl  of  Lincoln,  and  sister  of  Frances,  the  wife  of  Mr.  John 
Gorges,  and  of  Arabella,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Isaac  Johnson.  He 
was  one  of  the  most  influential  in  promoting  the  settlement  of 
the  colony,  and  the  people  of  Massachusetts  will  ever  regard 
him  as  one  of  their  earliest  and  most  efficient  benefactors.  He 
was  one  of  the  original  patentees  of  the  colony,  and  the  treas- 
urer of  the  company  at  Plymouth,  in  England;  and  by  his 
exertions  many  donations  were  obtained,  and  many  persons, 
among  whom  were  some  of  the  ministers,  were  induced  to  emi- 
grate. He  was  chosen  Deputy  Governor  in  1630,  and  Assistant 
in  1632,  both  before  his  arrival;  and  such  was  the  respect  in 
which  he  was  held,  that  when  the  formulary  for  the  constituting 
of  freemen  was  in  debate,  an  exception  was  made  in  favor  of 
^'  the  old  planters  and  Mr.  Humfrey."  He  arrived  at  Lynn,  in 
1634,  received  several  liberal  grants  from  the  Court,  and  fixed 
his  residence  at  his  farm.  In  discharging  the  duties  of  an 
Assistant  in  the  general  government,  he  devoted  his  time  and 
energies  for  seven  years  to  the  service  of  the  state,  and  seems 
not  to  have  been  surpassed  in  devotedness  to  her  welfare.  He 
became  a  member  of  the  Artillery  Company,  in  1640 ;  and  in 
June,  1641,  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  all  the  militia  in 
the  county,  with  the  title  of  Sergeant  Major  General.  But  with 
all  his  honors  and  possessions,  a  shade  of  dissatisfaction  had 
spread  itself  over  his  prospects,  which  his  ijumerous  misfortunes 
contributed  to  darken.  The  disappointment  of  the  Bahamas  must 
have  been  severely  felt  by  a  mind  so  ambitious  of  honor  as  his 
appears  to  have  been ;  and  it  is  not  improbable  that  he  experi- 
enced a  secret  chagrin  at  seeing  the  young  and  uninformed 
Henry  Vane  promoted  to  the  office  of  governor,  above  one 
whose  years,  knowledge,  and  services,  entitled  him  to  prece- 
dence. [Vane  was  young,  but  could  he  have  been  called  unin- 
formed?] It  is  probable,  likewise,  that  his  affection  for  his 
wife,  whose  hopes  were  in  the  land  of  her  nativity,  had  some 
influence  in  determining  his  conduct.  Living  so  tar  removed 
from  the  elegant  circles  in  which  she  had  delighted,  and  having 
lost  the  sister  who  might  have  been  the  companion  of  her  soli- 
tude, the  Lady  Susan  was  weary  of  the  privations  of  the  wilder- 
ness, the  howling  of  the  wild  beasts,  and  the  uncouth  manners 
of  the  savages,  and  had  become  lonely,  disconsolate,  and  home- 
sick. She  who  had  been  the  delight  of  her  father's  house,  and 
had  glittered  in  all  the  pride  of  youth  and  beauty,  in  the  court 
of  the  first  monarch  in  Europe,  was  now  solitary  and  sad,  sepa- 
rated by  a  wide  ocean  from  her  father's  home.  The  future 
greatness  of  America,  which  was  then  uncertain  and  ideal,  pre* 
sented  no  inducement  to  her  mind  to  counterbalance  the  losses 
which  were  first  to  be  endured ;  and  the  cold  and  barren  wilder- 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1641.  199 

ness  she  dwelt  in,  populated  by  its  few  lonely  cottages,  round 
which  the  Indians  were  roaming  by  day,  and  the  wolves  making 
their  nightly  excursions,  had  nothing  lovely  to  offer  to  soothe 
her  sorrows  or  elevate  her  hopes.  What  the  misfortunes  and 
disappointments  of  Mr.  Humfrey  had  begun,  her  importunities 
completed.  He  sold  the  principal  part  of  his  farm  to  Lady 
Moody,  and  returned  to  England  with  his  wife,  on  the  26th 
of  October.  They  were  much  censured  for  leaving  their  chil- 
dren, but  their  intention  of  visiting  the  Bahamas,  and  the  ap- 
proaching inclemency  of  the  season,  rendered  it  imprudent  to 
take  them,  and  they  undoubtedly  intended  to  return  or  send 
for  them.  That  Mr.  Humfrey  possessed  deep  sympathies,  his 
letters  ..sufficiently  evince;  and  it  would  be  extremely  unchari- 
table to  suppose  that  the  Lady  Susan  was  without  the  endow- 
ments of  maternal  love.  A  woman  of  high  feelings  and  keen 
sensibilities,  the  daughter  of  an  English  Earl,  and  according  to 
Mr.  Mather's  own  account,  of  ''the  best  family  of  any  nobleman 
then  in  England  "  —  it  cannot  be  supposed  that  she  was  desti- 
tute of  those  affections  which  form  the  characteristic  charm  of 
her  sex.  The  emotions  of  the  heart  are  not  always  regulated 
by  rule,  and  disappointment  sometimes  makes  sad  havoc  with 
the  best  feehngs  of  our  nature. 

'T  is  thus  with  the  dreams  of  the  high  heaving  heart, 
The  come  but  to  blaze,  and  they  blaze  to  depart ; 
Then*  gossamer  wmgs  are  too  thin  to  abide 
The  chilling  of  soitow,  the  burning  of  pride ; 
They  come  but  to  brush  o'er  its  young  gallant  swell, 
Like  bright  buds  over  ocean,  but  never  to  dwell. 

John  Neal. 

[It  is  true,  as  Mr.  Lewis  remarks,  that  "  disappointment  some- 
times makes  sad  havoc  with  the  best  feelings  of  our  nature." 
Yet  there  are  many  who  possess  that  invincible  resignation,  the 
offspring  of  a  true  and  lively  faith,  which  enables  them  to  meet 
disappointment  and  disaster  with  a  heroism  that  saves  from  all 
such  sorrowful  results.  And  the  sympathies  and  affections  of 
the  heart  are  not  confined  to  any  class.  The  ''  daughter  of  an 
English  Earl,"  may  not  be,  as  to  them,  more  liberally  endowed 
than  the  daughter  in  the  lowly  cot.  What  a  terrible  example 
to  the  point  do  we  find  revealed  in  Johnson's  Life  of  Savage.] 

The  misfortunes  which  afterward  befell  some  of  the  children, 
inflicted  a  wound  on  the  heart  of  the  affectionate  father,  from 
which  he  never  recovered.  In  a  letter  to  Governor  Winthrop, 
dated  4th  September,  1646,  he  says:  "It  is  true  the  want  of 
that  lost  occasion,  the  loss  of  all  I  had  in  the  world,  doth,  upon 
rubbings  of  that  irreparable  blow,  sometimes  a  little  trouble  me  ; 
but  in  no  respect  equal  to  this,  that  I  see  my  hopes  and  possi- 
bilities of  ever  enjoying  those  I  did  or  was  willing  to  suffer  any 


200  ANNALS  OF  LYNN —  1G41. 

thing  for,  utterly  taken  away.  But  by  what  intermediate  hand 
soever  this  has  befallen  me,  whose  neglects  and  unkindness 
God  I  hope  will  mind  them  for  their  good,  yet  I  desire  to  look 
at  his  hand  for  good  I  doubt  not  to  me,  though  I  do  not  so  fuWy 
see  which  way  it  may  work.  Sir,  I  thank  you,  again  and  again, 
and  that  in  sincerity,  for  any  fruits  of  your  goodness  to  me  and 
mine ;  and  for  au}^  thing  contrary,  I  bless  his  name,  I  labor  to 
forget,  and  desire  him  to  pardon."  [Certain  distressing  calam- 
ities that  befell  the  daughters  of  Mr.  Humfrey,  are  alluded  to 
elsewhere.  See  notices  of  Jenkin  Davis,  under  date  1635,  and 
Daniel  Fairfield,  under  1640.]  Mr  Humfrey  died  in  1661,  and 
in  the  same  year,  his  administrators,  Joseph  Humfrey  and  Ed- 
mund Batter,  claimed  the  five  hundred  acres  of  land  ^'  by  a 
pond  of  fresh  water,"  in  Lynnfield,  which  had  been  given  him 
by  the  Court.  The  character  of  Mr.  Humfrey  has  been  drawn 
with  conciseness  by  Governor  Winthrop,  who  represents  him 
to  have  been  "  a  gentleman  of  special  parts  of  learning  and 
activity,  and  a  godly  man."  His  children  were  John,  Joseph, 
Theophilus,  Ann,  Sarah,  and  Dorcas.  Ann  married  William 
Palmer,  of  Ardfinan,  Ireland,  and  afterward  the  Rev.  John  Miles, 
of  Swanzey.  I  have  in  my  possession  a  deed  signed  by  her,  and 
sealed  with  the  arms  of  the  house  of  Lincoln. 

Mr.  Humfrey  appears  to  have  owned  nearly  all  the  lands 
from  Sagamore  Hill  to  Forest  river.  His  house  was  near  the 
eastern  end  of  Humfrey's  beach,  and  his  place  there  was  called 
the  Swampscot  Farm.  His  lands  were  chiefly  disposed  of  in 
1681,  when  his  daughter  Ann  sold  ten  acres  to  William  Bassett, 
jr.,  and  twenty  acres  with  a  house  in  Nahant  street  to  Richard 
Hood.  Robert  Ingalls  bought  nine  acres  of  the  farm  at  Swamps- 
cot for  two  hundred  and  eighty  pounds,  and  Richard  Johnson 
had  sixty  acres  of  salt  marsh  for  thirty  pounds.  The  wind-mill 
at  Sagamore  Hill  was  valued  at  sixty  pounds.  The  whole  of 
Mr.  Humfrey 's  lands,  at  Swampscot,  were  about  thirteen  hun- 
dred acres,  iDcsides  five  hundred  at  Lynnfield.  In  1685,  we  find 
that  Daniel  King,  senior,  having  bought  four  hundred  acres  of 
this  land,  mortgages  the  same  to  widow  Elizabeth  Curwin  of 
Salem.  He  afterward  married  her,  and  thus  secured  it ;  but  in 
1690  it  was  again  mortgaged  to  Benjamin  Brown,  of  Salem.  In 
1693,  March  20,  it  was  sold  by  Elizabeth  and  Daniel  King  to 
Walter  Phillips  and  John  Phillips,  ancestors  of  the  numerous 
and  respectable  family  of  Phillips.  [Mr.  Lewis  is  in  error  here. 
This  Elizabeth  Curwin  was  still  living  as  the  widow  of  Captain 
George  Curwin,  in  1694,  as  appears  by  public  records.  See 
something  further,  under  date  1650.]  This  tract  of  four  hun- 
dred acres  is  mentioned  as  beginning  at  the  farther  end  of  the 
beach  beyond  Fishing  Point,  and  extending  to  the  west  end 
of  the  Long  Pond.     Another  description  of  this  same  four  bun- 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1641.  201 

dred  acres,  makes  it  extend  to  Beaver  Brook,  which  is  the  little 
stream  next  eastward  of  Phillips's  Pond,  and  runs  out  at  the 
bounds  between  Lynn  and  Salem.  [It  may  be  mentioned,  in 
passing,  that  there  is  another  little  stream,  bearing  the  name 
Beaver  Brook,  in  the  western  part  of  Lynn.  It  crosses  Walnut 
street  and  flows  through  the  low  lands  in  the  rear  of  the  alms- 
house, to  Saugus  river.]  Henry  Mayo  bought  Fishing  Point, 
which  is  the  point  next  east  of  Swampscot,  which  he  sold,  10 
March,  1696,  to  Walter  Phillips,  for  £140.  Mr.  Humfrey's 
house,  and  the  land  adjacent,  was  bought  by  Hon.  Ebenezer 
Burrill,  in  whose  family  it  remained  until  1797,  when  it  was 
bought  by  Robert  Hooper  of  Marblehead.  In  1842,  his  daughter 
Hannah,  widow  of  Hon.  William  Reed,  sold  it  to  Enoch  Reding- 
ton  Mudge,  Esq.,  who  built,  near  the  old  house,  a  beautiful 
Gothic  stone  cottage,  worthy  of  the  olden  time. 

[There  is,  however,  without  doubt  an  essential  error  in  loca- 
ting Mr.  Humfrey  at  Swampscot.  As  remarked  on  page  147, 
he  had  lands  there,  but  I  have  now  no  doubt  that  his  place  of 
residence  was  on  the  east  side  of  Nahant  street.  M}^  attention 
was  first  drawn  to  the  point  by  Mr.  Josiah  M.  Nichols,  who 
has  spent  much  time  in  examining  the  old  records;  and  sub- 
sequent investigation  furnished  what  falls  little  short  of  conclu- 
sive evidence.  It  is  certain  that  he  had  a  house  on  Nahant 
street,  and  that  his  adjacent  lands  were  known  as  his  farm. 
I  find  in  no  deed,  will,  or  inventory  evidence  that  he  had  a 
house  at  Swampscot;  and  is  it  probable  that  during  his  brief 
sojourn  here,  he  would  have  erected  more  than  one?  Lechford 
speaks  of  his  farm  Swampscot ;  not  his  farm  at  or  in  Swamp- 
scot. And  it  may  have  been  only  a  name  by  which  his  estate 
at  Nahant  street  was  distinguished,  a  name  which  was  afterward 
applied  to  the  territory  now  known  as  Swampscot,  where  he  had 
a  large  tract  of  wild  land.  Mr.  Lewis,  indeed,  says  that  Swamp- 
Scot  was  the  Indian  name  of  the  place  now  so  called ;  but  he 
gives  no  authority.  No  doubt  the  name  is  Indian  ;  but  it  is 
very  questionable  whether,  if  it  was  thus  territorially  applied 
at  all,  at  that  time,  it  did  not,  in  a  loose  way,  touch  any  of  the 
coast  lands,  from  the  east  shore  of  Lynn  harbor,  or  Beach 
street,  to  the  Salem  'line.  There  is  much  reason  for  the  belief 
that  the  old  house  which  many  will  remember  as  the  Samuel 
Newhall  house,  and  which  had  previously  been  known  as  the 
Hood  house,  which  stood  on  the  east  side  of  Nahant  street, 
between  Baltimore  and  Ocean,  was  the  identical  one  in  which 
Mr.  Humfrey  lived,  the  one  in  which  Lady  Deborah  Mood^ 
dwelt,  and  the  one  which  Mr.  Humfrey's  daughter  Ann,  in  1681 
sold  to  Richard  Hood,  as  stated  on  page  200. 

[By  a  careful  examination  of  the  descriptions  of  Mr.  Hum- 
frey's lands  it  does  not  appear  that  his  bounds  included  the 


202  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1641. 

site  of  Mr.  Mudge's  residence.  But  that  the  old  Farm  House, 
which  still  stands  on  the  beautiful  grounds  and  is  now  owned 
by  Miss  Fanny  0.  Mudge,  was  owned  and  occupied  by  Hon. 
Ebenezer  Burrill,  there  is  no  doubt.  The  estate  was  willed  to 
him  by  his  father,  John  Burrill,  who  lived  at  Tower  Hill. 
Indeed,  he  could  not  have  bought  it,  as  Mr.  Lewis  appears 
to  have  supposed,  of  Mr.  Humfrey's  daughter  Ann,  about  the 
year  1681,  for  he  was  not  then  three  years  old.  It  is  not  easy 
to  determine  when  the  house  was  built,  and  hence  its  age  cannot 
be  stated.  But  it  is  a  venerable  and  most  interesting  relic,  and 
can  quite  well  afford  to  dispense  with  a  few  of  the  honors  with 
which  it  has  heretofore  been  invested.  It  stands  a  few  rods  east 
of  Mr.  Mudge's  picturesque  villa  and  occupies  a  site  that  seems 
to  have  been  chosen  for  security  against  the  most  disagreeable 
winds.  Hon.  Ebenezer  Burrill,  of  whom  a  biographical  sketch 
may  be  found  by  turning  to  page  492,  died  in  1761,  and  was 
succeeded  in  the  property  by  his  son  Samuel,  who  was  born  in 
1717,  and,  like  his  father,  became  a  man  of  note  —  was  a  Repre- 
sentative during  the  Revolution  —  was  a  member  of  the  Conven- 
tion for  forming  the  State  Constitution  —  and  became  the  envied 
proprietor  of  the  first  chaise  that  appeared  in  the  vicinity, 
eliciting  much  curious  observation  as  he  rode  down  to  meeting. 
He  died  in  1797,  and  the  premises  were  sold  to  Mr.  Hooper,  as 
stated  by  Mr.  Lewis.  Repairs  and  alterations  have  been  made 
about  the  house,  from  time  to  time,  and  the  exterior  is  modern- 
ized by  adding  a  piazza.  The  second  story  projected  over  the 
first,  and  the  gable  ends,  in  their  turn,  projected  over  the  sec- 
ond. The  noble  elm,  in  front,  which  dispensed  its  refreshing 
shade  for  sporting  children  who  long  since  became  grandfathers 
and  grandmothers,  and  departed  in  the  great  procession  that 
returns  not,  still  extends  its  inviting  arms,  invested  with  the 
dignity  of  age  and  the  vigor  of  youth.  It  was  planted  there 
in  or  about  the  year  1740.  It  is  a  matter  of  congratulation  that 
the  estate  has  fallen  into  the  hands  of  one  who  can  appreciate 
such  a  relic.  And  may  the  day  be  far  distant  when  the  Yandal 
hand  of  uncultivated  Improvement  shall  be  uplifted  against  it. 
[Around  such  venerable  relics  as  this  old  Farm  House,  cluster 
memories  of  the  deepest  interest,  even  though  their  earlier  his- 
tories should  be  deep  in  the  oblivion  of  the  past;  for  we  know 
that  as  they  were  human  habitations,  within  them  must  have 
transpired  the  common  events  of  human  life  —  that  misfortune 
must  have  come  to  baptize  in  sorrow,  and  that  other  days 
must  have  found  hearts  overflowing  with  joy  —  that  again  and 
again  with  the  tide  of  years,  must  have  come  those  ever-occur- 
ring incidents,  the  birth,  the  bridal,  and  the  yielding  up  of  life. 
No  human  habitation,  indeed,  is  without  its  sorrows,  nor,  blessed 
be  God,  without  its  joys.] 


1 1  1 1 

'    mi '  ' 


I ^M  t  ..i^a^MwmwW 


?'^ 


III        mill       III  iliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 


illllll 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1642.  203 

[Edward  Tomlins,  having  been  arraigned  for  expressing  opin- 
ions against  singing  in  the  churches,  was  discharged,  1  June, 
he  having  retracted.] 

In  the  early  part  of  this  year,  says  Governor  Winthrop,  ''a 
goodly  maid  of  the  church  of  Linne,  going  in  a  deep  snow  from 
Meadford  homeward,  was  lost,  and  some  of  her  clothes  found 
after  among  the  rocks." 

1642. 

A  great  alarm  was  occasioned  through  the  colony  by  a  report 
that  the  Indians  intended  to  exterminate  the  English.  The 
people  were  ordered  to  keep  a  watch  from  sunset  to  sunrise, 
and  blacksmiths  were  directed  to  suspend  all  other  business 
till  the  arms  of  the  colony  were  repaired.  A  house  was  built 
for  the  soldiers,  and  another,  about  forty  feet  long,  for  a  safe 
retreat  for  the  women  and  children  of  the  town,  in  case  of  an 
attack  from  the  Indians.  These  houses  were  within  the  limits 
of  Saugus,  about  eighty  rods  from  the  eastern  boundary,  and 
about  the  same  distance  south  of  Walnut  street.  The  cellars 
of  both  these  buildings  remain,  and  near  them,  on  the  east,  is  a 
fine  unfailing  spring. 

At  the  Salem  Court,  12  July,  George  Sagamore  and  Edward, 
alias  Ned,  sued  Francis  Lightfoot  for  land.  The  case  was  refer- 
red to  the  Boston  court. 

[The  Court  ordered,  27  Sept.,  "for  the  better  direction  of  the 
watch  and  alarums,"  and  for  general  safety,  in  addition  to  what 
was  called  the  "  county  alarum,"  as  follows :  "  One  musket 
discharged  shalbee  an  alarum  to  all  the  sentinels  at  the  severall 
quarters  of  each  towne,  who  shall  answere  the  said  alarum,  not 
by  shooting  of  any  more  peeces,  but  by  going  to  and  awakening 
the  sev^all  houses  w*^in  their  quartos,  by  crying,  Arme !  arme  ! 
Thus  the  towne  being  raised,  if  danger  appear,  it  shalbee  in  the 
discretion  of  the  cheife  office's  either  to  strengthen  their  sev'^all 
quarters,  as  they  shall  see  occasion,  or  else  to  give  alarum  to 
the  whole  country.  It  is  left  to  the  discretion  of  the  cheife 
officers  of  every  towne  to  appoint  the  most  convenient  quarters 
or  randevous  where  to  set  sentinels  or  Gov'ts  of  garde." 

[The  Court  made  an  order  that  every  house  in  the  several 
towns  should  aid  in  the  '^  breeding  of  salt  peeter."  Sergeant 
Tomlins  was  appointed  to  see  that  the  order  was  enforced  in 
Lynn. 

[On  the  12th  of  November,  there  was  a  very  great  storm. 
The  tide  rose  higher  than  at  any  time  before  since  the  settle- 
ment began.] 

Governor  Dudley,  in  a  letter  to  his  son  in  England,  dated 
November  28,  remarks,  '^  There  is  a  want  of  school-masters 
hereabouts." 


204  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1642. 

At  the  Quarterly  Court,  December  14,  "The  Lady  Deborah 
Moodie,  Mrs.  King,  and  the  wife  of  John  Tillton,  were  present- 
ed, for  houldiuge  that  the  baptising  of  Infants  is  noe  ordinance 
of  God."  ^ 

The  winter  was  exceedingly  cold,  with  deep  snow,  and  the 
harbor  was  passable  with  teams  for  five  weeks.  The  Indians 
said  that  the  weather  had  not  been  so  cold  for  forty  years. 
[Johnson  says  that  when  the  ice  thawed  it  removed  rocks  of 
above  a  ton  weight,  and  brought  them  ashore.] 

Iron  ore  was  discovered  in  Lynn  at  a  very  early  period,  but 
no  attempt  was  made  to  work  it  until  the  year  1643.  It  is  of 
the  kind  called  bog  iron,  and  was  found  in  large  quantities  in 
various  places  within  a  mile  or  two  from  the  meeting-house, 
where  it  still  exists.  The  great  want  in  the  country  of  iron 
tools  and  iron  ware,  induced  several  enterprising  gentlemen 
to  attempt  the  establishment  of  a  forge.  Among  the  principal 
of  these  were  Thomas  Dexter  and  Robert  Bridges.  Mr.  Dex- 
ter was  a  very  active  and  energetic  man,  foremost  in  every 
public  enterprise ;  and  his  greatest  fault  appears  to  have  con- 
sisted in  speaking  somewhat  too  freely  of  the  government, 
because  they  did  not  keep  up  with  his  plans  of  improvement. 
The  character  of  Hon.  Robert  Bridges  has  been  given  by 
Johnson,  in  a  few  words :  ''  He  was  endued  with  able  parts, 
and  forward  to  improve  them  to  the  glory  of  God  and  his  peo- 
ple's good." 

[It  is  not  possible  to  avoid  the  conclusion  that  Mr.  Dexter 
had  serious  faults,  and  that  he  must  have  been  an  uncomfortable 
neighbor.  He  possessed  an  irritable  disposition  and  was  pro- 
voking in  his  bearing  toward  such  as  stood  in  any  way  antago- 
nistic to  him.  And  that  he  had  an  inveterate  propensity  for 
the  law  is  abundantly  proved  by  the  court  records.  Mr.  Lewis 
mentions  two  or  three  instances  of  his  being  dealt  with  for 
misdemeanors  more  grave  than  that  of  sleeping  in  meeting. 
See  under  dates  1631,1633  and  1646.  And  besides  what  Mr. 
Lewis  has  noticed  it  is  found  that  in  1633  he  was  fined  twenty 
shillings  for  drunkenness;  also,  3  July,  1632,  it  was  ordered 
that  he  be  "  bound  to  his  good  behav''  till  the  nexte  Genall 
Court,  and  ffined  yI.  for  his  midemean'"  and  insolent  carriage  and 
speeches  to  S :  Bradstreete,  att  his  owne  howse ;  also  att  the 
Genall  Courte,  is  bound  to  confesse  his  fault."  At  the  Court  in 
November,  however,  il.  of  the  fine  were  remitted.  There  is 
some  amusing  romance  about  his  having  purchased  Nahant  of 
an  Indian  chief,  for  a  suit  of  clothes ;  and  Mr.  Lewis  thought 
proper  to  add  an  attractive  gloss  by  a  lithographic  representa- 
tion. But  it  is  clear  that  the  transaction  was  not  generally 
deemed  to  have  been  a  fair  one ;  and  it  was  judicially  adjudged 
invalid.     That  he  was  active  and  enterprising,  there  is  no  doubt ; 


ANNALS    OP    LYNN — 1642.  205 

and  men  so  characterized  never  pass  lives  of  obscurity.  But 
we  fail  to  perceive  that  he  possessed  those  higher  qualities 
necessary  to  entitle  him  to  be  ranked  among  the  most  useful 
class  of  citizens.  He  was  never  a  representative,  and  seems 
seldom  to  have  been  called  to  any  public  office.  This  proves 
little,  to  be  sure,  for  it  may  have  been  then,  as  it  now  is,  that 
the  most  worthy  are  not  generally  found  in  those  positions, 
which  are  the  cravings  of  the  ambitious  and  selfish;  though 
there  is  much  reason  to  believe  that  there  was  far  more  political 
principle  in  those  days  than  there  is  in  these.  And  it  is  signifi- 
cant that  the  title  of  "M'"'^  was  not  awarded  him.  He  was 
known  simply  as  "  goodman."  Mr.  Lewis,  indeed,  says  that  he 
"  was  called,  by  way  of  excellence,  ^  Farmer  Dexter.' "  But 
it  is  most  likely  that  the  title  was  bestowed  merely  on  account 
of  his  occupation.  His  enterprises  certainly  seem  to  have  had 
no  higher  incentive  than  personal  interest.  And  there  are  many 
like  him,  in  every  community,  at  this  day,  whom  it  is  fashionable 
to  laud  and  magnify  as  sincere  and  devoted  public  beneflictors. 
There  are,  however,  descendants  of  Mr.  Dexter,  in  New  Eng- 
land, of  prominence  and  great  worth.  Rev.  Henry  M.  Dexter, 
of  Boston,   may  be   named  as 

among  them.      A  fac-simile   of  ^  /*      O^q^^  HmJs^^^^ 

the  signature  of  our  famous  old  VSi^«>'**^^^    f;^iir^tp-€/r 

settler  is  here   e-iven.     It  was         _,.  -^,  ^  ^ 

.IP  -1  .1  Signature  of  Thomas  Dexter, 

traced  irom  a  document   bear-  ^ 

ing  date  1657.] 

This  year  Mr.  Bridges  took  some  specimens  of  the  iron  ore 
from  the  mines  in  Saugus,  and  went  to  London,  where  he  suc- 
ceeded in  forming  a  company,  called  ^'  The  Company  of  Under- 
takers for  the  Iron  Works,"  consisting  of  the  following  wealthy 
and  enterprising  gentlemen:  Lionel  Copley,  Esq.,  of  York 
county,  England;  Nicholas  Bond,  Esq.,  of  Westminster; 
Thomas  Pury,  Esq.  of  Westminster;  John  Becx,  London, 
merchant;  William  Beauchamp,  London,  merchant;  Tho- 
mas Foley,  London,  gentleman;  William  Greenhill,  Step- 
ney, Middlesex  county;  Thomas  Weld,  minister,  Gateshead, 
Durham  county;  John  Pococke,  merchant  tailor,  London; 
William  Becke,  merchant  tailor,  London;  William  Hic- 
ocke,  citizen,  London.  This  company  advanced  the  sum  of 
one  thousand  pounds  for  commencing  the  work.  Land  was 
purchased  of  Thomas  Hudson,  and  a  foundry  erected  on  the 
western  bank  of  Saugus  river,  where  large  heaps  of  scoria  are 
still  to  be  seen.  John  Winthrop,  jr.,  also  engaged  in  the  enter- 
prise ;  and  Mr.  Endicott,  of  Sa^em,  in  a  letter  to  Governor 
Winthrop,  dated,  December  1,  says,  ''I  want  much  to  hear 
from  your  son's  iron  and  steel."  The  village  at  the  Iron  Works 
was  called  Hammersmith,  from  some  of  the  principal  workmen 
R 


206  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1642. 

who  came  from  a  place  of  that  name  in  England.     This  Iron 
Foundry  at  Lynn,  was  the  first  which  was  established  in  America. 

Several  persons  came  from  England,  this  year,  to  engage  in 
the  Iron  Works,  eitlier  as  superintendents  or  workmen,  among 
whom  were  the  following: 

Richard  Leader  —  was  general  agent  for  the  Company  of  the 
Undertakers  of  the  Iron  Works,  and  is  mentioned  as  a  man  of 
superior  ability. 

Henry  Leonard  —  was  a  workman  at  the  Iron  Foundry. 
[With  this  Henry  Leonard,  and  his  brother  James,  whom  Mr. 
Lewis  does  not  notice,  is,  in  fact,  identified  the  whole  early 
history  of  the  iron  manufacture  in  America.  And  to  this  day, 
descendants  of  these  enterprising  men  are  extensivel}^  engaged 
in  the  iron  business.  They  seem  to  have  become  interested  in 
the  American  iron  works,  as  follows :  first  at  Lynn,  then  at 
Braintree,  afterward  at  Taunton  and  E-owley  Village,  and  sub- 
sequently at  Canton  and  New  Jersey.  In  process  of  time  it 
came  to  be  said  that  wherever  there  were  iron  works  a  Leonard 
might  be  found,  for  they  seem  very  generally  to  have  bred  their 
sons  to  their  own  occupation.  And  their  fathers  in  England 
were  engaged  in  the  same  calling. 

[Henry  was  at  Lynn  in  1642,  though  it  does  not  seem  certain 
that  James  came  with  him.  But  that  the  latter  was  here  in 
1651  is  shown  by  entries  in  an  account  book  of  that  date,  kept 
by  the  Lynn  Company.  These  entries  are  given  as  found  ex- 
tracted in  the  N.  E.  Hist,  and  Geneal.  Register,  v.  5,  and  are  as 
follows  :  "James  Leonnarde,  15  days  worke  about  finnerey  Cbim- 
neye  and  other  worke  in  y®  forge,  1  :  13  :  0.  To  ditto  Leonard 
for  dressing  his  bellows  3  times,  1:10:0.  To  ditto  soe  much 
allowed  him  for  bringing  his  goods  from  Prouidence,  2:0:  0." 
In  1652,  both  James  and  Henry  engaged  in  the  establishment 
of  the  works  at  Taunton.  At  a  town  meeting  there,  21  October, 
1652,  as  appears  by  the  records,  "It  was  agreed  and  granted 
by  the  town  to  the  said  Henry  Leonard  and  James  Leonard  his 
brother,  and  Ralph  Russell,  free  consent  to  come  hither  and 
join  with  certain  of  our  inhabitants  to  set  up  a  bloomery  work 
on  the  Two  Mile  River."  These  works  were  what  are  some- 
times called  the  Raynham  works.  The  Braintree  works  had 
previously  been  established,  and  with  the  Lynn  works  had  a 
monopoly  of  the  business  by  grant.  The  works  at  Taunton,  by 
the  way,  continued  long  in  a  prosperous  condition.  They  were 
well-managed,  and  not  subjected  to  harrassing  law-suits,  such  as 
proved  so  disastrous  to  those  at  Lynn. 

[I  do  not  find  that  James  Leonard  was  at  Lynn  after  this ; 
but  Henry  was  here  in  1655.  A  deposition  of  his,  sworn  to  on 
the  27th  of  October,  of  that  year,  contains  one  or  two  interest- 
ing particulars.     It  is  as  follows  : 


ANNALS  OP  LYNN  —  1642.  207 

"  The  Testimony  of  Henry  Leonard,  of  Hammersmith,  of  the  age  of  37,  or 
thereabouts.  Tliis  deponent  saith  that  there  was  a  small  Heap  of  Coles  at 
Brantrey  Forge,  which  was  Coled  about  nine  yeares  agoe ;  and  these  Coles 
Lay  Rotting,  and  noe  vse  was  made  of  them  before  they  were  spoyled,  and 
Mr.  Gifford,  being  Agent,  was  to  bring  in  a  new  stock,  w°^^  stock  could  not  be 
Layd  before  the  Rotten  Coles  were  Removed,  because  the  Cattle  Could  not 
Turne.  Whereupon  They  being  well  obsei-ved  both  by  Mr.  Gifford  and  my 
selfe,  Mr.  Gifford  gave  me  order  that  if  Goodman  Foster,  or  some  other  of 
Brantrey,  could  make  any  use  of  them  I  should  dispose  of  them ;  whereupon 
Goodman  Foster  had  about  two  halfe  Loads,  and  some  of  y«  Rest  of  y^  neigh- 
bors thereabouts  fetched  some  of  them ;  but  they  were  soe  bad  they  would 
fetch  no  more,  and  Goodman  Foster  took  as  much  paynes  about  them  as  they 
were  worth ;  and  although  they  would  serve  his  Turne.  they  would  not  serve 
us  at  the  forge ;  and  whereas  Goodman  Prey  saith  he  got  out  of  them  to  make 
a  great  quantity  of  L'on,  I  know  the  Labor  y*  hee  and  Thomas  Billington 
bestowed  about  drawing  of  them  was  more  than  they  were  worth.  And 
whereas  Goodman  Pray  saith  he  made  so  much  Iron  of  them,  hee  made  not 
a  quarter  of  a  Tunn  of  those  Coles  but  did  cast  now  and  then  a  Baskett  of 
them  among  other  Coles,  but  they  were  worth  nothing  to  his  worke." 

[By  this  deposition  it  may  be  inferred  that  Henry  was  at 
Braintree  about  1646.  And  it  seems  fair  to  conclude  that  as 
he  was  here  in  1642,  be  engaged  in  the  Iron  Works  at  their 
commencement,  and  afterward  went  to  Braintree  and  assisted 
in  establishing  the  forges  there.  And  this  supports  the  position 
that  the  Iron  Works  at  Lynn  were  the  first  in  America,  and 
those  at  Braintree  the  second. 

[Henry  Leonard  married  at  Lynn  and  reared  a  respectable 
family  of  six  children.  He  was  here  in  1668,  and  was  then 
made  a  freeman.  After  the  last  date  he  went  to  Rowley  Village 
and  there  established  iron  works.  And  in  1674,  his  sons  Na- 
thaniel, Samuel,  and  Thomas,  contracted  with  ^^  y®  owners  of  y® 
Iron  Works  "  there  to  carry  on  the  business.  After  establish- 
ing the  works  at  Rowley  Village,  he  went  to  New  Jersey,  and 
there  again  engaged  in  the  iron  manufacture. 

[James  and  Henry  had  a  brother  Philip,  who  does  not  appear 
to  have  come  to  Lynn.  The  Leonards  were  smart,  enterprising 
settlers,  and  many  of  their  descendants,  at  this  day,  are  distin- 
guished for  energy  and  business  talent.] 

Henry  Styche  —  lived  at  the  Iron  Works.  It  appears  by  a 
deposition  given  by  him,  at  the  Salem  Court,  in  1653,  that  he 
was  then  103  years  of  age.     [He  died  in  1654,  aged  104.] 

Arzbell  Anderson — came  from  Scotland,  and  was  a  work- 
man at  the  Iron  Foundry.  He  died  in  1661.  [His  baptismal 
name  is  elsewhere  given  as  Archibald  ;  but  Arzbell  is  right.  In 
the  office  at  Salem  is  ''  An  Inventory  of  y®  estate  of  Arzbell 
Anderson,  Scotchman,  whoe  deceased  at  y®  Iron  Works  at  Lyn, 
y®  thirteenth  day  of  y®  sixt  month,  (August)  1661. '^  The  estate 
amounted  to  £54.18.5.] 

MacCallum  More  Downing  —  came  from  Scotland.  He  work- 
ed at  the  forge,  and  died  in  1G83. 


208  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1643. 

Joseph  Jenks  —  came  from  Uammersmith,  in  England.  He 
was  a  machinist,  at  the  Iron  Foundry,  and  was  a  man  of  great 
genius,  of  which  abundant  evidence  will  be  found  in  this  history. 
He  made  the  dies  for  coining  the  first  money,  built  the  first  fire- 
engine,  and  took  out  several  patents  for  improvements  in  mills 
and  iron  tools.  He  is  said  to  have  descended  from  an  ancient 
family  in  Wales.  He  came  over  a  widower,  leaving  two  sons 
in  England,  and  married  a  lady  whose  baptismal  name  was  Eliza- 
beth, by  whom  he  had  one  son  and  tvro  daughters.  He  died  in 
March,  1683,  and  his  wife  died  in  July,  1679.  His  children 
were :  1.  Joseph,  born  in  England,  resided  some  time  in  Lynn, 
where  he  married  Esther,  daughter  of  William  Ballard.  He 
then  removed  to  Pawtucket,  where  he  built  a  forge,  which  was 
destroyed  in  the  Wampanoag  war,  in  1675.  In  1681,  he  was 
an  Assistant  in  the  government  of  Rhode  Island;  he  had  a  son, 
Joseph  Jenks,  who  was  governor  of  that  state  from  1727  to 
1732.  2.  George,  went  to  Virginia.  3.  Sarah,  married  John 
Chilson.  4.  Samuel,  like  his  father,  was  a  workman  in  iron,  and 
married  Elizabeth  Darling.  5.  Deborah.  6.  John,  married  Sa- 
rah Merriam.  7.  Daniel,  went  to  Rhode  Island,  where  he  built 
several  mills.  The  descendants  of  Joseph  Jenks,  throughout 
New  England,  are  numerous,  and  several  of  them  have  been  emi- 
nent; among  whom  is  the  Rev.  William  Jenks,  D.  D.,  of  Boston. 

Joseph  Jenks,  the  founder  of  the  family,  deserves  to  be  held 
in  perpetual  remembrance  in  American  History,  as  being  the 
first  founder,  "  who  worked  in  brass  and  iron,"  on  the  western 
continent.  By  his  hands  the  first  models  were  made,  and  the 
first  castings  taken  of  many  domestic  implements  and  iron  tools. 
The  first  article  said  to  have  been  cast,  was  a  small  iron  pot, 
capable  of  containing  about  one  quart.  Thomas  Hudson,  of  the 
same  family  with  the  celebrated  Hendric  Hudson,  and  the  lineal 
ancestor  of  my  mother,  was  the  first  proprietor  of  the  lands  on 
Saugus  river,  where  the  Iron  Foundry  stood.  When  the  forge 
was  established,  he  procured  the  first  casting,  which  was  this 
famous  old  iron  pot,  which  he  preserved  as  a  curiosity.  It  has 
been  handed  down  in  the  family  ever  since,  and  is  now,  [1844] 
in  the  possession  of  my  mother,  who,  I  suppose,  would  not 
exchange  it  for  a  silver  one. 

1643. 

Much  difficulty  was  occasioned,  for  several  years,  by  an  opin- 
ion which  some  of  the  people  entertained,  that  the  baptism  of 
infants  was  sinful.  Mr.  William  Witter  was  presented  at  the 
Salem  Court  for  his  conduct  in  this  respect,  and  on  the  28th 
of  February,  the  following  record  was  made  :  "  William  Witter — 
Now  comeing  in,  answered  humbly,  and  confessed  his  Ignorance, 
and  his  willingness  to  see  Light,  and,  (upon  Mr.  Norris,  our  El- 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1643.  209 

der,  his  speech,)  seemed  to  be  staggered,  Inasmuch  as  that  he 
came  in  court  meltinglie.  Sentence  —  Have  called  our  orde- 
nonce  of  God,  a  badge  of  the  whore  —  on  some  Lecture  day,  the 
next  5th  day,  being  a  public  fast.  To  acknowledge  his  fait,  And 
to  ask  Mr.  Cobbett  forgiveness,  in  saying  he  spok  against  his 
conscience.     And  enjoined  to  be  heare  next  court  att  Salem." 

At  the  same  court,  Roger  Scott  was  presented,  "  for  common 
sleeping  at  the  public  exercise  upon  the  Lord's  day,  and  for 
striking  him  that  waked  him."  In  December  following,  not 
having  amended  his  conduct,  he  was  sentenced  by  the  court, 
to  be  severely  whipped."  It  was  the  custom  at  this  time, 
during  the  public  service,  for  a  person  to  go  about  the  meeting 
to  wake  the  sleepers.  He  bore  a  long  wand,  on  one  end  of 
which  was  a  ball,  and  on  the  other  a  fox  tail.  When  he  ob- 
served the  men  asleep,  he  rapped  them  on  the  head  with  the 
knob  ;  and  roused  the  slumbering  sensibilities  of  the  ladies  by 
drawing  the  brush  lightly  across  their  faces. 

On  Sunday  morning,  5  March,  there  was  an  earthquake. 

[Henry  Walton  was  presented  at  the  court  for  saying  "  he 
had  as  Leave  to  heare  a  dogg  Barke  as  to  heare  m'^  Cobbett 
preach."     He  was  acquitted,  however,  for  want  of  proof.] 

A  controversy  was  in  agitation  respecting  the  right  of  the 
Assistants  to  a  negative  vote  upon  the  resolves  of  the  Repre- 
sentatives. Mr.  Cobbet  wrote  a  treatise,  in  which  he  advocated 
the  right  of  the  Assistants,  and  the  question  was  finally  decided 
in  their  favor. 

On  the  5th  of  June,  says  Governor  Winthrop,  "  there  arose  a 
sudden  gust  at  NW.  so  violent  for  half  an  hour  as  it  blew  down 
multitudes  of  trees.  It  lifted  up  their  meeting-house  at  New- 
bury, the  people  being  in  it.  It  darkened  the  air  with  dust,  yet 
through  God's  great  mercy  it  did  no  hurt,  but  only  killed  one 
Indian.     It  was  straight  between  Linne  and  Hampton." 

In  June,  Mr.  Edward  Tomlins  was  appointed  by  the  Court,  a 
commissioner  to  treat  with  the  Indians.  He  was  also  appointed 
clerk  of  the  writs  instead  of  Mr.  Richard  Sadler.  [Mr.  Lewis 
has  placed  his  Indian  mission  a  little  too  early,  or  else  he  was 
more  than  once  detailed  for  such  service.  It  was  on  the  30th 
of  May,  1644,  that  he  was  "  ordred  and  appoynted,  by  both 
howses  of  the  Courte  to  goe  vppon  a  messuage  to  y®  iSTarragan- 
sett  sachems,"  and  dismissed  from  the  ''  howse  for  y«  present 
to  ppare  himselfe  for  y®  jurney."  (Col.  Recs.)  He  went  on  his 
mission  in  company  with  Humphrey  Atherton.  And  it  is  rep- 
resented that  one  of  their  first  acts  was  to  catechise  the  benight- 
ed Narragansetts  on  the  Ten  Commandments.] 

Mr.  Joseph  Armitage,  who  kept  the  tavern  on  the  west  of 
Saugus  river,  having  become  involved  in  pecuniary  difficulty, 
in  consequence  of  certain  speculations  beyond  his  means,  his 
E*  ,  .14 


210  ANNALS    OP   LYNN — 1643. 

wife  Jane  presented  a  petition  to  the  General  Court,  in  June, 
that  they  would  "  reconfirme  the  custody  of  the  said  ordinary 
to  the  petitioness."  It  was  signed  by  the  two  ministers,  and  by 
thirty-two  other  principal  inhabitants,  and  was  granted  on  the 
26th  of  October.  '^  Joseph  Armitage  is  allowed  to  keep  the 
ordinary,  but  not  to  draw  wine." 

[It  is  probable  that  Mr.  Armitage  remained  in  straitened  cir- 
cumstances for  some  time,  for  at  the  June  term  of  the  court  at 
Salem,  in  1669,  he  presented  a  petition  for  the  payment  of  a 
number  of  old  demands  for  entertainment  furnished  to  sundry 
dignitaries,  which  reads  thus: 

To  the  Honered  Court  now  sitting  at  Salfeeii.  The  Humble  petition  of  Jo- 
seph Armitage  Humbly  Sheweth  that  in  the  time  that  I  kept  Ordinary  ther 
was  sum  expences  at  my  Hows  by  some  of  the  Honored  magistrates  &  Depe- 
tys  of  this  County  as  apears  by  ther  bills  charged  oupou  Auditor  Generall, 
which  I  never  Receaued.  Therfor  your  Humbell  petticiouer  doth  humbly 
request  this  Court  that  they  would  give  me  an  Order  to  the  County  Treasurer 
for  my  pay  &  so  your  pour  petitioner  shall  ever  pray  for  your  prosperity. 

Joseph  Armitege. 

[The  demands  and  vouchers  appear  as  follows.  And  they 
certainly  present  a  refreshing  glimpse  at  the  simplicity  of  the 
times.  Just  think  of  a  governor  of  the  present  day  traveling  in 
the  style  of  Endicott  and  Bradstreet. 

[No.  1.] 

M*"  Auditor  Generall,  There  were  divers  gentlemen,  that  attended  mee  at 
my  going  to  the  election,  together  with  the  sei-vants,  that  at  their  going  & 
returning  back,  which  had  in  beare  &  wine,  at  Joseph  Armitages,  elev^en  shil- 
lings &  4d.,  which  I  pray  give  j'ou  a  bill  to  the  Treasurer  tliat  hee  may  be  paid. 

4th  of  the  8th  moiielh,  1650.  yrs,  Jo.  Endecott. 

[No.  2.     Armitages  bill.] 

the  gouerners  Expences  from  the  Coart  of  election,  1651,  till  the  end  of 
October,  1651 :  to  bear  &  cacks,  [beer  and  cakes]  6d. ;  bear  and  cacks  to  him- 
self and  som  other  gentllemen.  Is.  2d. ;  bear  and  cacks  with  M^  Downing,  Is. 
6d. ;  bear  &  a  cack,  6d.  —  3s.  8d. 

to  the  Sargents  from  the  end  of  the  Coart  of  election,  1651,  till  the  end  of 
October,  1651,  bear  &  cacks.  Is.  2d. ;  for  vitalls,  beear  &  logen,  5s. ;  to  Benja- 
min Scarlet,  the  gouerners  man,  8d. ;  bear  &  vitells,  2s. ;  to  the  Sargents,  jl  s. 
9d. ;  beear  and  cacks.  Is. ;  to  a  man  that  Caried  a  leter  to  warne  a  Court  about 
the  duchman,  Is.  6d. ;  to  the  Sargents,  Is.  2d.  —  14s.  3d. 

Mr  Auditor,  I  pray  you  give  a  note  to  M^  Treasurer,  for  the  payment  of  17s. 
lid.  according  to  these  two  bills  of  Joseph  Armitage. 

Dated  the  7th  of  the  11th  mo.  1651.  Jo.  Endecott. 

[No.  3.    Wiggins  bill.] 
Mr  tresorer,  I  pray  j^ou  pay  to  Joseph  Armitage  the  som  of  one  shilling 
fouer  pence,  which  I  expended  going  to  the  generall  Court  this  17.  8  mo. 
1650.  Tho.  Wiggin. 

[No.  4.    Bradstreetes  bill.] 
due  to  goodman  Armitage,  for  beare  &  wjaie  att  severall  times  as  I  came 
by  in  the  space  of  aboute  3  veares,  4s.  3d.     IMay  15th,  '4D.    More  for  my  man 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN —  1644.  211 


&  horse,  as  hee  returned  home  the  last  yeare  when  I  was  a  Commissioner, 
hee  being  deteyned  a  sabboath  day,  6s.  8d.  Simon  Bradstreete. 

[No.  5.    Armitagis  bill.] 

Payed,  by  the  order  of  the  Magistrates,  To  Henry  Skerry  with  a  Udall  a 
prisoner,  3s.  lOd. ;  To  John  Kiching  going  witli  Abner  Ardway  to  the  prison, 
3s;  To  the  Constable,  when  Rubin  went  to  prison,  3s.  lOd. ;  To  them  that 
carried  Robert  Hithersay  to  prison  from  Salsberry,  4s.  lOd.  —  15s.  6d. 

Mr  Auditor,  I  pray  you  passe  this  bill  allso  to  the  Treasurer. 

23.  11  mo.  1649.  Jo.  Endecott,  Govr. 

[No.  6.     Samuel  Symonds  bill.] 
7th  first  mo.  1650.     Due  to  Joseph  Armitage  for  my  refreshment  in  return- 
ing from  Boston  Courts  of  Assistants,  lOd.  Samuel  Symonds. 

[No.  7.] 
There  is  due  to  Joseph  Armitage,  of  Lyn,  one  shilling  and  four  pence  for  our 
dinner,  the  6th  of  ye  3*^  mo.  1651. 

f       Tho.  Bradbury,  Esdras  Reade,  Depts. 
Reseved  of  Joseph  Armitage  tenn  pence.     Witnes  my  hand  this  6.  3  mo. 
1651.  Jo.  Whipple. 

Reseved  at  Joseph  Armitages  fouer  pence  by  mee. 

6.  3  mo.  1651.  Hugh  Cauking,  [who  signs  by  a  cross,  his  mark.] 

M^  Auditer,  pay  to  Joseph  Armeteg  fouer  pound  sevene  shillings  one  pence. 

Joseph  Jewet,  Guard, 
9.  4  mo.  1652.  Ephraim  Child. 

It  was  probably  on  account  of  the  refusal  of  the  Court  to 
allow  Mr.  Armitage  to  sell  spirit,  that  he  procured  the  warrant 
mentioned  in  the  Salem  court  files,  27  December,  when  Joseph 
Armitage  was  presented,  *^  for  procuring  a  warrant  for  seaventy 
persons  to  appeare  forthwithe  before  the  Governor,  which  we 
conceave  may  be  of  dangerous  consequence." 

[Mr.  Armitage  having  been  fined  for  not  informing  the  consta- 
ble of  a  person  being  drunk  in  his  company,  as  the  law  required, 
petitioned  to  have  the  fine  remitted.  But  the  Court  answer,  13 
May,  1651,  that  they  see  "no  cawse  to  abate  the  petitioner  any 
part  of  that  fine." 

[Mr.  Armitage  died  in  1680.  His  administrator  was  Henry 
Styche.  Richard  Haven  and  John  Ballard  appraised  the  estate 
which  they  rendered  at  £6.2.6.] 

1644. 

The  Company  of  Undertakers  for  the  Iron  Works,  on  the  7th 
of  March,  laid  before  the  Court  ten'propositions  for  the  advance- 
ment of  their  designs  ;  the  most  important  of  which  were  grant- 
ed. They  were  allowed  permission  to  make  use  of  six  places, 
three  miles  square  in  each  place,  wherever  they  might  choose, 
without  interfering  with  previous  grants.  Their  privileges 
were  to  continue  twenty-one  years ;  with  exemption  of  them- 
selves, their  workmen,  and  stock,  from  all  public  taxes,  for  ten 
years. 


212  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1644. 

On  the  20th  of  May,  the  Court  allowed  the  town  "  thirty  sacre 
shot"  for  their  two  great  guns,  of  which  Captain  Bridges  had 
the  care.  [The  sacre,  or  saker,  was  a  peculiar  kind  of  ordnance, 
of  French  invention,  as  the  name  would  seem  to  indicate.  It 
was  frequently  used  as  a  field  piece.  "  Of  guns,  the  long  sacre 
is  most  esteemed,"  says  Dampier  in  his  Voyages,  1688.] 

At  the  same  Court,  the  name  of  Lynn  Village  was  altered  to 
Reading. 

[There  was  a  great  drought  this  year,  and  much  sickness 
prevailed  in  the  summer.  A  public  fast  was  held  in  July,  in 
consequence.] 

At  the  Quarterly  Court,  27  August,  the  following  persons 
were  presented:  "  Wm.  Hewes  and  John  his  son,  for  deriding 
such  as  Sing  in  the  Congregation,  tearming  them  fooles ;  also 
William  Hewes  for  saying  Mr.  Whiting  preaches  confusedly ; 
also  John  Hewes  for  charging  Mr.  C^bbitt  with  falsehood  in 
his  doctrine.  Wm.  Hewes  and  John  his  son,  shall  pay  50s.  a 
peece  for  a  fine,  and  that  it  be  Injoyned  they  shall  make  an 
humble  confession  at  Lynn,  at  a  publick  meeting,  which  accord- 
ing to  it  the  Court  will  consider  of  their  fines."  [The  name 
seems  to  have  been  spelled  Hewes,  or  Hughes,  interchangeably. 
Thus,  on  the  Colony  Records,  16  Oct.  1650,  is  found  the  follow- 
ing: ^' In  answer  to  the  petition  of  Purnell  Hughes,  wife  of 
William  Hughes,  of  L3'nne,  the  Court  accept  of  hir  acknouledg- 
ment,  and  according  to  hir  request,  pardons  hir  hir  ofi'ence  in 
selling  strong  waters  w^^^out  license  whereby  one  was  distem- 
pered." This  Hewes  family  does  not  seem  to  have  been  above 
reproach. 

[Hugh  Burt  and  Samuel  Bennett,  of  Lynn,  were  presented 
to  the  grand  jury  as  "  common  sleepers  in  time  of  exercise." 
They  were  fined  2s.  6d.  each.] 

On  the  13th  of  November,  the  Iron  Company  presented  to 
the  Court  seven  more  propositions ;  in  reply  to  which,  the 
Court,  in  addition  to  their  former  grants,  allowed  them  three 
years  "  for  the  perfecting  of  their  worke,  and  furnishing  of  the 
country  with  all  sorts  of  barr  iron."  They  gave  any  of  the 
inhabitants  liberty  to  share  in  the  work,  by  "  bringing  in  witliin 
one  year,  no  less  than  100<£  a  person,  with  allowance  to  the 
adventurers,  &c.,  for  lOOOX  already  disbursed ; "  if  they  would 
complete  the  finery  and  forge,  as  well  as  the  furnace,  which  ''  is 
already  set  up."  They  gave  them  liberty,  in  all  waste  places, 
"  to  make  use  of  all  yron  ston,  or  yron  oare,"  to  cut  wood,  and 
to  make  ponds  and  highways.  They  likewise  granted  them 
immunities,  civil  and  religious,  equal  with  any  in  the  jurisdic- 
tion ;  and  recommended  them  to  provide  religious  instruction 
for  the  families  of  their  workmen,  who  were  to  be  free  from  all 
watchings  against  the  Indians,  and  from  all  trainings. 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1645.  213 

1645. 

The  establishment  of  the  Iron  Foundry  was  highly  approved 
by  the  Court,  who  passed  the  following  order  on  the  14th  of 
May: 

"  Wliereas  it  is  now  found  by  sufficient  purpose  that  the  iron  work  is  very 
successful,  both  in  the  richness  of  the  ore  and  the  goodness  of  the  iron,  and 
like  to  be  of  great  benefit  to  the  whole  country,  especially  if  the  inhabitants 
here  sliotild  be  interested  therein,  in  some  good  proportion,  one  half  at  the 
least,  and  whereas  the  time  limited  for  adventurers  to  come  in  will  be  expired 
in  the  ninth  month  next :  This  Court,  taking  the  same  into  serious  considera- 
tion, and  being  careful  that  such  an  opportunity,  for  so  great  advantage  to  the 
Commonwealth  might  not  be  let  slip,  have  taken  order,  that  speedy  notice 
thereof  should  be  given  to  every  town  within  this  jurisdiction,  expecting  that 
all  such  persons  as  are  of  sufficient  ability,  and  intend  their  own  benefit,  with 
the  common  good,  will  forthwith  appear  to  come  in  to  share  in  the  work, 
according  to  their  abilities;  and  for  their  better  instruction,  and  direction 
herein,  they  are  hereby  to  understand  that  there  is  already  disbursed  between 
£1200  and  £1500,  with  which  the  furnace  is  built,  with  that  which  belongeth 
to  it,  and  good  quantity  of  mine,  coal,  and  wood,  provided,  and  some  tons  of 
sow  iron  cast,  and  some  other  things  in  readiness  for  the  forge,  &c. ;  they  are 
also  to  know  that  no  adventurer  is  to  put  in  less  than  £100 ;  but  divers  may 
join  together  to  make  up  that  sum,  so  it  come  all  under  one  name.  There 
will  be  need  of  some  £1500  to  finish  the  forge,  &c.,  which  will  be  accepted 
in  money,  beaver,  wheat,  coals,  or  any  such  commodities  as  will  satisfy  the 
workmen ;  and  these  are  to  be  paid  in  to  Mr.  Henry  Webb,  of  Boston,  by  such 
direction  as  they  may  receive  from  the  undertakers,  Mr.  John  Winthrop,  jun.. 
Major  Sedgwick,  Mr.  Henry  Webb,  aforesaid,  and  Mr.  Joshua  Hewes ;  the 
new  adventurers  are  also  to  know  that  they  must  bear  their  part  in  such  loss 
as  is  befallen  the  first  stock,  by  forbearance  or  otherwise,  to  the  time  of  the 
new  adventurers  paying  in  their  adventures  ;  and  all  such  as  will  adventure 
are  desired  to  hasten  their  resolutions,  that  the  work  may  go  on  speedily." 

A  question  has  arisen,  whether  the  first  forge  might  not  have 
been  established  at  Braintree.  It  certainly  was  not.  The  first 
purchase  of  land  for  the  iron  works  at  Braintree,  which  has  been 
discovered,  was  not  till  some  months  after  this  time,  namely,  on 
the  twenty-ninth  of  September,  1645,  when  George  Ruggles 
sold  to  Richard  Leader  twenty  acres.  The  grant  of  "  2860  acres," 
made  for  the  iron  works  "to  be  set  up"  at  Braintree,  was  not 
laid  out  till  the  eleventh  of  January,  1648.  It  is  certain  that  an 
iron  foundry  was  in  successful  operation  at  Lynn,  as  early  as 
1643,  and  as  mention  is  only  made  by  the  Court  of  one  forge,  it 
follows  of  course  that  it  must  have  been  this.  In  1691,  iron 
ore,  called  ''  rock  mine,"  was  taken  from  the  ledges  at  Nahant 
for  the  forge  at  Braintree. 

[The  first  deed  on  record,  in  our  County  Registry,  is  one 
from  Thomas  Dexter,  who,  "  for  the  sum  of  40<£  the  year,  hath 
sould  unto  Richard  Leader,  for  the  use  of  the  Iron  Works,  all 
that  land,"  &c.] 

The  Court  ordered,  that  youth,  from  ten  to  sixteen  years  of 
age,  should  be  exercised,  on  training  days,  in  the  use  of  small 
guns,  half  pikes,  and  bows  and  arrows.     They  also  ordered,  that 


214  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1645. 

any  person  who  should  make  or  publish  a  false  report,  should 
be  fined  ten  shillings,  or  set  in  the  stocks. 

Mr.  Edward  Burcham  was  chosen  "  Clarke  of  the  Writts,  and 
to  record  deaths,  births,  and  marriages  for  the  Towne.'^ 

''  Thomas  Layton  hath  liberty  granted  him  by  the  house  of 
deputies,  to  drawe  wine  for  the  town  for  one  yeare."  [The 
license  was  granted  to  him  at  the  request  of  the  town.] 

^'  Thomas  Layghton,  Edward  Burcham,  and  Thomas  Puttnam, 
are  chosen  by  the  house  of  deputies  to  end  small  controversies." 
[These  controversies,  or  ''  smalj  cawses  "  as  they  are  sometimes 
called  on  the  records,  were  such  as  in  pecuniary  matters  did 
not  exceed  twenty  shillings.] 

The  number  of  inhabitants  having  been  considerably  dimin- 
ished by  the  removal  of  so  many  families  to  Reading,  Long 
Island,  and  other  places,  a  petition  was  presented  to  the  Court 
for  an  abatement  of  taxes.  The  original  paper,  very  much  torn 
and  trampled  by  the  mob  which  dilapidated  Governor  Hutchin- 
son's house  and  papers  in  1765,  is  still  in  existence.  It  com- 
mences with  "  humbly  shewing,  that  whereas  the  overrulinge 
Providence  of  God  hath  much  weakened  our  hands,  which  yet 
were  never  of  like  strength  with  others  about  us,  to  bear  such  a 
share  in  the  publique  disbursements  and  debts  of  the  country 
as  formerly,  we  therefore  make  bold  truly  to  informe  this  hon- 
oured Court  of  our  infeebled  estate  with  which  we  have  more 
immediate  cause  to  be  best  acquainted.  Those  fewe  able  per- 
sons which  were  with  and  of  us,  its  not  unknowne  how  many 
of  them  have  deserted  us ;  as  my  lady  Moody,  whose  share  in  a 
former  rate  of  this  town,  at  80<£  was  above  4,£  and  her  estate, 
left  now  in  a  life  rate,  pays  not  1<£  10s.  Mr.  Howell,  6£.  Mr. 
Willis,  5=£.  Mr.  Keayne,  2£.  Mr.  Edward  Tomlins,  neare  3X. 
John  Poole,  l£  15s.  Mr.  Sadler,  IX  10s.  Nic.  Browne,  as  much. 
Lieftenant  Walker,  IX.  Wm.  Halse}^  IX.  John  Cowper,  IX. 
Mr.  Wade,  12s.  James  Hubbard,  12s.  Wm.  Cowdrey,  Wm. 
Blott,  Wm.  Martin,  Thomas  Marshall,  Zachary  ffitch,  10s.,  each 
of  them,  besides  above  20  more,  whose  share  in  such  a  rate  was, 
some  8,  some  7,"  &c.  The  petitioners  state,  that  between  "  two 
and  three  hundred  acres  of  the  deserted  farms  is  soe  overrun 
with  Sorrel  that  it  is  scarce  quittinge  cost  to  such  whose  neces- 
sities is  such  as  with  us  force  them  to  improve  the  same.  We 
would  not  envy  our  neighbor  townes,  which  are  of  the  risinge 
hand  by  tradinge  or  otherwayes ;  we  rather  wish  theyr  pros- 
perity ;  but  for  ourselves,  we  are  neither  fitted  for  or  inured  to 
any  such  course  of  trade,  but  m.ust  awayte  God's  blessinge  alone 
upon  our  Lands  and  Cattel ;  our  Earnest  Request  therefore  is, 
that  this  honoured  Court,  in  which  is  the  Confluence  of  the 
wisdom,  fidelity,  and  Equity  of  the  Country,  would  please  seri- 
ously to  weigh  the  premises  touching  our  present  estate,  and 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1645.  215 

proportion  out  such  share  of  Publique  Charges,  according  not 
to  our  supposed  but  real  Abilities  which  the  Lord  hath  left  us ; 
and  we  shall  cheerfully  put  too  our  shoulders  and  continue  our 
joynt  prayers  for  you  and  yours.  Resting  yours  to  serve  and 
obey  in  the  Lord."  This  petition  was  signed  by  Thomas  Put- 
nam, Francis  Lightfoot,  Henry  Collins,  William  Longley,  and 
Thomas  Laighton,  selectmen.  The  Court,  in  their  reply,  say: 
"  We  conceive  the  estate  of  lin  should  be  considered ; "  and 
when  they  lay  the  tax,  which  was  X616.15,  they  required  only 
X25  from  Lynn. 

[A  few  facts  regarding  some  of  the  individuals  named  in  the 
foregoing  paragraph,  which  do  not  appear  to  have  fallen  under 
the  eye  of  Mr.  Lewis,  will  be  here  given.  Those  spoken  of  will 
be  distinguished  by  italics. 

[Mr.  Keayne,  seems  to  have  been  Benjamin,  son  of  Robert 
Keayne,  of  Boston,  the  first  captain  of  the  Ancient  and  Honor- 
able Artillery  Company ;  and  he  is  elsewhere  mentioned  in  this 
volume.  He  could  have  been  in  Lynn  but  a  short  time.  His 
wife  was  a  daughter  of  Gov.  Thomas  Dudley.  But  their  con- 
nection proved  to  be  an  unhappy  one.  He  repudiated  her  and 
went  back  to  England.  She  was  excommunicated  in  October, 
1647,  and  became  greatly  reduced  in  position.  Their  only  child, 
Ann,  seems  to  have  inclined  to  the  wayward  paths  her  mother 
trod.  Old  Mr.  Keayne  provided  well  for  the  granddaughter,  by 
his  will,  enjoining,  however,  that  no  part  of  the  property  left 
for  her  should  in  any  event  go  to  her  mother,  and  appointed 
certain  eminent  gentlemen,  with  his  wife,  "  to  dispose  of  her 
for  her  future  education,  to  some  such  wise  and  godly  mistress 
or  family,  where  she  may  have  her  carnal  disposition  most  of  all 
subdued  and  reformed  by  strict  discipline ;  and  also  that  they 
would  show  like  care  and  assistance  in  seasonable  time  to  pro- 
vide some  fit  and  godly  match,  proportionate  to  her  estate  and 
condition,  that  she  may  live  comfortably  and  be  fit  to  do  good 
in  her  place  and  not  to  suffer  her  to  be  circumvented  or  to  cast 
away  herself  upon  some  swaggering  gentleman  or  other,  that 
will  look  more  after  the  enjoying  what  she  hath,  than  live  in  the 
fear  of  God,  and  true  love  to  her." 

[Benjamin  Keayne  had  a  farm  at  Lynn,  which,  in  1646,  was 
under  a  small  mortgage.  Those  two  eminent  divines,  John 
Cotton,  of  Boston,  and  Thomas  Cobbet,  of  Lynn,  were  guardians 
of  a  young  man  named  Theophilus  Skeppar,  and  Mr.  Keayne 
was  indebted  to  this  Skeppar  "  in  y®  sume  of  b\l.  payable  to 
y®  said  Theophi:  at  y®  age  of  21  yeares,"  for  which  payment  he 
had  mortgaged  "  his  farme  at  Linn."  Keayne  afterward  made 
over  all  his  estate  to  his  wife  and  his  father  for  distribution 
among  his  creditors.  Upon  this  the  guardians  became  alarmed, 
apparently  lest  the  assignment  should  supersede  the  mortgage, 


21G  ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1645. 

0 

and  petitioned  the  Court  on  the  subject.  And  the  Court  ordered 
that  the  '•'■  said  farme  in  Linn  shall  not  be  allienated  or  any 
way  disposed  by  y^  wife  or  fath'^  of  M""  Benia:  Keayne,  but 
shall  remain  engaged  for  securing  y®  5U.  to  y®  said  orphan,  at 
y®  age  of  21  yeares  as  is  pvided  in  y®  deed  above  mentioned." 
Benjamin  Keayne  died  in  1658.  His  wife,  who  in  her  low  estate 
had  become  the  wife,  real  or  reputed,  of  a  Mr.  Pacey,  died  in 
1659.     And  Ann,  after  having  had  two  husbands,  died  in  1704. 

[William  Halsey.  I  think  this  must  mean  Thomas  Halsey, 
who  came  here  in  1637.  He  remained  but  a  short  time,  and 
went  to  Southampton.  His  will  was  probated  in  New  York,  in 
1679,  and  in  it  he  names  three  sons  and  a  daughter.  See  the 
name  under  date  1638. 

[John  Coioper.  I  do  not  see  who  this  can  be  unless  it  is  the 
individual  called  John  Cooper,  under  date  1635,  in  the  list  of 
land  distributees,  1638,  and  elsewhere,  who  became  one  of  the 
Southampton  settlers,  and  was  ^'  our  neighbor  John  Cooper," 
licensed,  25  January,  1655,  to  sell  strong  liquor  to  all  the  peo- 
ple there  excepting  Indians  and  such  as  would  not  ''  use  it 
properly.'' 

[Mr.  Wade.  This  was  probably  Samuel  Wade  who  was  here 
in  1641;  the  same  individual  who  was  robbed  by  his  servant 
Richard  Wilson,  of  ''  8L  of  money  &  divers  small  things,"  foi 
which  the  Court  ordered  the  said  Richard  "  to  be  put  fourth  to 
servise  for  3  or  4. yeares  except  hee  can  procure  lOZ. ;  also  hee 
is  to  have  a  T  set  vpon  his  vpmost  garment;  the  servise  is  to 
bee  w*h  his  m'',  if  his  m^  will  have  him,  or  else  to  bee  put  out  by 
the  countrey."  Mr.  Wade  must  have  left  Lynn  before  1645. 
There  was  a  Richard  Wade  here,  for  a  short  time,  about  1637. 

[James  HiMard.  There  was  a  man  of  this  name  here,  in 
1637.  In  1641  he  went  to  Long  Island.  From  the  circum- 
stance that  the  following  mysterious  entry  on  the  Colony  Rec- 
ords, 1  December,  1640,  is  immediately  succeeded  by  two  others 
relating  to  Lynn,  it  is  judged  that  the  individual  in  question 
had  been  complained  of  for  assault  and  battery:  ^' James  Hub- 
bard is  discharged,  the  hurt  being  little,  and  done  unwiting,  the 
other  pressing  upon  him."] 

Some  of  the  inhabitants  of  Lynn  and  Salem  petitioned  the 
Court  for  liberty  to  form  an  independent  company.  The  Court 
gave  permission,  and  a  band  was  formed,  called  "  The  Military 
Company  of  Lynn  and  Salem."  [And  they  were  allowed  to 
assemble  for  military  exercise,  either  in  Lynn  or  Salem,  as 
often  as  they  pleased.] 

At  the  Quarterly  Court,  on  the  5th  of  July,  Samuel  Bennet 
was  presented,  "  for  saying,  in  a  scornful  manner,  he  neither 
cared  for  the  Towne,  nor  any  order  the  Towne  could  make." 

Captain  Robert  Bridges  was  appointed  by  the  Court,  a  com- 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1G45.  217 

missioner  to  negotiate  between  Lord  De  La  Tour  and  Monsieur 
D'Aulney,  the  governors  of  the  French  provinces  on  the  north 
of  New  England.  He  was  accompanied  by  Richard  Walker 
and  Thomas  Marshall.  For  their  "  good  service  "  in  this  em- 
bassy, Captain  Bridges  was  allowed  ten  pounds,  Lieutenant 
Walker  four  pounds,  and  Sergeant  Marshall  forty  shillings. 

[On  the  14th  of  May,  the  Court  chose  Captain  Bridges  and 
four  others  to  draft  bills  for  "  possitive  lawes  "  against  lying, 
sabbath-breaking,  profanity,  drunkenness,  &c.] 

On  the  14th  of  October,  the  Compan}^  of  Undertakers  for  the 
Iron  Works  presented  a  petition  to  the  Court,  which  was  granted. 
As  the  answer  of  the  Court  comprises  some  interesting  informa- 
tion respecting  the  Iron  Works,  it  is  transcribed. 

1.  It  was  granted  and  by  this  Court  ordered,  that  the  undertakers,  their 
agents  and  assigns,  are  hereby  granted  the  sole  privilege  and  benefit  of  making 
L'on  and  managing  of  all  Iron  mines  and  works  that  now  are,  or  shall  be  dis- 
covered and  found  out,  or  hereafter  shall  be  in  this  jurisdiction,  for  the  term 
of  twenty-one  years  from  the  former  grant:  Provided  that  the  said  adventur- 
ers, their  agents  or  assigns,  do,  within  three  years  from  the  former  date,  use 
their  best  endeavors  to  their  utmost  skill  to  perfect  so  many  of  the  said  works, 
that  the  inhabitants  of  this  jurisdiction  be  furnished  with  bar  iron  of  all  sorts 
for  their  use,  not  exceeding  twenty  pounds  per  ton :  Provided,  also,  that  it 
shall  be  in  the  liberty  of  any  within  this  jurisdiction  to  be  adventurers  with 
the  undertakers,  that  by  the  last  day  of  this  October  they  bring  in  their  adven- 
tures, not  less  in  one  man's  name  than  fifty  pounds,  with  allowance  to  the 
adventurers,  for  the  stock  of  one  thousand  pounds  by  them  already  disbursed. 

2.  The  Court  doth  hereby  further  grant  to  the  said  undertakers,  their 
agents  and  assigns,  in  all  places  of  waste  and  lands  not  appropriated  to  any 
town  or  person,  that  the  said  undertakers,  their  agents  or  assigns,  at  all  times 
during  the  said  term  of  twenty-one  years,  shall  and  may  freely  and  at  their 
own  discretion  have  and  take  all  manner  of  wood  and  timber,  to  be  converted 
into  coals,  or  any  other  uses  for  the  semce  of  the  undertakers,  as  also  all 
manner  of  earth,  stones,  turf,  clay,  and  other  materials  for  buildings  and 
reparation  of  their  works,  forges,  mills,  or  houses  built,  or  to  be  built,  or  for 
making  or  moulding  any  manner  of  guns,  pots,  and  all  other  cast-iron  ware, 
and  for  converting  wood  into  charcoal,  and  also  to  get,  dig,  and  carry  away 
of  all  manner  of  stone,  iron  ore,  and  wood  of  all  sorts,  and  any  other  material, 
or  things  of  use  for  their  works,  and  it  is  hereby  also  granted  to  the  said 
undertakers,  their  agents,  or  assigns,  that  they  shall  have  free  liberty  to  make 
all  convenient  ways  and  passages,  as  also  all  manner  of  dams,  watercourses, 
sluices,  ponds  of  water,  in  all  waste  grounds,  or  other  conveyances,  to,  from, 
and  for  the  service  of  the  said  works  built  or  to  be  built  not  appropriated  to 
any  town  or  person,  during  such  time  as  the  said  works  shall  continue :  Pro- 
vided, if  by  any  pond,  sluice,  dam,  or  any  other  work  (though  in  land  appro- 
priated) they  should  spoil,  or  any  ways  prejudice  the  land  appropriated  to  any 
town  or  person,  the  said  undertakers  shall  make  due  and  just  satisfaction. 

3.  Also  the  Court  doth  hereby  further  grant  to  the  said  adventurers,  their 
agents,  or  assigns,  in  all  the  grounds  that  are  or  shall  be  appropriated,  that  the 
said  adventurers,  their  agents,  or  assigns,  shall  have  free  liberty  at  all  times 
during  the  term,  to  dig,  get,  carry  away  all  manner  of  stone,  or  iron  ore,  and 
to  make  and  use  all  convenient  ways  and  sluices,  watercourses,  pools,  dams, 
ponds  of  water,  and  other  conveniences,  to,  from,  and  for  the  service  of  the 
said  works  through  all  the  said  grounds,  that  are  or  hereafter  shall  be  appro- 
priated, (except  houses,  orchards,  not  exceeding  three  acres,  and  yards)  giving 


218  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1645. 


such  due  and  full  recompense  for  the  same  to  the  owners  thereof,  for  the  time 
heing,  as  three  indifferent  men  shall  adjudge,  whereof  one  to  be  appointed  by 
the  said  Court  at  the  next  general  meeting  after  the  undertakers,  their  agents, 
or  assigns,  shall  make  or  use  any  of  the  said  ways,  or  watercourses,  or  other 
particulars  therein  mentioned  for  the  sei-vices  aforesaid,  and  one  other  by  the 
owner  of  the  land,  and  the  third  by  the  undertakers  or  adventurers. 

4.  The  Court  hereby  do  further  grant  unto  the  said  adventurers  and  to 
their  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  so  much  land  now  or  hereafter  to  be  in  this 
jurisdiction,  as  aforesaid,  as  sliall  contain  in  six  places  three  miles  square  in 
each  place,  or  so  much  m  quantity  as  contameth  thi'ee  miles  square  not  exceed- 
ing four  miles  in  length  to  be  set  out  m  such  places  and  parcels,  as  the  said 
undertakers  or  their  agents  shall  make  choice  of,  not  being  already  appropri- 
ated as  aforesaid,  upon  which  said  land  the  said  adventurers  shall  have  free 
liberty  and  hereby  do  undertake  that  within  the  said  term  of  [twenty-one] 
years,  to  search,  set  out,  and  find  convenient  places  within  the  said  compass 
of  land,  for  the  building  and  setting  up  of  six  forges,  or  furnaces,  and  not 
bloomeries  only,  or  so  many  more  as  they  shall  have  occasion  for,  for  the 
making  of  iron  as  aforesaid,  which  they  shall,  (the  u-on  stone  and  other  mate- 
rials appeariAg  proper  and  fit  for  the  makmg  of  non  as  aforesaid,)  build  and 
set  up  within  the  term  aforesaid :  Provided  that  the  Couit  may  grant  a  planta- 
tion in  any  place  where  the  Court  doth  think  meet,  the  undertakers  or  then* 
agents  there  residing  having  first  notice  thereof,  and  not  making  choice  of  the 
same  for  part  of  the  land  to  be  set  out  and  gi-anted  to  them,  for  the  design  of 
planting  the  said  iron  works  and  making  iron  as  aforesaid. 

5.  And  it  is  further  granted  and  ordered  that  what  quantity  of  iron  of  all 
sorts  and  qualities  the  said  adventurers,  then*  agents,  or  assigns,  shall  make 
more  than  the  inhabitants  shall  have  need  or  use  of  for  their  service  to  be 
bought  and  paid  for  by  the  said  inhabitants  as  aforesaid,  they  shall  have  fi-ee 
liberty  to  transport  the  same  by  shipping  to  other  ports  or  places  of  the  world, 
and  to  make  sale  thereof,  in  what  way  and  place  the  said  adventurers  shall 
please,  for  theu'  best  advantage :  Provided  they  sell  it  not  to  any  person  or 
state  in  actual  hostility  with  us. 

6.  It  is  further  gi'anted  and  ordered,  that  the  said  undeitakers,  and  agents, 
and  sei-vants,  shall,  from  the  date  of  their  presents,  have  and  enjoy  all  liber- 
ties and  immunities  whatsoever,  present  or  to  come,  equal  with  any  in  this 
jurisdiction,  according  to  the  laws  and  orders  thereof,  for  the  time  being,  and 
according  to  the  rights  and  privileges  of  the  churches. 

7.  It  is  also  granted,  that  the  undertakers  and  adventurers,  together  with 
their  agents,  sei'vants,  and  assigns,  shall  be  and  are  hereby  free  from  all  taxes, 
assessments,  contributions  and  other  public  charges  whatsoever,  for  so  much 
of  then*  stock  or  goods  as  shall  be  employed  in  and  about  the  said  iron  works, 
for  and  during  the  term  of  [twenty-one]  years  yet  to  come  from  their  presents. 

8.  It  is  also  hereby  further  granted  and  ordered,  that  all  such  clerks  and 
workmen  as  miners,  founders,  finers,  hammer-men  and  colliers,  necessarily 
employed,  or  to  be  employed,  in  and  about  the  said  works,  built  or  to  be  built, 
for  any  the  services  thereof,  shall  from  time  to  time  during  the  term  of  [twen- 
ty-one] years,  be  and  hereby  are  absolutely  freed  and  discharged  of  and  from 
all  ordinary  trainings,  watchings,  etc.,  but  that  eveiy  person  at  all  times  be 
furnished  with  arms,  powder,  shot,  etc.,  according  to  order  of  Court. 

9.  Lastly.  It  is  ordered  by  the  Court,  that  in  all  places  where  any  iron 
work  is  set  up,  remote  from  a  church  or  congi-egation,  unto  which  they  cannot 
conveniently  come,  that  the  undertakers  shall  provide  some  good  means  where- 
by then-  families  may  be  instructed  in  the  knowledge  of  God,  by  such  as  the 
Court  or  standing  council  shall  approve  of" 

On  the  22d  of  December,  "  Thomas  Hudson  of  Linne,  granted 
unto  Thos.  Hutchinson  of  Linne,  sixty  acres  of  ground,  amongst 
the  ffurnaces,  adjoyning  to  Goodman  Townsend's  ffarme.'^ 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1646.  219 

A  book  was  written  this  year,  by  Rev.  Nathaniel  Ward,  of 
Ipswich,  which  attracted  much  attention.  It  is  entitled,  "  The 
Simple  Cobler  of  Aggawam,  willing  to  help  mend  his  Native 
Country,  lamentably  tattered,  both  in  Upper  Leather  and  Sole, 
with  all  the  honest  Stitches  he  can  take."  It  abounds  in  pun- 
gent w^it  and  satire,  interspersed  with  much  good  sense.  He  is 
particularly  severe  on  those  w4io  cause  innovations  in  religion, 
and  deny  the  rite  of  infant  baptism.  He  says,  "  The  removing 
of  some  one  iota  in  scripture,  may  draw  out  all  the  life,  and 
traverse  all  the  truths  of  the  Bible.  To  authorize  an  untruth 
by  a  toleration  of  state,  is  to  build  a  sconce  against  the  walls 
of  heaven,  to  batter  God  out  of  his  chair  !  "  His  book  concludes 
wita  the  following  stanza: 

And  farewell,  Simple  World, 

If  thou  'It  thy  cranium  mend, 
Tliere  is  my  Last  and  Awl, 

And  a  Shoemaker's  End. 

1646. 

The  proprietors  of  the  Iron  Works,  in  the  beginning  of  this 
year,  made  an  agreement  with  Thomas  Dexter,  for  opening  a 
new  water-course,  and  enlarging  the  pond.  They  purchased 
^'  all  that  parcell  of  land  neere  adjacent  to  the  Grantor's  house, 
which  shall  necessarily  be  overflowed  by  reason  of  a  pond  of 
water,  there  included,  to  be  stopped  to  the  height  agreed  on 
betwixt  them  ;  and  sufficient  for  a  w'ater-course  intended  to  be 
erected,  together  with  the  land  lyinge  betweene  the  ould  water- 
course and  the  new  one,  And  also  five  acres  and  halfe  in  the 
cornfield  next  the  Grantor's  house,"  for  which  they  allowed  £40. 
They  agreed  to  make  a  fence  "  toward  Captain  Bridges's  house," 
with  ^' a  sufficient  cart  bridge  over  the  said  water-course,"  and 
"to  allow  sufficient  water  in  the  ould  river  for  the  Alew^ives  to 
come  to  the  wyres  before  the  Grantor's  house."  This  extension 
of  the  pond  caused  it  to  overflow  tlyi'ee  acres  of  land  belonging 
to  Mr.  Adam  Hawkes.  The  whole  amount  purchased  w^as  forty- 
five  acres. 

Thomas  Dexter's  house  stood  at  some  distance  above  the 
Iron  Works,  on  the  left.  The  present  road  to  the  northward 
runs  through  the  bed  of  the  old  pond.  This  year  the  dam  was 
moved  farther  up  the  river,  and  a  little  canal  was  dug  from  the 
pond,  and  brought  along  on  the  high  ground,  until  it  reached 
the  foundry.  This  canal  was  the  "  new  water-course "  men- 
tioned in  the  preceding  agreement. 

On  the  18th  of  February,  Mr.  William  Witter  was  presented 
at  the  Quarterly  Court  "  ffor  saying  that  they  who  stayed  while 
a  Childe  is  baptized,  doe  worshipp  the  dy vill ;  also  Henry  CoL 
lens   and   Mathew  West,  deling  with   him   about   the   former 


220  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1646. 

speeche,  he  speaks  to  them  after  this  manner,  That  they  who 
stayed  at  the  baptising  of  a  Childe,  did  take  the  name  of  the 
Father,  Sonn,  and  holly  ghost  in  vaine  and  broke  the  Saboth, 
and  confesseth  and  justifieth  his  former  speech.  Sentence  of 
Court  is,  an  Iniunction  next  Lord's  day,  being  faire,  that  he 
make  a  pubhqiie  confession  to  Satisfaction,  in  the  open  congre- 
gation at  hyn,  or  else  to  answer  it  at  the  next  General  Court. 
And  concerning  his  opinion,  the  court  hath  yet  patience  toward 
him,  till  they  see  if  he  be  obstinate,  and  only  admonish  him." 

By  permission  of  the  Court,  Mr.  Leader  purchased  some  of 
^'  the  country's  Gunnes,"  to  melt  over  at  the  iron  foundry. 

[The  General  Court,  6  May,  passed  an  order  forbidding  the 
smoking  of  tobacco,  out  of  doors,  under  a  penalty  of  two  shil- 
lings for  every  offence,  besides  recompense  for  all  damage  that 
might  be  occasioned ;  "  pvided,  nevertheles,  y*  it  shalbe  lawfuU 
for  any  man  y*  is  on  his  iourny  (remote  from  any  house  five 
miles)  to  take  tobacco,  so  that  thereby  he  sets  not  y®  woods  on 
fire  to  y®  damage  of  any  man."  To  avoid  the  inconvenience  of 
this  order  it  is  probable  that  the  gracious  dames  allowed  a  com- 
forting whiflf  now  and  then  to  be  taken  in  their  capacious  chim- 
ney corners.] 

*0n  the  10th  of  June,  Mr.  Joseph  Jenks  presented  a  petition 
that  the  Court  would  patronise  his  improvements  in  mills,  and 
the  manufacture  of  sythes.  "  In  Answer  to  a  petition  of  Joseph 
Jencks  for  liberty  to  make  experience  of  his  abillityes  and  In- 
ventions for  the  making  of  engines  for  mills,  to  goe  with  water, 
for  the  more  speedy  dispatch  of  worke  than  formerly,  and  mills 
for  the  making  of  sithes  and  other  edge  tooles,  with  a  new 
Invented  sawemill,  that  things  may  be  afforded  cheaper  than 
formerly,  and  that  for  fourteen  yeeres  without  disturbance  by 
any  other's  setting  up  the  like  Invention,  that  so  his  study  and 
costs  may  not  be  in  vayne  or  lost,  this  peticon  was  graunted, 
so  as  power  is  still  left  to  restrayne  the  exportation  of  such 
manufactures,  and  to  moderate  the  prizes  thereof,  if  occacon  so 
require." 

Mr.  Daniel  King  complained  to  the  Court  that  his  goods  had 
been  taken,  to  the  amount  of  fifty  shillings,  b}^  "  the  captain  of 
y®  trayned  band  of  Lin,  for  supposed  neglect  of  trayning,  he 
being  lame,  and  willing  to  find  a  suflScient  man."  The  Court 
ordered  him  to  pay  the  fifty  shillings  for  the  past,  and  ten  shil- 
lings, annually,  for  the  future.  [But  by  the  proceedings  of  the 
General  Court,  in  May,  it  is  found  that  "  for  time  to  come,  this 
Courte  doth  discharge  h.im,  in  regard  of  his  bodily  infirmity, 
from  attendance  vpon  ordinary  traynings,  for  any  service  in 
armes."     And  nothing  is  said  about  fines.] 

Much  damage  was  done  to  the  corn,  wheat,  and  barley,  this 
summer,  by  a  species  of  large  black  caterpillar. 


ANNALS    OP    LYNN — 1646.  221 

On  the  4th  of  August,  Mr,  Thomas  Dexter  was  presented  at 
the  Quarterly  Court  ^'  for  a  common  sleeper,"  in  meetings  for 
public  worship,  and  fined. 

[Joseph  Armitage  petitioned  the  Court  to  license  "  to  draw- 
wine,"  whoever  the  town  should  choose  for  that  purpose.  The 
Court  allowed  the  choice  to  be  made,  and  provided  that  the 
one  chosen  might  act  till  the  next  sitting,  at  which  he  might  be 
presented  for  confirmation.  Nicholas  Potter  was  chosen,  and 
at  the  next  Court  duly  licensed.] 

The  proprietors  of  the  Iron  Works  addressed  a  letter  to  the 
Court,  in  May,  which  was  answered  in  September.  In  their 
repl}^  the  Court  say,  "  We  acknowledge  with  you  that  such  a 
staple  comodity  as  Iron  is  a  great  meanes  to  enrich  the  place 
where  it  is,  both  by  furnishing  this  place  with  that  comodity  at 
reasonable  rates,  and  by  bringing  in  other  necessary  comoditys 
in  exchange  of  Iron  exported,  but  as  we  use  to  say,  if  a  man 
lives  where  an  axe  is  worth  but  12d.,  yet  it  is  never  the  cheaper 
to  him  who  cannot  get  12d.  to  buy  one.  So  if  your  Iron  may 
not  be  had  heere  without  ready  mony,  what  advantage  will  that 
be  to  us  if  wee  have  no  money  to  purchase  it.  Itt  is  true  some 
men  have  here  Spanish  mony  sometimes,  but  little  comes  to  our 
Smiths  hands,  especially  those  of  inland  tonnes.  What  monyes 
our  Smithes  cann  gett  you  may  be  sure  to  have  it  before  any 
other;  if  we  must  want  iron  so  often  as  our  mony  failes,  you 
may  easily  Judge  if  it  were  not  better  for  us  to  Procure  it  from 
other  places  by  our  corne  and  pipe  staves,  &c.  then  to  depend 
on  the  coming  in  of  mony  which  is  never  so  plentifull  as  to 
supply  for  the  occacon." 

In  October,  Captain  Robert  Bridges  was  chosen  Speaker  of 
the  House  of  Representatives. 

On  the  night  of  the  4th  of  November,  "  began  a  most  dread- 
ful tempest  at  northeast,  with  wind  and  rain."  The  roof  of  Lady 
Moody's  house,  at  Salem,  was  blown  off.     (Winthrop.) 

At  the  Court,  this  month,  ''  on  the  motion  of  the  Deputies 
of  the  towne  of  Linne :  It  is  ordered  that  there  shalbe  once  a 
weeke  a  market  kept  there  on  every  third  day  of  the  weeke, 
being  their  lecture  day." 

[The  courts  had  been  for  some  time  vexed  by  a  suit  — Taylor 
against  King  —  brought  to  recover  damages  for  the  goring  to 
death  of  the  plaintiff's  mare,  by  the  defendant's  bull,  which 
was  decided  this  year.  Considerable  evidence  as  to  the  vicious 
character  of  the  bull  was  introduced.  And  some  of  the  pecu- 
liar customs  of  the  time  are  so  graphically  exhibited  that  a  few 
passages  of  the  testimony  will  be  given.  Robert  Bridges  says: 
"  .  .  .  myself  being  on  horseback  with  my  wyfe  behinde  me, 
y®  s*^  Bull  stood  in  the  high  way  as  I  was  riding  a  Longe.  When 
I  came  up  to  the  Bull,  not  knowing  whos  beast  it  was,  neither 


222  ANNALS    OP    LYNN — 1647. 

thinking  of  any  opposition,  I  struck  at  the  bull,  w*h  my  stick, 
to  put  him  out  of  the  way ;  ymediately  y®  bull  made  att  my 
mare,  and  placed  his  home  vpon  her  shoulder,  and  had  well 
nigh  overthrone  both  the  mare  and  his  riders;  and  although  I 
endevored  to  shunne  y^  bull,  yet  he  still  so  prest  vpon  mee  y'  I 
cannot  but  conceave  had  not  the  neareman  bin  att  hand  to 
beat  him  off  that  some  hurt  had  bin  done,  either  to  o^selves  or 
my  mare,  or  both ;  but  gods  good  hand  better  provided."  Ann 
Knight  testified  that  "  shee  dwelling  with  wid.  Tayler,  did  see 
her  mare  alive,  the  evening  before,  eating  chaffe  where  they 
had  bene  winnowing  corne  :  and  the  next  morning,  about  breake 
of  day,  she  saw  the  bull  in  the  roade  where  the  mare  used  to 
ly,  and  the  bull  seeing  her,  went  away,  she  thinking  nothing 
of  any  harme  done  by  him ;  then  going  into  the  house  with  a 
few  stickes  for  the  fire,  she  came  presently  out  againe  and  saw 
the  mare  lying  in  the  roade  with  her  body  lying  on  one  side,'* 
with  her  entrails  out,  and  "  that  there  was  no  other  cattell  in  the 
yard,  but  only  the  colt  of  that  mare.  Shee  also  testifieth  that 
shee  helped  to  dresse  the  same  mare  of  a  former  wound  that 
was  very  deepe."  The  judgment  in  the  case  was  as  follows: 
"  Bost.  7.:  3  :  1646.  It  was  agreed  that  in  the  Judgm*  of  Lawe, 
it  is  to  be  concluded  that  y^  bull  did  kill  y^  mare,  and  y*  y®  own- 
er of  y®  Bull,  upon  such  notice  as  he  had,  ought  to  have  taken 
order  to  prevent  any  future  mischief"  ..."  Salem,  18  5mo. 
1646.  The  magistrates  assembled  at  Salem,  doe  judge  y*^  m'^ 
King  shall  pay  halfe  the  valine  of  the  mare  unto  m^  Tayler,  w''  is 
Judged  to  bee  7X,  that  is,  according  to  the  rate  of  14£  for  the 
mare,  shee  being  great  with  foale,  with  a  mare  foale." 

[The  winter  of  this  year  was  thought  to  be  the  coldest  since 
the  settlement  commenced.] 

1647. 

On  the  20th  of  January,  Richard  Leader  sold  to  Joseph  Jenks, 
the  privilege  to  build  a  forge  at  the  Iron  Works,  for  the  manu- 
facture of  sythes. 

On  the  26th  of  May,  Capt.  Robert  Bridges  was  chosen  an 
Assistant. 

In  June,  an  epidemic  sickness  prevailed  through  the  whole 
country,  supposed  to  have  been  the  influenza. 

In  October,  the  Court  ordered,  that  every  town  containing 
fifty  families,  should  have  a  school  for  reading  and  writing ;  and 
that  all  towns  containing  one  hundred  families,  should  maintain 
a  grammar  school. 

An  order  was  passed,  that  if  any  young  man  should  address 
a  young  woman,  without  the  consent  of  her  parents,  or  in  their 
absence,  of  the  county  court,  he  should  be  fined  five  pounds. 

The  Court  fixed  the  prices  of  grain  to  be  received  for  taxes ; 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1648.  223 

Indian  corn  at  3s.,  rye  and  peas  at  3s.  6d.,  barley  at  4s.,  and  wheat 
at  4s.  6d.  a  bushel. 

[The  Court,  11  Nov.,  designated  the  marks  by  which  cattle 
and  horses  owned  in  the  different  towns  should  be  branded. 
The  brand  was  to  be  on  one  of  the  near  quarters.  An  L  was  to 
be  on  those  belonging  to  Lynn. 

[Sarah  Ellis,  of  Lynn,  was  presented  at  the  Salem  court,  for 
not  living  with  her  husband  for  eight  years.  But  it  appear- 
ing that  he  abused  her,  while  they  lived  together,  she  was 
acquitted. 

[Elizabeth  Lambert,  wife  of  Michael  Lambert,  of  Lynn,  was 
presented  "  for  brewinge  on  the  Lord's  da}^  But  it  appearing 
to  the  Court  that  she  breweing  on  the  last  day  did  leave  some 
things  to  finish  on  the  Lord's  day ;  sentence  of  the  Court  is  an 
admonition,  and  to  pay  for  witnesses,  3s.  4d.,  and  2s.  6cl.  fees  of 
court.] 

Among  the  presentments  at  the  Quarterly  Court,  was  the 
following.  December  14:  "The  town  of  Lynn,  for  want  of  a 
staff  for  the  constable." 

December  29 :  "  John  Turner,  living  at  the  Iron  Workes,  at 
Lin,  being  convicted  before  the  Court  for  stabbing  Sara  Turner, 
his  daughter-in-law  —  the  sentence  of  Court  is,  that  he  shall  be 
severely  whipped." 

1648. 

Mr.  Edmund  Ingalls,  the  first  white  inhabitant  of  Lynn,  was 
drowned,  in  March,  in  cros.-^ing  Saugus  river.  Soon  after,  "Rob- 
ert Ingalls,  with  the  rest  of  his  brethren  and  sisters,  being  eight 
in  number,"  petitioned  the  General  Court,  "  That  w^hereas  their 
father  hath  been  deprived  of  life  by  the  insufficiency  of  Lynn 
Bridge,  that  according  to  the  law  in  such  cases,  there  shall  be 
an  hundred  pounds  forfeited  to  the  next  heir."  This  was  grant- 
ed. It  was  in  conformity  with  an  old  British  law,  established 
by  Howell  the  Good,  King  of  Wales,  by  which  the  value  of  each 
person's  life  was  nominally  fixed,  and  so  much  money  paid,  in 
case  of  his  being  killed. 

On  the  23d  of  March,  the  Court  allowed  the  town  twenty 
pounds  toward  repairing  the  "  great  bridge  "  over  Saugus  river. 
On  the  18th  of  October,  thirty  shillings  were  granted  annually 
for  the  same  purpose. 

On  the  27th  of  April,  Capt.  Robert  Bridges's  house,  near  the 
Iron  Works,  was  burned.     (Winthrop.) 

[The  following  license  was  granted  on  the  10th  of  May : 
"Whereas,  Mr.  Downings  farme.  in  the  way  between  Linn  and 
Ipswich  is  a  convenient  place  for  the  releife  of  travellers, 
it  is  ordered  that  Mr.  Downings  tenant  shall  have  liberty  to 
keepe  an  ordinary,  his  said  tenant  being  such  an  one  as  the 


224  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1649. 

towne  of  Salem  shall  approve  for  that  impliment."  (Col.  Recs.) 
Mr.  Downing's  farm  was  next  to  Endicott's.] 

In  June,  Margaret  Jones,  of  Charlestown,  was  executed  at 
Boston,  for  a  witch.  This  was  the  first  execution  for  this  of 
fence,  in  New  England,  and  should  have  been  the  last. 

In  a  letter  to  his  son,  dated  4  August,  Mr.  Winthrop  remarks: 
"  The  iron  work  goeth  on  with  more  hope.  It  yields  now  about 
7  tons  per  week,  but  it  is  most  out  of  that  brown  earth  which 
lies  under  the  bog  mine.  They  tried  another  mine,  and  after 
24  hours  they  had  a  sum  of  about  500,  which,  when  they  brake, 
they  conceived  to  be  a  5th  part  silver.  There  is  a  grave  man 
of  good  fashion  come  now  over  to  see  how  things  stand  here. 
He  is  one  who  hath  been  exercised  in  iron  works."  In  another 
letter,  30  September,  he  says,  "  The  furnace  runs  8  tons  per 
week,  and  their  bar  iron  is  as  good  as  Spanish.  The  adventur- 
ers in  England  sent  over  one  Mr.  Dawes  to  oversee  Mr.  Leader, 
but  he  is  far  short  of  Mr.  Leader.  They  could  not  agree,  so  he 
is  returned  by  Teneriflfe." 

[The  inhabitants  of  Lynn  desired  the  Court  to  give  them  a 
right  understanding  of  a  clause  in  a  grant  to  the  undertakers 
of  the  Iron  Works,  concerning  taxes.  They  wished  to  know 
what  was  intended  ''by  ffreedome  from  all  publicke  taxes,  as- 
sessments, and  contributions ;  whether  particular  town  taxes, 
(fee.  both  civill  and  ecclesiasticall.'^  The  Court  resolved  that  the 
meaning  was  to  include  "  rates,  levies,  or  assessments  of  the 
common  wealth,  and  not  of  the  town  or  church." 

[Joseph  Armitage  was  licensed  to  sell  wine  for  the  year,  for 
twenty  nobles.] 

1649. 

[William  Hooke,  of  Salisbury,  conveys  to  Samuel  Bennet, 
of  Lynn,  15  March,  "all  that  upland  that  was  given  him  by 
arbitration  betwixt  Thomas  Dexter  and  him  or  his  father  Hum- 
phrey Hooke."  Humphrey  Hooke  was  probably  the  Bristol 
alderman  referred  to  as  mortgagee  of  some  of  Mr.  Dexter's 
lands,  under  date  1640.] 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Cobbet  preached  the  Election  Sermon 
before  the  Court,  on  the  3d  of  May.  [And  it  was  voted  that 
"M^  Speaker,  in  the  name  of  the  Howse  of  Deputyes,  render 
M'^  Cobbett  the  thankes  of  the  howse  for  his  worthy  paines  in 
his  sermon  w'^'^,  at  the  desire  of  this  howse,  he  preached  on  the 
day  of  eleccon,  and  declare  to  him  it  is  their  desire  he  would 
print  it  heere  or  elswhere."] 

On  the  10th,  the  Governor  and  Assistants,  among  whom  was 
Captain  Robert  Bridges,  signed  a  protestation  against  the  pre- 
vailing custom  of  wearing  long  hair,  ''after  the  manner  of  ruffians 
and  barbarous  Indians." 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1650.  225 

On  the  7th  of  September,  Nicholas  Pinion  was  presented  at 
the  Quarterly  Court,  for  swearing.  "  The  deposition  of  Quin- 
ten  Pray.  This  deponent  saith,  that  meeting  with  Nicholas 
Pinion  the  last  Lord's  day,  cominge  out  of  his  corne,  hee  heard 
the  said  Pinion  sware  all  his  pumpkins  were  turned  to  squashes." 
The  Court,  as  a  comment  upon  Mr.  Johnson's  text,  (p.  33,  old 
edition,)  'Met  no  man  make  a  jest  at  pumpkins,"  fined  him. 
[Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Pinion,  was,  a  year  or  two  before 
this,  indicted  for  adultery,  which  was  then  a  capital  offence. 
She  was,  however,  acquitted  of  the  graver  charge ;  but  the 
Court,  13  May,  1648,  sentenced  her  for  swearing  and  lewd  beha- 
vior, to  ''  be  sevearly  whipt  twise,  first  at  Boston  and  then 
agayne  at  Lin,  within  one  month  after."] 

On  the  11th  of  September,  Matthew  Stanley  was  tried  for 
winning  the  affections  of  John  Tarbox's  daughter,  without  the 
consent  of  her  parents.  He  was  fined  £5,  with  2s.  6d.  fees. 
The  parents  of  the  young  woman  were  allowed  6s.  for  their 
attendance,  three  days. 

1650. 

In  the  preceding  pages,  I  have  given  the  names  of  every 
man  whom  I  found  in  Lynn  before  the  year  1650,  excepting 
those  who  staid  but  a  short  time,  and  left  to  settle  in  other 
places.  I  shall  here  give  a  list  of  a  few  more  names,  which  I 
find  before  the  year  1690,  and  after  that  time  they  become  too 
numerous  to  be  continued.  [But  after  all,  a  great  many  escaped 
the  notice  of  Mr.  Lewis.  And  I  began  to  prepare  a  list  of  addi- 
tions, following  his  plan  of  giving  brief  notices.  It  was  soon 
found,  however,  that  even  this  would  require  more  space  than 
could  be  allowed.  And  hence,  it  was  concluded  to  say  a  word 
or  two  concerning  a  few  whose  lives  became  of  importance  in 
our  history,  and  then  prepare  as  complete  a  list  as  possible  of 
the  surnames  of  all  settlers  down  to  the  year  1700.  Such  a  list 
will  be  found  at  the  close  of  the  volume.  And  it  cannot  be 
doubted  that  it  will  prove  useful  as  the  foundation  for  future 
inquiries.  It  would  be  altogether  too  venturesome  to  claim 
tbat  the  list  is  perfect,  though  great  labor  and  care  have  been 
bestowed  upon  it.] 

Samuel  Appleton,  Jr.  —  was  here  from  1677  to  1688,  in  con- 
nection with  the  Iron  Works,  which  he  owned  at  that  time.  He 
was  a  descendant  of  John  Appulton,  who  died  at  Great  Wal- 
dingfield,  in  1414.  The  following  record  of  the  family  is  from 
the  old  volume  of  Lynn  Records  which  was  discovered  by  mo, 
after  it  had  been  lost  for  many  years.  ''  Mr.  Samuell  Apleton, 
Junior,  and  Mis  Elizabeth  Whittingham,  the  Daughter  of  Mr. 
William  Whittingham,  Marchant,  in  Boston,  was  married  the 
19th  of  June,  1682.     Mary,  the  Daughter  of  Mr.  Samuell  Ap 

15 


226  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1650. 

pleton  and  of  Elizabeth  his  wiife,  was  born  into  this  world  the  30 
of  March,  1683.  Hannah,  ther  Daughter,  was  born  the  first  of 
November,  1684.  Elizabeth,  their  daughter,  was  Born  the 
10  of  July,  1687."  He  removed  to  Boston  in  1688  ;  and  was 
the  ancestor  of  the  very  respectable  family  of  Appletons  in  that 
city. 

William  Baeber  —  married  Elizabeth  Kirk,  4  May,  1673.  He 
had  two  children;  Elizabeth,  born  1  Nov.  1673;  William,  b.  8 
Jan.  1674. 

Thomas  Beal  —  had  two  sons.  William  married  widow  Mary 
Hart,  5  March,  1684.  Samuel  married  Patience  Lovell,  March 
28,  1682. 

Thomas  Berry  —  whose  wife's  name  was  Elizabeth  —  had  two 
sons  ;  Thomas,  born  14  March,  1695  ;  and  Samuel,  born  25  June, 
1697.     His  descendants  remain. 

John  Blaney  —  married  Elizabeth  Purchis,  in  November, 
1678.  He  had  a  son  Joseph,  whose  descendants  live  at  Swamp- 
scot. 

Samuel  Bly  —  married  Lois  Ivory,  19  Dec.  1678,  and  died 
31  Dec.  1693.     He  had  two  sons,  Theophilus  and  Samuel. 

Thomas  Brewer  —  married  Elizabeth  Graves,  4  Dec.  1682, 
and  had  six  children ;  Mar}^,  Rebecca,  Mary  again,  Crispus,  Tho- 
mas, and  John. 

John  Henry  Burchsted  —  a  native  of  Silesia  —  married  Mary, 
widow  of  Nathaniel  Kertland,  24  April,  1690.  Henry,  his  son, 
was  born  3  Oct.  1690.  They  were  both  eminent  physicians, 
and  lived  on  the  south  side  of  Essex  street,  between  High  and 
Pearl.  [There  were  two  sons,  both  physicians.  One  was  a 
surgeon  in  the  British  Navy ;  the  other  was  Dr.  Henry,  of  Lynn, 
who  also  had  a  son  Henry,  a  physician.]  Dr.  John  Henry 
Burchsted  died  20  Sept.  1721,  aged  64.  The  following  is  his 
epitaph : 

Silesia  to  New  England  sent  this  man, 
To  do  then-  all  that  any  healer  can, 
But  he  who  conquered  all  diseases  must 
Find  one  who  throws  him  down  into  the  dust. 
A  chemist  near  to  an  adeptist  come, 
Leaves  here,  chrown  by,  his  caput  mortuum. 
Reader,  physicians  die  as  others  do ; 
Prepare,  for  thou  to  this  art  hastening  too. 

Thomas  Burrage  —  married  in  1687,  and  had  six  children; 
Elizabeth,  John,  Thomas,  Mary,  Bethiah,  and  Ruth. 

John  Coats  —  married  Mary  Witherdin,  14  April,  1681,  and 
had  two  children,  Mary  and  John. 

Philip  Gifford  —  married  Mary  Davis,  30  June,  1684.  He 
had  two  children,  Philip  and  Mary. 

Zaccheus  Gould  —  had  a  son  Daniel,  born  about  1650,  who 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1650.  227 

married  a  lady  whose  name  was  Elizabeth,  and  who  died  3  Aug. 
1691. 

John  Gowing  —  was  married  in  1682;  his  wife's  name  was 
Joanna,  and  he  had  seven  children ;  John,  Thomas,  Elizabeth, 
Samuel,  Joanna,  Lois,  and  Timothy. 

Samuel  Hart  —  married  Mary  Witteridge,  29  Jan.  1673,  and 
had  two  children  ;  John  and  William.  [In  a  deposition  of  Mr. 
Hart,  sworn  to  27  Oct.  1653,  he  calls  himself  about  thirty-one 
years  of  age,  and  says  that  he  was  sent  over  by  the  Company, 
to  the  Iron  Works.  The  two  sons  mentioned  by  Mr.  Lewis 
were  children  by  his  second  wife,  and  both  died  young.  He 
had  a  previous  wife,  also  named  Mary,  who  died  24  Dec,  1671, 
by  whom  he  had  children  —  Mary,  who  died  in  1657;  Hannah, 
born  in  April,  1657;  Joseph  b.  10  April,  1659;  Abigail,  b.  15 
Nov.  1660;  John,  b.  3  Aug.  1666,  who  died  the  next  year;  Re- 
becca, b.  27  Jan.  1668;  Ezekiel,  b.  28  April,  1669,  who  died  in 
infancy.  Savage  seems  to  think  his  second  wife  was  Mary 
Whiting.  But  I  have  no  doubt  Mr.  Lewis  is  correct  in  stating 
it  to  be  Witteridge.  Mr.  Hart  himself  died  25  June,  1683.  The 
son  Joseph,  named  as  born  10  April,  1659,  married,  24  June, 
1685,  Ruth  Chadwell,  and  had  children  —  Ruth,  born  4  July, 
1687;  Joseph,  b.  12  Sept.  1689;  Moses,  b.  25  Dec.  1691;  Elias, 
b.  30  Sept.  1695;  Ruth,  again,  b.  3  April,  1697;  Aaron,  b.  17 
Aug.  1700;  Edmund,  b.  18  Oct.  1702;  Benjamin,  b.  21  April, 
1705  ;  Samuel,  b.  15  Nov.  1707.  This  last  named  Samuel  mar- 
ried Phebe  Ivory,  and  the  Joseph  spoken  of  on  another  page, 
was  a  child  by  this  marriage.  He,  Joseph,  married  Eunice, 
daughter  of  Samuel  Burrill,  and  granddaughter,  of  Hon.  Ebene- 
zer,  whose  farm  embraced  the  beautiful  estate  of  E.  R  Mudge, 
at  Swampscot,  and  had  children  —  Anna,  born  12  April,  1767; 
(who  married  Joseph  Lye,  and  was  grandmother  of  Amos  P. 
Tapley,  president  of  the  City  Bank) ;  Joseph,  b.  1  Nov.  1768 ; 
Eunice,  b.  8  Oct.  1770;  (who  married  David  Tufts,  who  for  many 
years  ran  an  express  wagon  to  Marblehead,  and  was  the  first 
regular  Lynn  express  driver) ;  Phebe,  b.  12  June,  1773  ;  Burrill, 
b.  12  Nov.  1775  ;  Samuel,  b.  2  May,  1778  ;  Sarah,  b.  24  Jan.  1781 ; 
(mother  of  the  writer);  John,  b.  8  Dec.  1783;  Joseph  Burrill,  b. 
8  Oct.  1788.  The  Aaron  named  above  as  born  17  Aug.  1700, 
was  father  of  Edmund  Hart,  who  built  the  famous  frigate  Con- 
stitution. For  something  further  concerning  the  Harts  see 
other  dates.] 

Thomas  Ivory  —  had  two  sons,  Thomas  and  John.  He  died 
18  July,  1690.  [Mr.  Ivory  came  in  1638.  His  wife's  name  was 
Ann,  and  he  had  daughters,  Lois,  Ruth,  and  Sarah.  Lois  mar- 
ried, 10  May,  1656,  John  Burrill,  and  was  the  favored  mother' 
of  Hon.  John  Burrill,  the  *^  beloved  speaker,"  and  Hon.  Ebene- 
zer,  his  brother;  notices  of  whom  may  be  found  elsewhere  in 


228  ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1650. 

this  volume.  Ruth  married  Theophilus  Bailey,  and  Sarah  mar 
ried  Moses  Chadwell.] 

Daniel  King  —  married  widow' Elizabeth  Corwin,  of  Salem. 
He  died  27  May,  1672.  His  widow,  Elizabeth,  died  26  Feb. 
1677.  He  lived  at  Swampscot,  and  bought  a  large  portion  of 
Mr.  Humfrey's  farm.  He  had  two  sons ;  Daniel  married  Tabitha 
Walker,  11  March,  1662.  Ralph  married  Elizabeth  Walker,  2 
March,  1663.  [It  appears  by  the  records  that  this  Elizabeth 
Corwin,  or  Curwen,  as  Mr.  Lewis  elsewhere  spells  it,  was  not  a 
widow  till  3  Jan.  1685 ;  and  in  1694,  she  was  still  living  as  the 
widow  Elizabeth  Corwin.] 

John  Lyscom  —  had  a  son,  Samuel,  born  16  Sept.  1693. 

Daniel  Needham  —  married  in  1673,  and  had  five  children; 
Elizabeth,  Edmund,  Daniel,  Ruth,  and  Mary. 

Ezekiel  Needham  —  married  Sarah  King,  27  Oct.  1669,  and 
had  five  children  ;  Edmund,   Sarah,  Ezekiel,  Daniel,  and   Ralph. 

[Mr.  Lewis  is  evidently  in  error  about  these  two  Needhams. 
They  were  doubtless  sons  of  Edmund  Needham,  who  came  to 
Lynn  in  1639,  and  the  same  mentioned  in  his  will  copied  under 
date  1640.  Daniel  married  Ruth  Chadwell,  24  Feb.  1659,  and 
had  children,  Daniel,  born  in  1665;  Judith,  b.  1667;  Ezekiel,  b. 
1670;  Mary,  b.  1672:  Elizabeth,  b.  1675 ;  Edmund,  b.  1677; 
Daniel  and  Ruth,  twins,  b.  1680.  And  EzekieVs  children  were, 
Edmund,  born  in  1670;  a  child  born  in  1673,  who  died  in  inflmcy ; 
Sarah,  b.  1674;  Ezekiel,  b.  1676,  who  survived  but  a  short  time ; 
Ezekiel  again,  b.  1677;  Daniel,  b.  1680;  Ralph,  b.  1682.  I  do 
not  see  how  the  error  of  placing  DaniePs  marriage  in  1673,  oc- 
curred.] 

Thomas  Norwood  —  married  Mary  Brown,  24  Aug.  1685,  and 
had  six  children ;  Francis,  Ebenezer,  Mary,  Thomas,  Mary,  and 
Jonathan. 

George  Oaks  —  had  five  children,  by  his  wife  Janet;  John, 
born  31  July,  1664,  Mary,  Richard,  Sarah,  Elizabeth,  and  George. 

Samuel  Penfield  —  married  Mary  Lewis,  30  Nov.  1675,  and 
had  two  children,  Samuel  and  Mary. 

John  Perkins  —  married  Anna  Hutchinson,  29  Aug.  1695, 
and  had  five  children ;  Anna,  John,  Elizabeth,  Mary,  and  Wil- 
liam. 

John  Person  —  had  Eleven  children;  James,  born  28  Nov. 
1680,  Tabitha,  John,  Rebecca,  Kendall,  Susanna,  Mary,  Thomas, 
Ebenezer,  Sarah,  and  Abigail. 

John  Phillips  —  had  two  children;  John,  born  3  Dec.  1689; 
Hannah,  b.  6  June,  1694.  He  lived  at  Swampscot,  and  his 
wife's  name  was  Hannah.     He  died  29  Sept.  1694. 

William  Robinson  —  had  three  sons;  William,  born  7  Oct. 
1683;  Aquila;  John. 

Henry  Silsbe  —  had  three   sons ;  Jonathan  married  Bethia 


ANNALS    OF   LYNN — 1651.  229 

Marsh,  1  Jan.  1673  ;  Samuel  married  Mary  Bistow,  4  July,  1676  ; 
Henry  married  Grace  Eaton,  18  Nov.  1680. 

Henry  Stagey  —  had  five  children;  William,  born  3  Jan.  1674 ; 
Henry,  b.  1  April,  1677;  Sarah,  b.  3  Jan.  1678;  Ebenezer,  b. 
4  Jan.  1680  ;  John,  b.  30  Oct.  1682. 

[John  Yinton  —  settled  in  Lynn  as  early  as  1648,  and  was 
in  some  way  connected  with  the  Iron  Works.  His  wife's  name 
was  Ann,  and  his  children  were,  Eleanor,  born  in  May,  1648  ; 
John,  b.  2  March,  1650;  Wilham,  b.  in  April,  1652;  Blaise,  b. 
22  April,  1654;  Ann,  b.  4  April,  1656;  Elizabeth,  b.  in  Jan. 
1658 ;  Sarah,  b.  16  Sept.  1662.  Eleanor  married  Isaac  Rams- 
dell,  of  Lynn.  John  married  Hannah  Green,  of  Maiden,  and 
removed  to  that  place.  He  was  an  iron  worker,  acquired  a 
large  property,  and  is  now  considered  to  be  the  progenitor  of 
almost  all  who  at  the  present  time  bear  the  surname  in  the 
country,  including  those  eminent*  brothers,  Rev.  Dr.  Alexander 
H.  and  Rev.  Dr.  Francis  Vinton.  One  of  the  family,  a  number 
of  years  since,  collected  the  names  of  more  than  a  thousand 
of  his  descendants.  Blaise  served  in  the  Indian  war  of  1675, 
and  is  supposed  to  have  perished  then.  The  Yinton  family  is, 
no  doubt,  of  Huguenot  origin.] 

Joshua  Wait  —  married  Elizabeth  Mansfield,  10  Jan.  1675, 
and  had  two  children,  Moses  and  Mary. 

Abraham  Wellman  —  whose  wife's  name  was  Elizabeth  — 
had  a  son  born,  3  May,  1676. 

Domingo  Wight  —  a  colored  man,  had  three  children;  Mary, 
born  31  Aug.  1675  ;  Joseph,  b.  23  May,  1678  ;  Hannah,  b.  5  Sept. 
1679. 

[Mr.  Whiting,  Mr.  Gobbet,  and  four  other  ministers,  send  a 
letter  to  Cromwell,  31  December,  in  which  they  say,  "  since 
your  honor  hath  so  large  a  heart  given  you  of  the  Lord  as  to 
desire  you  to  build  him  a  temple  amidst  the  ruinous  heaps  of 
Ireland,  we  know  not  but  we  may  attend  this  providence  of  the 
Lord,  hoping  that  as  we  came  by  call  of  God  to  serve  him  here, 
so  if  the  Lord's  mind  shall  clearly  appear  to  give  us  a  sufficient 
call  and  encouragement  to  remove  unto  Ireland,  to  serve  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  there,  we  shall  cheerfully  and  thankfully  em- 
brace the  same."] 

16  5  1. 

Mr.  Richard  Leader,  the  agent  for  the  Iron  Works,  was  ar- 
raigned by  the  Court,  on  the  seventh  of  May,  for  reproaching 
Governor  Endicott,  the  Court,  and  the  church  at  Lynn.  In 
their  first  excitement,  the  Court  fined  him  two  hundred  pounds, 
which  was  afterward  reduced  to  fifty.  [The  offence  would  be 
more  exactly  stated  by  employing  the  words  of  the  record: 
*'  This  Courte  .  .  .  doe  finde  that,  contrary  to  the  lawe  of  God 
T 


230  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1651. 

and  tlie  lawes  heere  eastablished  he  hath  threatened,  and  in  a 
high  degree  reproached  and  slaundered  the  Courts,  magistrates, 
and  gouernment  of  this  comon  weale,  and  defamed  the  toune 
and  church  of  Lynne,  also  afronted  and  reproached  the  counsta- 
ble  in  the  execution  of  his  office."  He  was  likewise  bound  in 
the  sum  of  1001.  for  the  payment  of  the  fine,  and  for  his  good 
behavior  •'  toward  the  gouernment  and  people  of  this  jurisdiccon 
whiles  he  remajnes  in  this  coUonje,  till  the  next  sessions  of  this 
Courte."  And  at  the  next  general  session,  in  October,  1651, 
the  whole  thing  came  to  an  end.  It  appeared  that  the  obnox- 
ious words  were  "  spoken  in  the  midst  of  the  sea,  going  hence  to 
England."]  After  this,  Mr.  John  Gifford  appears  as  agent  of 
the  Iron  Works.  He  married  the  widow  Margaret  Temple,  and 
had  a  son  Philip.  [He  probably  came  from  the  Braintree  works. 
See  deposition  of  Henry  Leonard,  page  207.  And  for  some 
years  he  seems  to  have  been  in  a  sea  of  trouble,  arising,  most 
likely,  from  pecuniary  embarrassment.  He  was  subjected  to 
long  and  troublesome  litigation  regarding  a  bond  given  while 
in  England.  In  a  petition  to  the  Court,  in  1684,  he  states  that  he 
''  hath  now  been  a  prisoner  upon  execution  fower  yeares  and 
seuen  moneths,"  and  without  relief  from  the  Court,  will  ^'inev- 
itably perish  in  prison  for  want  of  meet  suppljes  for  his  releife." 
So  rigid  were  the  old  laws  touching  imprisonment  for  debt.  It 
may  have  been  suspected,  however,  that  he  had  property  fraud- 
ulently secreted,  for  he  declares  in  his  petition  that  it  had 
not  been  shown  that  he  had  any  estate  concealed,  by  which  he 
might  relieve  himself.  •  The  Court  "  having  weighed  the  neces- 
sitous and  perishing  condition  of  the  prisoner,"  ordered  that 
under  certain  conditions,  and  unless  the  opposing  parties  came 
forward  and  performed  what  was  required  of  them,  he  should 
be  released  in  ten  days.] 

On  taking  the  management  of  the  Iron  Works,  Mr.  Gilford 
raised  the  dam,  which  caused  the  water  to  overflow  six  acres 
of  "  plowland  "  belonging  to  Mr.  Adam  Hawkes.  For  this,  on 
the  20th  of  June,  an  agreement  was  made,  in  which  Mr.  Hawkes 
was  allowed  £S  for  damages. 

On  Sunday,  the  twentieth  of  July,  three  men  of  the  Baptist 
persuasion,  whose  names  were  John  Clarke,  John  Crandall,  and 
Obadiah  Holmes,  came  from  Newport,  and  went  to  the  house 
of  William  Witter,  at  Swampscot,  where  Mr.  Clark  preached, 
administered  the  sacrament,  and  rebaptized  Mr.  Witter.  This 
being  reported  to  the  authorities,  two  constables  went  down  to 
Swampscot  to  apprehend  them  as  disturbers  of  the  peace.  They 
carried  a  warrant  which  had  been  granted  by  Hon.  Robert 
Bridges.  '^  By  virtue  hereof,  you  are  required  to  go  to  the 
house  of  William  Witter,  and  so  to  search  from  house  to  house 
for  certain  erroneous  persons,  being  strangers,  and  them  to 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1651.  231 

apprehend,  and  in  safe  custody  to  keep,  and  tomorrow  morning 
at  8  o'clock,  to  bring  before  me."  Mr.  Clark  says,  "  while  I 
was  yet  speaking,  there  comes  into  the  house  where  we  were, 
two  constables,  who  with  their  clamorous  tongues  make  an 
interruption,  and  more  uncivilly  disturbed  us  than  the  pursui- 
vants of  the  old  English  bishops  were  wont  to  do."  In  the 
afternoon,  they  were  taken  to  Mr.  Whiting's  meeting,  where 
they  refused  to  uncover  their  heads.  Mr.  Bridges  ordered  a 
constable  to  take  off  their  hats,  when  one  of  them  attempted  to 
speak,  but  was  prevented. 

At  the  close  of  the  meeting,  one  of  them  made  some  remarks, 
after  which  they  were  taken  to  the  Anchor  Tavern,  and  guarded 
through  the  night.  In  the  morning,  they  were  sent  to  Boston 
and  imprisoned.  On  the  thirty-first,  the  Court  of  Assistants 
sentenced  Mr.  Holmes  to  pay  a  fine  of  thirty  pounds,  Mr.  Clark 
of  twenty,  and  Mr.  Crandall  of  five.  The  fines  of  Clark  and 
Crandall  were  paid  ;  but  Mr.  Holmes  refused  to  pay  his,  or  suffer 
it  to  be  paid,  and  was  retained  in  prison  till  September,  when  he 
was  publicly  whipped.  When  brought  to  the  place  of  execu- 
tion, he  requested  liberty  to  speak  to  the  people,  but  the  presid- 
ing officer,  one  Flint,  rightly  named,  refused,  and  ordered  him 
to  be  stripped.  His  friends  brought  some  wine,  which  they 
requested  him  to  drink,  but  he  declined  it,  lest  the  spectators 
should  attribute  his  fortitude  to  drink.  The  whip  was  made 
of  three  cords,  and  the  executioner  spat  three  times  in  his  own 
hands,  that  he  might  not  fail  to  honor  justice.  In  a  manuscript 
left  by  Governor  Joseph  Jenks,  it  is  written  that  "  Mr.  Holmes 
was  whipped  30  stripes,  and  in  such  an  unmerciful  manner,  that 
for  many  days,  if  not  some  weeks,  he  could  not  take  rest,  but  as 
he  lay  upon  his  knees  and  elbows,  not  being  able  to  suffer  any 
part  of  the  body  to  touch  the  bed."  As  the  man  began  to  lay 
on  the  stripes.  Holmes  said,  ^'  though  my  flesh  should  fail,  yet 
my  God  will  not  fail."  He  then  prayed,  '^  Lord,  lay  not  this  sin 
to  their  charge."  When  he  was  released,  two  spectators,  John 
Shaw  and  John  Hasel,  went  up  and  took  hold  of  his  hand  to 
sympathize  with  him,  for  which  they  were  fined  forty  shillings 
each.  Such  is  the  bitterness  of  religious  persecution.  Dr.  John 
Clark  was  one  of  the  most  respectable  physicians  in  Rhode 
Island,  and  wrote  a  book  entitled  ''  111  News  from  New  Eng- 
land," with  a  full  account  of  this  persecution. 

Mr.  Witter  was  presented  at  the  Salem  court,  on  the  twenty- 
seventh  of  November,  for  neglecting  discourses  and  being  re- 
baptized. 

On  the  fourteenth  of  October,  the  Court  made  an  order 
against  ''  the  intolerable  excess  and  bravery  "  of  dress.  They 
ordered  that  no  person  whose  estate  did  not  exceed  £200  should 
wear  any  great  boots,  gold  or  silver  lace,  or  buttons,  or  silk 


232  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1651. 

hoods,  ribbons  or  scarfs,  under  a  penalty  of  ten  shillings.  [And 
the  Court  also  passed  the  following:  ^' Whereas  it  is  observed 
there  are  many  abuses  and  disorders  by  dancing  in  ordinaries, 
whether  mixt  or  unmixt,  vppon  marriage  of  some  persons.  This 
Court  doth  order  that  henceforward  there  shall  be  no  dancing 
vppon  such  occasion  or  at  other  tjmes  in  ordinaries,  vppon  the 
pajne  or  penaltje  of  five  shillings  for  every  person  that  shall  so 
daunce  in  ordinarjes."] 

"  In  answer  to  the  petition  of  George  Indian  of  Lynn,  This 
Court  refers  him  to  bring  his  action  in  some  inferiour  court, 
against  any  that  ungenerously  withold  any  land  from  him." 

The  following  description  of  Lynn  is  from  ''The  Wonder 
Working  Providence,"  a  work  published  this  year,  by  Mr.  Ed- 
ward- Johnson  of  Woburn : 

Her  scituation  is  neere  to  a  River,  whose  strong  freshet  at  breaking  up  of 
Winter,  filleth  all  her  Bankes,  and  with  a  furious  Torrent  ventes  itself  into  tlie 
Sea.  This  Towne  is  furnished  with  Miueralls  of  divers  kinds,  especially  Iron 
and  Lead.  The  forme  of  it  is  almost  square,  onely  it  takes  too  lar^e  a  run 
into  the  Land-ward,  (as  most  townes  do.)  It  is  filled  with  about  one  Hundred 
Houses  for  dwelling.  There  is  also  an  Iron  Mill  in  constant  use,  but  as  for 
Lead,  they  have  tried  but  little  yet.  Their  meeting  house  being  on  a  Levell 
Land  undefended  from  the  cold  North  west  wind,  and  therefore  made  with 
steps  desoecding  into  the  earth ;  their  streets  are  straite  and  comly,  yet  but 
thin  of  Houses ;  the  people  mostly  inclining  to  Husbandry,  have  built  many 
Farmes  Remote.  There  Cattell  exceedingly  multiplied.  Goates,  which  were 
in  great  esteeme  at  their  first  comming,  are  now  almost  quite  banished,  and 
now  Horse,  kiue,  and  Sheep  are  most  m  request  with  them. 

In  his  remarks  on  manufactures,  Mr.  Johnson  says : 

All  other  trades  have  fallen  into  then*  ranks  and  places,  to  their  great  ad- 
vantage, especially  Coopers  and  Shoemakers,  who  had  either  of  them  a 
corporation  gi'anted,  inriching  themselves  very  much.  As  for  Tanners  and 
Shoemakers  it  being  naturalized  into  their  occupations  to  have  a  higher  reach 
in  managing  these  manifactures  then  other  men  in  New  England  are,  having 
not  changed  their  nature  in  this,  between  them  both  they  have  kept  men  to 
their  stand  hitherto,  almost  doubling  the  price  of  their  commodities,  according 
to  the  rate  they  were  sold  for  in  England,  and  yet  the  plenty  of  Leather  is 
beyond  what  they  had  there,  counting  the  luimber  of  the  people,  but  the 
transportation  of  Boots  and  Shoes  into  forraign  parts  hath  vented  all,  how- 
ever. 

The  manufacture  of  shoes  had  not,  at  this  time,  become  a 
principal  business  at  Lynn.  A  few  persons  practised  the  em- 
ployment regularly ;  but  they  traded  with  merchants  at  Boston, 
and  did  not  export  for  themselves.  The  shoes  which  they  made 
were  principally  of  calf  skin,  for  morocco  had  not  been  intro- 
duced. Cloth  was  worn  only  by  the  most  wealthy  ;  and  if  a 
lady  in  the  more  common  ranks  of  life  obtained  a  pair  of  stuff 
shoes,  to  grace  the  nuptial  ceremony,  they  were  afterward  laid 
aside,  and  carefully  preserved  through  life,  as  something  too 
delicate  for  ordinary  use. 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN  —  1652.  233 


1652. 

Wenepoykin,  the  Lynn  Sagamore,  on  the  first  of  April,  mort- 
gaged "all  that  Tract  or  Neck  of  Land  commonly  called  Nahant," 
to  Nicholas  Davison  of  Charlestown,  "  for  twenty  pounds  ster- 
ling dew  many  yeer."  The  deed  was  si(2:ned  with  his  mark, 
which  has  somewhat  the  form  of  a  capital  H  in  writing. 

[John  Hathorne  having  succeeded  Joseph  Armitage  "in  the 
ordinary  at  Lin,  and  so  standing  bound  to  perform  his  engage- 
ment in  respect  of  what  he  was  to  pay  for  drawinge  of  wine, 
desiring  a  remittment  of  what  is  due  for  the  last  halfe  yeare  past, 
received  this  answer:  that  he  should  only  pay  after  the  rate 
of  fifty  shillings  per  butt  for  what  he  hath  drawne  to  this  time." 
This  appears  to  have  been  the  same  John  Hathorne  who  was 
proceeded  against,  about  this  time,  for  forgery,  and  confessed 
himself  guilty.  Having  petitioned,  in  May,  1653,  for  remission 
or  mitigation  of  the  penalty,  the  General  Court  ordered  that  in 
lieu  of  the  prescribed  punishment  he  should  "pay  double  dama- 
ges, which  is  twenty  pounds,  to  the  party  wronged  and  ten 
pounds  to  the  common  wealth,  to  be  forthwith  levied;  and  to 
be  disfranchised.  If  he  doth  not  submitt  to  the  sentence,  then 
the  law  that  pvides  against  flforgery  is  to  take  place  in  euery 
particular."] 

At  the  Quarterly  Court,  on  the  29th  of  June,  the  following 
presentments  were  made.  "  We  present  Ester,  the  wife  of  Jo- 
seph Jynkes,  Junior,  fFor  wearing  silver  lace ; "  and  "  Robert 
Burges  for  bad  corne  grinding."  Other  persons  were  presented 
for  wearing  great  boots  and  silk  hoods. 

Mr.  Gifford  this  year  increased  the  height  of  the  dam  at  the 
Iron  Works,  by  which  ten  acres  of  Mr.  Hawkes's  land  were 
overflowed ;  for  which  he  agreed  to  give  sixteen  loads  of  hay 
yearly,  and  200  cords  of  wood.  Afterward  he  agreed  to  give 
him  £1,  "  which  ends  all,  except  that  10s.  is  to  be  given  him 
yearly."  By  this  agreement  the  water  was  to  be  so  kept  "  that 
it  may  not  ascend  the  top  of  the  upper  floodgates  in  the  pond 
higher  than  within  a  foot  and  a  halfe  of  the  top  of  the  great 
Rock  that  lies  in  the  middle  of  the  pond  before  the  gates." 

This  year  a  mint  was  established  at  Boston,  for  coining  silver. 
The  pieces  had  the  word  Massachusetts,  with  a  pine  tree  on 
one  side,  and  the  letters  N.  E.  Anno  1652,  and  HI.  VI.  or  XII. 
denoting  the  number  of  pence,  on  the  other.  The  dies  for  this 
coinage  were  made  by  Joseph  Jenks,  at  the  Iron  Works. 

[The  coinage  was  continued  for  many  years,  the  mint  not 
having  been  closed  till  about  1686,  according  to  Mr.  Felt,  or 
before  1706,  according  to  others.  But  the  dies  were  not  alter- 
ed, at  least  for  some  years ;  and  perhaps  the  date  never  was, 
for  reasons  patent  to  our  shrewd  fathers.  And  hence  a  large 
T^ 


234  ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1653. 

portion  of  the  pine-tree  coins  now  in  the  cabinets  of  the  curious, 
do  not  bear  sure  evidence  of  the  precise  date  at  which  tliey  were 
struck.  It  is  certain  that  the  date  1652  was  retained  as  late  as 
1685.  This  coinage  would,  under  most  circumstances,  have 
subjected  those  engaged  in  it  to  heavy  punishment,  for  it  in- 
fringed a  prerogative  usually  guarded  with  the  utmost  jealousy 
by  the  sovereign.  But  it  will  be  observed  that  it  was  com- 
menced during  the  Puritanical  Interregnum,  and  affords  addi- 
tional evidence  that  at  that  period  almost  perfect  independence 
was  assumed  by  the  colonists.  It  is  stated  by  Randolph,  1676, 
that  Massachusetts  established  this  mint,  in  1652,  to  commemo- 
rate her  independence  ;  and  adds  that  the  adjacent  colonies  were 
subject  to  her.  Hugh  Peters  was  a  fast  friend  of  Massachusetts  ; 
and  having  much  influence  with  Cromwell,  it  was  probably  in  a 
great  measure  through  his  exertions  that  she  came  so  near  being 
declared  an  independent  commonwealth.  When  Charles  II.  came 
to  the  throne  he  was  greatly  offended  at  the  high-handed  pro- 
ceedings. Sir  Thomas  Temple,  who  knew  the  necessities  of  the 
colonists,  and  was  friendly  to  them,  stated  to  the  king  that 
money  was  extremely  scarce  in  New  England,  and  during  the 
civil  wars  but  little  could  be  obtained  from  the  mother  country. 
And  he  exhibited  pieces  of  the  pine-tree  money.  "  What  is 
that  ?  "  asked  the  king,  pointing  to  the  pine-tree  that  adorned 
one  side  of  the  coin.  '^  That,"  answered  Temple,  with  more 
shrewdness  than  honesty,  "  is  the  royal  oak  that  sheltered  your 
majesty."  This  well-timed  insinuation  regarding  the  loyalty  of 
the  colonists  so  pleased  the  monarch  that  he  gleefully  exclaimed, 
"  Honest  dogs  !  "  and  let  the  matter  pass  for  the  time.  Events 
that  took  place  soon  after,  however,  indicated  that  he  had 
reached  a  temper  to  use  the  noun  without  the  adjective. 

[The  pine-tree  shilling,  as  assa3^ed  at  the  United  States  mint 
proved  to  be  926-1000  fine,  and  to  weigh  almost  exactly  sixty- 
six  grains ;  its  value,  therefore,  would  be  just  about  seventeen 
cents  of  our  present  money. 

[A  comet  appeared  in  Orion,  9  December,  and  remained  an 
object  of  wonder  for  about  a  fortnight,  or  '^  till  Mr.  Cotton 
died." 

[It  was  this  year  required  that  negroes  and  Indians  should 
perform  military  duty.] 

1653. 

On  the  17th  of  March,  the  boundary  line  between  Lynn  and 
Reading  was  established. 

Samuel  Bennet,  carpenter,  sold  his  corn  mill  to  Thomas 
Wheeler,  1  April,  for  X220. 

This  year,  Mr.  Thomas  Savage,  of  Boston,  attached  the  Iron 
Works,  at  Lynn,  for  the  amount  owed  to  him  and  Henry  Webb. 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1654,  1655.  235 

On  the  14th  of  September,  a  special  court  convened  at  Boston, 
for  the  trial.  Mr.  Savage  obtained  for  himself  X894  2s.  and  for 
Henry  Webb,  £1351  6s.  9d.  The  total  account  of  Mr.  John 
Giflford,  agent  for  the  Company,  was  £16,284  7s.  4d. 

[The  Court  ordered,  18  May,  that  Lynn  be  allowed  ten  pounds 
per  annum,  ''  so  long  as  the  Iron  Works  shall  be  continued," 
with  a  qualification  relating  to  a  former  grant.] 

1654. 

The  selectmen  of  Boston  agreed  with  Mr.  Joseph  Jenks  "  for 
an  Ingine  to  carry  water  in  case  of  fire."  This  was  the  first 
fire  engine  made  in  America. 

In  August,  the  Court  fixed  the  prices  of  grain ;  Indian  corn 
at  3s.,  rye  and  peas  at  4s.,  and  wheat  and  barley  at  5s.  a  bushel. 

At  a  town  meeting,  on  the  28th  of  December,  a  grant  was 
made  to  Edmund  Farrington,  allowing  him  the  privilege  to  build 
a  grist-mill,  in  Water  Hill  street,  on  condition  that  grain  should 
be  seasonably  and  faithfully  ground ;  otherwise  the  privilege 
was  to  revert  to  the  town.  [Mr.  Lewis  makes  a  mistake  in 
locating  this  privilege  at  Water  Hill.  The  grant  was  for  a  tide 
mill,  which  of  course  could  not  have  been  where  he  states.  It 
was  where  Chase's  mill  was  afterward  built,  at  the  point  where 
Summer  street  crosses  the  stream,  a  little  above  Needham's 
Landing.     Mr.  John  Raddin  now  (1864)  owns  the  mill  there. 

[Mr.  Whiting  and  Mr.  Cobbet,  *^  elders  of  Lyn,"  were  appoint- 
ed overseers  of  Harvard  College.] 

1655. 

This  year  Edmund  Farrington  built  his  mill  on  Water  Hill. 
A  pond  was  dug  by  hand,  and  the  water  brought  from  the  old 
brook,  by  a  little  canal  about  half  a  mile  in  length.  This  mill 
was  for  many  years  the  property  of  Benjamin  Phillips,  and  in 
1836  was  purchased  by  Henry  A.  Breed,  who  dug  out  a  new 
pond  of  more  than  an  acre,  for  a  reservoir.  [Nehemiah  Berry 
purchased  the  property  a  number  of  years  since,  and  continues 
the  mill  in  successful  operation.  It  long  ago,  however,  ceased 
to  be  a  mere  grist-mill.  But  Mr.  Farrington  did  not  build  his 
mill  here.  His  was  a  tide  mill,  and  stood  where  Chase's  was 
afterward  built.     See  under  date  1654.     See  also  page  128.] 

Mr.  John  Giflford,  agent  of  the  Iron  Company,  having  been 
imprisoned  on  account  of  the  pecuniary  aflfairs  of  that  establish- 
ment, a  petition  was  sent  from  London  to  the  General  Court,  for 
his  release.  It  was  dated  on  the  27th  of  February  and  signed 
by  John  Becx,  William  Greenhill,  Thomas  Foley,  and  Phebe 
Frost. 

On  the  23d  of  May,  the  General  Court  granted  to  Mr.  Joseph 
Jenks  a  patent  for  an  improved  sythe,  "  for  the  more  speedy 


23G  ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1656. 

cutting  of  grassGj  for  seven  years."  This  improvement  consisted 
in  lengthening  the  blade,  making  it  thinner,  and  welding  a  square 
bar  on  the  back,  to  strengthen  it,  as  in  the  modern  sj^the.  Be- 
fore this,  the  old  English  blade  was  short  and  thick,  like  a  bush 
sythe. 

[The  Court,  23  May,  "  considering  the  urgent  occasions  of 
the  country  respecting  the  bridg  at  Lyn,"  ordered  that  Edmund 
Batter,  George  Gettings,  Joseph  Jewett,  and  Thomas  Laighton, 
be  a  committee  to  see  that  the  bridge  be  completed  forthwith. 
And  the  next  county  court  was  directed  to  apportion  the  charge 
to  the  towns  in  the  county,  according  to  the  law  made  at  that 
session.] 

1656. 

This  year  the  Rev.  Thomas  Cobbet  relinquished  his  connec- 
tion with  the  church  at  Lynn,  and  removed  to  Ipswich.  He  was 
born  at  Newbur}^,  in  England,  1608.  Though  his  father  was 
poor,  he  found  means  to  gain  admission  at  the  University'  of 
Oxford,  which  he  left  during  the  great  sickness  in  1625,  and 
became  a  pupil  of  Dr.  Twiss,  in  his  native  town.  He  was  after- 
ward a  minister  of  the  established  Church.  He  came  to  Lynn 
in  1637,  and  was  welcomed  by  Mr.  Whiting,  with  whom  he  had 
commenced  a  friendship  in  England.  Mr.  Mather  says,  "  they 
were  almost  every  day  together,  and  thought  it  a  long  day  if 
they  were  not  so ;  the  one  rarely  travelling  abroad  without  the 
other."  Mr.  Cobbet  preached  at  Lynn  nineteen  years,  and 
twenty-nine  at  Ipswich.  In  1666,  he  preached  the  election 
sermon,  from  II.  Chronicles,  xv.  2.  He  died  on  Thursday,  5 
November,  1685,  and  was  buried  on  the  next  Monday.  At  his 
funeral  were  expended,  one  barrel  of  wine,  £6  8s. ;  two  barrels 
of  cider,  lis.;  82  pounds  of  sugar,  £2  Is.;  half  a  cord  of  wood, 
4s. ;  four  dozen  pairs  of  gloves,  "  for  men  and  women,"  £5  4s. ; 
with  ^'  some  spice  and  ginger  for  the  cider."  It  was  the  custom 
at  funerals  to  treat  all  the  company  with  cider,  which  in  cold 
weather  was  heated  and  spiced.  In  the  year  1711,  the  town 
of  Lynn  paid  for  "  half  a  barrel  of  cider  for  the  widow  Dis- 
paw's  funeral.  Wine  was  distributed  when  it  could  be  afforded. 
Gloves  were  commonly  given  to  the  bearers  and  the  principal 
mourners,  and  by  the  more  wealthy,  rings  were  sometimes 
added.  Mr.  Cobbet  appears  to  have  been  much  esteemed. 
The  following  epitaph  to  his  memory  is  one  of  the  best  of  Mr. 
Mather's  productions : 

Sta  viator ;  thesaurus  hie  jacet ; 

Thomas  Cobbetus ; 

Cujus,  uosti  preces  poteutissimas,  ac  mores  probatissimos, 

Si  es  Nov-Anglus. 

Mirare,  si  pietatem  colas ; 

Sequere,  si  felicitatem  optes. 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1656.  237 

Stop,  traveler,  a  treasure  's  buried  here  ;  v 

Our  Thomas  Cobbet  claims  the  tribute  tear. 
His  prayers  were  powei'ful,  his  manners  pure, 
As  thou,  if  of  New  England's  sons,  art  sure. 
If  thou  reverest  piety,  admire  ; 
And  imitate,  if  bliss  be  thy  desire. 

Mr.  Cobbet  possessed  good  learning  and  abilities,  and  wrote 
more  books  than  any  one  of  the  early  ministers  of  New  England. 
Among  his  works,  were  the  following: 

1.  A  Treatise  Asserting  the  Right  of  the  Magistrates  to  a 
Negative  Vote  on  the  Resolves  of  the  Representatives.     1643. 

2.  A  Defence  of  Infant  Baptism.  1645.  This  is  said  to  have 
been  an  admirable  summary  of  the  principal  arguments  for  and 
against  the  subject,  and  an  able  exposition  of  the  error  of  those 
who  deny  the  validity  of  this  important  rite. 

3.  The  Civil  Magistrates'  Power  in  Matters  of  Religion,  Mod- 
estly Debated,  with  a  Brief  Answer  to  a  certain  slanderous 
pamphlet,  called  111  News  from  New  England ;  containing  six 
pages  of  grievous  dedication  to  Oliver  Cromwell.     1653. 

4.  A  Practical  Discourse  on  Prayer.  1654.  Mr.  Mather 
remarks  that,  ^'  of  all  the  books  written  by  Mr.  Cobbet,  none 
deserves  more  to  be  read  by  the  world,  or  to  live  till  the  gen- 
eral burning  of  the  world,  than  that  of  Prayer." 

5.  A  Fruitful  and  Useful  Discourse,  touching  the  Honor  due 
from  Children  to  their  Parents,  and  the  Duty  of  Parents  toward 
their  Children.     London,  1656. 

6.  A  Treatise  on  Ecclesiastical  Order  and  Discipline. 

7.  A  Treatise  on  the  First,  Second,  and  Fifth  Command- 
ments. 

The  following  beautiful  picture  of  the  enduring  affection  of  a 
mother  is  from  the  discourse  on  the  duties  of  children :  "  Des- 
pise not  thy  mother  when  she  is  old.  When  she  was  young, 
yea,  when  she  was  middle  aged,  thou  prisedst,  and  respectedst, 
and  did  reverence  and  obey  her;  do  it  as  well  when  she  is  old ; 
hold  on  doing  of  it  to  the  last.  Age  may  wear  and  waste  a 
mother's  beauty,  strength,  parts,  limbs,  senses,  and  estate ;  but 
her  relation  of  a  mother  is  as  the  sun.when  he  goeth  forth  in  his 
might,  for  the  ever  of  this  life,  that  is,  always  in  its  meridian, 
and  knoweth  no  evening.  The  person  rRay  be  gray  headed, 
but  her  motherly  relation  is  ever  in  its  flourish.  It  may  be 
autumn,  yea,  winter,  with  the  woman ;  but  with  the  mother,  as 
a  mother,  it  is  always  spring." 

In  descanting  on  the  duties  of  children,  he  says  :  -'How  tender 
were  your  parents  of  their  dealings  with  men,  to  discharge  a 
good  conscience  therein  ;  of  their  very  outward  garb,  what  they 
ware,  and  of  what  fashion,  and  the  like ;  but  you  their  children 
regard  not  what  you  do,  nor  how  you  deal  with  others,  nor  what 
you  wear,  nor  of  what  fashion,  so  the  newest.     Did  ever  your 


238  AXNALS  OF  LYNN — 1656. 

good  father  or  grandfather  wear  such  ruffianly  hair  upon  their 
heads  ?  or  did  your  godly  parents  frisk  from  one  new  fangled 
fashion  to  another,  as  you  do  ?  " 

The  following  anecdote  is  related  by  Mr.  Mather.  "  The  un- 
grateful inhabitants  of  Lynn  one  year  passed  a  town  vote,  that 
they  could  not  allow  their  ministers  above  thirty  pounds  apiece 
that  year,  for  their  salary ;  and  behold,  the  God  who  will  not  be 
mocked,  immediately  caused  the  town  to  lose  three  hundred 
pounds  in  that  one  specie  of  their  cattle,  by  one  disaster."  With 
his  characteristic  carelessness,  Mr.  Mather  dees  not  give  any 
date  to  this  fact,  [nor  any  account  of  the  disaster.] 

Mr.  Cobbet  was  much  respected  for  his  piety  and  the  fervency 
of  his  prayers.  One  of  the  soldiers  in  Philip's  war,  whose  name 
was  Luke  Perkins,  says  that  when  he  was  detached,  in  1675,  to 
go  against  the  Indians,  he  went  to  request  the  prayers  of  Mr. 
Cobbet,  who  prayed  that  the  company  might  be  preserved,  and 
they  all  returned  in  safety. 

Some  women  of  his  neighborhood  were  one  day  attempting 
some  trick  of  witchery,  when  their  minister  appeared.  "  There," 
said  one  of  them,  '^  we  can  do  no  more ;  there  is  old  crooked 
back  Cobbet  a  coming." 

For  a  considerable  time,  he  was  in  the  practice  of  walking 
from  Ipswich  to  Boston,  once  in  two  weeks  to  attend  Mr.  Nor- 
ton's lecture,  and  to  see  his  old  friend,  Mr.  Whiting.  He  used 
to  remark  that  it  was  worth  a  journey  to  Boston,  "  to  hear  one 
of  Mr.  Norton's  good  prayers."  [Mr.  Lewis  makes  a  singular 
mistake  here.  It  was  not  Mr.  Cobbet  who  made  these  pedestri- 
an excursions,  but  a  pious  layman  of  Ipswich,  one  of  Mr.  Nor- 
ton's old  parishioners.  Mr.  Norton  had  been  minister  at  Ipswich 
fourteen  years,  leaving  there  in  1652.] 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Cobbet  came  over  some  time  after  his 
arrival.  The  name  of  his  wife  was  Elizabeth,  and  he  had  four 
sons;  Samuel,  who  graduated  in  1663;  Thomas,  John,  and 
Eliezer. 

Thomas  Cobbet,  Jr.,  who  was  a  seaman  at  Portsmouth,  was 
taken  prisoner  by  the  Indians,  in  1676,  and  carried  to  Penobscot. 
After  an  absence  of  several  weeks,  he  was  released  by  Madock- 
awando,  the  sachem,  who  received  a  red  coat  as  a  present.  On 
this  subject,  Mr.  Cobbet  thus  writes,  in  his  letter  to  Increase 
Mather:  ''As  to  what  you  quere,  whether  there  were  not  an- 
swers to  prayer  respecting  my  captured  son.  Surely  I  may  truly 
say  his  wonderfull  preservations  in  all  that  9  weeks  time  after 
he  was  taken,  and  deliverance  at  the  last,  they  will  be  put  on 
that  account  as  answers  to  prayer ;  for  he  was  constantly  plead- 
ed for  by  Mr.  Moody  in  his  congregation  for  that  end,  from  his 
being  first  taken  (of  which  they  first  heard)  till  his  redemption. 
So  was  he  in  like  sort  pleaded  for  by  Mr.  Shepard  in  his  congre- 


ANNALS    OP    LYNN — 1656.  239 

gation  at  Cbarlestowne,  and  by  my  desire  signified  that  way,  by 
Mr.  Phillips,  Mr.  Higginson,  Mr.  Buckley,  in  theyr  congregations, 
and  I  doubt  not  by  yourself,  Mr.  Thatcher,  Mr.  Allin,  in  the  3 
Boston  churches,  besides  the  prayers  going  constantly  that  way 
for  him  in  the  families  and  closets  of  godly  ones,  which  heard 
of  his  captivity  and  hazard.  He  was  constantly,  as  there  was 
cause,  remembered  in  our  congregation  for  that  end,  and  which 
I  may  not  omit  to  mention :  When  Mr  Moody,  by  post  sent 
hither,  sent  me  the  first  news  of  his  taking  by  the  Indians,  and 
their  further  rage  in  those  parts,  calling  out  for  further  prayers  — 
I  presently  caused  one  of  our  Deacons  to  call  to  my  house  that 
very  day,  as  many  godly  men  and  theyr  wives  as  were  near  us, 
to  spend  some  hours  in  prayer  about  the  same;  about  30  met; 
several  of  them  prayed  ;  Capt.  Lord  was  with  them  in  it,  and 
with  me  also,  who  began  and  ended  that  service  ;  and  having 
beg'd  some  amends  of  our  wasted  son  Eliezer  at  home  as  a 
pledge  of  the  desired  mercies  to  our  captived  son  abroad  as 
granted,  my  heart  I  must  acknowledge  to  the  Lord's  praise,  was 
sweetly  guided  in  the  course  of  that  service,  and  I  was  even 
persuaded  that  the  Lord  had  heard  our  prayers  in  that  respect, 
and  could  not  but  express  as  much  to  some  of  our  godly  friends  ; 
so  was  one  of  our  sisters  (as  since  she  informed  my  wife,)  as 
confidently  persuaded  that  she  should  ere  long  see  him  returned, 
and  that  in  comfortable  plight,  as  if  he  were  already  come."  He 
says  that  his  son  Eliezer  began  to  amend,  ''  insomuch  that  he 
who  before  could  not  walk  up  and  down  the  town  without  stag- 
ering,  could  yet  walk  up  that  high  hill  (which  you  know  of,) 
that  is  by  Mr.  Norton's,  now  our  house." 

The  great  age  to  which  many  of  the  early  settlers  lived,  is  a 
subject  worthy  of  notice.  Boniface  Burton  died  in  1669,  at  the 
great  age  of  113  years;  an  age  to  which  no  person  in  Lynn, 
since  his  time,  has  attained.  Joseph  Rednap  lived  till  he  was 
110  years  of  age,  in  the  full  possession  of  his  faculties.  Li  the 
year  1635,  when  he  was  in  his  80th  year,  we  find  a  vote  of  the 
town  granting  him  lands  at  Nahant,  for  the  purpose  of  pursuing 
the  trade  of  fishing;  and  he  seems  as  enterprising  at  that  age 
as  if  he  were  just  beginning  active  life.  [I  am  afraid  that  much 
exaggeration  was  formerly  dealt  in  with  respect  to  the  ages 
of  old  people.  It  is  quite  certain  that  Mr.  Rednap,  for  instance, 
died  at  about  the  age  of  90;  see  notice  of  him  on  page  127.] 
Henry  Styche  was  an  efficient  workman  at  the  Iron  Foundry  in 
the  year  1653,  and  was  then  103  years  of  age.  How  many 
years  longer  he  lived,  history  has  not  informed  us.  Christopher 
Hussey  was  pursuing  his  active  and  useful  life,  in  1685,  when 
he  was  shipwrecked  on  the  coast  of  Florida,  at  the  age  of  87 
years.  This  great  longevity  and  good  health  of  the  early  set- 
tlers, may  probably  be  referred  to  the  regularity  of  their  habits, 


240  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1657. 

and  the  simplicity  of  their  diet.  They  seldom  ate  meat,  and 
they  generally  retired  to  rest  soon  after  sunset.  A  pitch  pine 
torch  in  the  chimney  corner,  served  to  illuminate  the  common 
room,  until  the  family  prayer  was  said ;  and  then  the  boys  and 
girls  retired  to  their  respective  chambers,  to  undress  in  the  dark. 
Nor  did  they  steam  themselves  to  death  over  hot  iron.  Cook 
stoves  were  unknown,  and  no  fire  was  put  into  a  meeting-house, 
except  the  Quaker,  until  1820. 

[Robert  Keayne,  the  wealthy  merchant  of  Boston,  before 
alluded  to,  died  this  year.  He  appears  to  have  had  a  high  re- 
gard for  many  of  the  Lynn  people,  arising,  perhaps,  from  asso- 
ciations pertaining  to  his  only  son,  Benjamin,  who  resided  here 
for  a  time.  In  his  will  appear  the  following  bequests :  '^  To 
m'^  Whiting,  one  of  the  Teaching  Eld^s  at  Lyn,  flforty  shillings." 
"  To  m^  Cobit,  the  other  Teaching  Elder  at  Lyn,  forty  shillings." 
Li  a  codicil,  dated  28  Dec.  1653,  he  adds:  ^^  1  have  forgott  one 
Loveing  Couple  more  that  came  not  to  my  minde  till  I  was 
shutting  vp ;  that  is  Cap*  Bridges  &  wife,  [of  L3ani,]  to  whom  I 
give  forty  shillings."  Also,  "  To  Robert  Rand,  of  Lyn,  Some- 
time my  Servant,  forty  shillings."] 

1657. 

Having  purchased  Nahant  of  the  Indian  Sagamore,  for  a  suit 
of  clothes,  Thomas  Dexter  was  not  disposed  to  sit  down  in 
unconcern,  when  the  town  made  known  their  intention  of  divid- 
ing it  into  lots  for  the  benefit  of  all  the  people.  At  a  town 
meeting,  held  24  February,  1657,  the  following  order  was  taken  : 
"  It  was  voted  that  Nahant  should  be  laid  out  in  planting  lotts, 
and  every  householder  should  have  equal  in  the  dividing  of  it, 
noe  man  more  than  another ;  and  every  person  to  clear  his  lot 
of  wood  in  six  years,  and  he  or  they  that  do  not  clear  their  lotts 
of  the  wood,  shall  pay  fifty  shillings  for  the  towne's  use.  Alsoe 
every  householder  is  to  have  his  and  their  lotts  for  seaven 
years,  and  it  is  to  be  laid  down  for  a  pasture  for  the  towne ; 
and  in  the  seventh,  every  one  that  hath  improved  his  lott  by 
planting,  shall  then,  that  is,  in  the  seventh  year,  sow  their  lott 
with  English  corne  ;  and  in  every  acre  of  land  as  they  improve, 
they  shall,  with  their  English  corne,  sow  one  bushel  of  English 
hay  seed,  and  soe  proportionable  to  all  the  land  that  is  improved, 
a  bushel  of  hay  seed  to  one  acre  of  land,  and  it  is  to  be  remem- 
bered, that  no  person  is  to  raise  any  kind  of  building  at  all ;  and 
for  laying  out  this  land  there  is  chosen  Francis  Ingals,  Henry 
Collins,  James  Axee,  Adam  Hawckes,  Lieut.  Thomas  Marshall. 
John  Hathorne,  Andrew  Mansfield."     (Mass.  Archives.) 

This  record  is  valuable,  as  it  exhibits  several  interesting  par- 
ticulars. It  shows  that  the  purchase  of  Nahant,  by  Mr.  Dexter, 
was  not  considered  valid  —  it  exhibits  the  most  impartial  speci- 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1657.  241 

men  of  practical  democracy  in  this  country,  the  lots  being  ap- 
portioned to  each  householder  equally,  "  noe  man  more  than 
another" — it  furnishes  an  explanation  of  the  cause  and  manner 
of  Nahant  being  so  entirely  cleared  of  the  beautiful  wood  which 
once  grew  upon  it  —  and  it  shows  that  Nahant  was  early  planted 
with  English  corn,  that  is,  with  wheat.  On  the  passing  of  this 
order,  Mr.  Dexter  commenced  a  suit  against  the  town  for  occu- 
pying it.  The  people  held  a  town  meeting,  in  which  they  ap- 
pointed Thomas  Laighton,  George  Keysar,  Robert  Coats,  and 
Joseph  Armitage,  a  committee  to  defend  their  right.  At  the 
Salem  Court,  which  began  on  the  third  of  June,  the  following 
depositions  were  given : 

1.  "Edward  Ireson,  a^ed  57  yeares  or  there  abouts,  sworne,  saitb,  that 
liveing  with  Mr.  Thomas  Dexter,  I  carried  the  fencing  stuffe  which  master 
Dexter  sett  up  to  fence  in  Nahant,  his  part  with  the  rest  of  the  Inhabitants, 
and  being  and  Hving  with  mr.  Dexter,  I  never  heard  him  say  a  word  of  his 
buying  of  Nahant,  but  only  his  interest  in  Nahant  for  his  fencing  with  the  rest 
of  the  inhabitants ;  this  was  about  25  yeares  since ;  and  after  this  fence  was 
sett  up  at  nahant,  all  the  new  comers  were  to  give  two  shillings  sixpence  a 
head  or  a  piece  vnto  the  setters  up  of  the  fence  or  inhabitants^  and  some  of 
Salem  brought  Cattell  alsoe  to  nahant,  which  were  to  give  soe." 

2.  "The  Testimony  of  Samuel  Whiting,  senior,  of  the  Towne  of  Linne, 
Saith,  that  Mr.  Humphries  did  desire  that  mr.  Eaton  and  his  company  might 
not  only  buy  Nahant,  but  the  whole  Towne  of  Linne,  and  that  mr.  Cobbet  and 
he  and  others  of  the  Towne  went  to  mr.  Eaton  to  offer  both  to  him,  and  to 
commit  themselves  to  the  providence  of  God ;  and  at  that  time  there  was  none 
that  laid  claim  to  or  pleaded  any  interest  in  nahant,  Save  the  town,  and  at 
that  time  farmer  Dexter  lived  in  the  Towne  of  Linne." 

The  person  to  whom  Lynn  was  thus  offered  for  sale,  was  The- 
ophilus  Eaton,  afterward  governor  of  Connecticut.  He  came 
to  Boston,  26  June,  1637,  and  went  to  New  Haven,  in  August, 
of  the  same  year. 

3  "The  Deposition  of  Daniel  Salmon,  aged  about  45  yeares,  saith,  that  he 
bemg  master  Humphreyes  sei-vant,  and  about  23  yeares  agon,  there  being 
wolves  in  nahant,  commanded  that  the  whole  traine  band  goe  to  drive  them 
out,  because  it  did  belong  to  the  whole  towne,  and  farmer  Dexter's  men  being 
then  at  training,  went  with  the  rest." 

4.  "  This  I,  Joseph  Armitage,  aged  57  or  there  abouts,  doe  testifie,  that 
about  fifteen  or  sixteen  yeares  agoe,  wee  had  a  generall  towne  meeting  in  Lin  ; 
at  that  meeting  there  was  much  discourse  about  nahant ;  the  men  that  did 
first  fence  at  nahant  and  by  an  act  of  generall  court  did  apprehend  by  fencing 
that  nahant  was  theires,  myself  by  purchase  haveing  a  part  therein,  after  much 
agitation  in  the  meeting,  and  by  persuasion  of  nn*.  Cobbit,  they  that  then  did 
plead  a  right  by  fencing,  did  yield  up  all  their  right  freely  to  the  Inhabitants 
of  the  Towne,  of  which  Thomas  Dexter,  senior,  was  one." 

5.  "  We,  George  Sagomore  and  the  Sagomore  of  Agawam,  doe  testify  that 
Duke  William,  so  called,  did  sell  all  Nahant  unto  ffarmer  Dexter  for  a  suite 
of  Cloathes,  which  cloathes  flfarmer  Dexter  had  again,  and  gave  vnto  Duke 
William,  so  called,  2  or  3  coates  for  it  again."  [Signed  by  the  marks  of  the 
two  sagamores.] 

6.  "  This  I,  Christopher  Linsie,  doe  testifie,  that  Thomas  Dexter  bought 
Nahant  of  Blacke  Will,  or  Duke  William,  and  employed  me  to  fence  part  of  it 
when  I  lived  with  Thomas  Dexter." 

U  16 


242  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1657. 


7.  "  I,  John  Legg,  aged  47  years  or  thereabouts,  doe  testifie,  that  when  I 
was  Mr.  Humphreys  servant,  there  came  unto  my  master's  house  one  Black*; 
Will,  as  wee  call  him,  an  Indian,  with  a  compleate  Suit  on  his  backe ;  I  asked 
him  where  he  had  that  suit ;  he  said  he  had  it  of  fFarmer  Dexter,  and  he  had 
sould  him  Nahant  for  it." 

Depositions  were  also  given  by  Richard  Walker,  Edward  Hol- 
yoke,  G-eorge  Farr,  William  Dixey,  William  Witter,  John  Rams- 
dell,  John  Hedge,  William  Harcher,  and  others.  [And  it  is  fair 
to  give  Mr.  Dexter's  own  statement  of  his  case,  on  the  appeal. 
It  was  evidently  drawn  up  by  one  skilled  in  legal  proceedings : 

1.  The  Plaintiff  pleadeth  his  right  therein  and  thereto  by  purchase  of  the 
Indians,  above  26  years  now  past,  who  were  then  the  lawful  owners  thereof, 
as  by  the  testimony  off  Jno.  Legg,  Wm.  Witter,  George  Sagamore,  Sagamore 
of  Aguwame.  2.  The  Pit.  pleadeth  his  possession  y^off  by  fencing  and  other 
improvement,  as  by  the  testimony  of  Wm.  Witter  and  John  Legg,  Capt.  Traske 
and  Mrs.  Whiteiug.  3.  The  Plaintiff  humbly  comendeth  to  the  consideration 
of  the  Honoured  Court,  (I.)  That  the  purchase  was  by  no  law  then  prohibited 
or  made  voyd,  but  hath  since,  by  act  of  the  General  Court,  Octo.  19,  1652, 
written  lawes,  ben  confirmed  as  being  according  to  God's  word ;     .     .     .     . 

also  divers  examples  that  might  be  instanced  of  sundry 

persons  y*  do  injoy  those  lands,  which,  in  the  infancy  of  these  plantacons,  they 
came  by  their  possessions  in  like  manner.  (2.)  That  as  yet  no  act  or  instru- 
ment made  or  signed  by  tlie  Plaintiff  hath  appeared  to  manifest  any  alienacon 
thereof  to  the  defendants.  (3.)  That  they  are  parties  which  testify  against 
the  Plaintiff,  and  that  for  and  in  their  owne  behalfe,  and  many  of  them  such 
as  have  in  a  disorderly  manner  ingaged  themselves  in  a  special  manner  against 
the  Plaintiff  and  his  right ;  as  may  appear  by  the  testimony  of  Ri.  Woodey ; 
their  combinacon  of  assaulting  his  person,  &c.  (4.)  That  if  there  be  no  reme- 
dy but  what  they  will  swea-  must  passe  as  truth,  (although  the  Plaintiff  con- 
ceives it  to  be  very  false,)  j^et  nevertheless  the  Plaintiff  conceiveth  himself  to 
be  wronged  in  that  he  had  no  part  found  for  him,  whenas,  by  y^  owne  oath 
and  confession,  as  he  was  an  Inhabitant  of  Lin,  so  he  had  a  share  with  them, 
the  which  as  yet  they  have  not  sworne,  as  he  conceiveth,  that  he  either  gave  it 
them  or  any  other,  and  therefore  seeing  he  sued  but  for  his  interest  therein, 
whether  more  or  less,  he  mai*velleth  y*  such  a  verdict  should  be  brought  against 
him,  and  humbly  entreateth  releif  therefrom  by  this  Honored  Court. 

24  (6)  57.     [24  Aug.  1657.]  Thomas  Dexter.] 

Mr.  Dexter  was  afterward  granted  liberty  to  tap  the  pitch 
pine  trees  on  Nahant,  as  he  had  done  before,  for  the  purpose 
of  making  tar. 

A  vessel  owned  by  Captain  Thomas  Wiggin,  of  Portsmouth, 
was  wrecked  on  the  Long  Beach,  and  the  sails,  masts,  anchor, 
&c.  purchased  by  Thomas  Wheeler,  on  the  third  of  June. 

Sagamore  Wenepoykin  petitioned  the  General  Court,  on  the 
twenty-first  of  May,  that  he  might  possess  some  land,  formerly 
owned  by  his  brother,  called  Powder  Horn  Hill,  in  Chelsea.  He 
was  referred  to  the  county  court. 

[John  Aldeman,  of  Salem,  by  will  dated  3  July,  beqi^eaths 
one  cow  to  Mr.  Whiting,  of  Lynn,  and  one  to  Mr.  Cobbet.  He 
also  gives  "  one  cow  and  one  cave  to  y®  Indians  y*  Mr.  Eliot 
doth  preach  vnto."] 


ANNALS    OF   LYNN — 1658.  243 


1658. 

At  the  Court  of  Assistants,  on  the  13th  of  May,  the  towns 
of  Lynn,  Reading,  and  Chelsea,  received  permission  to  raise  a 
troop  of  horse,  [and  choose  their  own  officers  "  provided  they 
be  not  fferry  free,  nor  have  five  shillings  yeerly  allowed  them 
from  the  country,  as  other  troopers  have.''] 

At  the  Quarterly  Court,  on  the  29th  of  June,  Lieutenant 
Thomas  Marshall  was  authorized  to  perform  the  ceremony  of 
marriage,  and  to  take  testimony  in  civil  cases.  [Mr.  Lewis 
seems  to  have  taken  this  Lieut.  Marshall  to  have  been  Capt. 
Marshall,  of  Lynn  ;  but  I  think  he  was  another  person  and  resid- 
ed elsewhere.  There  were  several  of  the  name  of  Thomas 
Marshall,  in  the  colony.  Capt.  Marshall,  of  Lynn,  the  joll}^  land- 
lord of  the  "Blew  Anchor"  tavern,  was,  indeed  empowered  to 
perform  the  nuptial  ceremony,  but  not  till  the  next  year.  See 
second  paragraph  under  date  1659.  And  it  appears  pretty  cer- 
tain that  at  the  time  of  his  appointment  there  could  have  been 
no  other  in  Lynn  authorized  to  join  in  marriage,  for  the  appoint- 
ment is  prefaced  by  the  declaration  that  there  are  "  seuerall 
tounes  w*Mn  this  jurisdiction  who  are  not  only  remote  from  any 
magistrate,  but  also  destitute  of  any  person  impowered  to  so- 
lemnize marriage,  the  want  whereof  is  an  occasion  of  some^jmes 
disappointment."  And  herein  we  have  certain  evidence  that  the 
early  ministers  had  no  power  to  marry ;  perhaps  because  the 
authorities  chose  to  look  upon  marriage  as  a  mere  civil  contract ; 
swerving  to  the  opposite  of  those  high  churchmen  who  were 
charged  with  regarding  it  in  the  light  of  a  sacrament.] 

This  year  there  was  a  great  earthquake  in  New  England, 
connected  with  which  is  the  following  story  : 

Some  time  previous,  on  a  pleasant  evening,  a  little  after 
sunset,  a  small  vessel  was  seen  to  anchor  near  the  mouth  of 
Saugus  river.  A  boat  was  presently  lowered  from  her  side,  into 
which  four  men  descended,  and  moved  up  the  river  a  considera- 
ble distance,  when  they  landed,  and  proceeded  directly  into  the 
woods.  They  had  been  noticed  by  only  a  few  individuals ;  but 
in  those  early  times,  when  the  people  were  surrounded  by  dan- 
ger, and  easily  susceptible  of  alarm,  such  an  incident  was  well 
calculated  to  awaken  suspicion,  and  in  the  course  of  the  evening 
the  intelligence  was  conveyed  to  many  houses.  In  the  morning, 
the  people  naturally  directed  their  eyes  towards  the  shore,  in 
search  of  the  strange  vessel  —  but  she  was  gone,  and  no  trace 
could  be  found  either  of  her  or  her  singular  crew.  It  was  after- 
ward ascertained  that,  on  that  morning,  one  of  the  men  at  the 
Iron  Works,  on  going  into  the  foundry,  discovered  a  paper,  on 
which  was  written,  that  if  a  quantity  of  shackles,  handcuffs, 
hatchets,  and  other  articles  of  iron  manufacture,  were  made  and 


244  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1658 

deposited,  with  secresy,  in  a  certain  place  in  tne  woods,  which 
was  particularly  designated,  an  amount  of  silver,  to  their  full 
value,  would  be  found  in  their  place.     The  articles  were  made 
in  a  few  da^^s,  and  placed  in  conformity  with  the  directions.     On 
the  next  morning  they  were  gone,  and  the  money  was  found 
according  to  the  promise ;  but  though  a  watch  had  been  kept, 
no   vessel   was   seen.     Some   months  afterward,   the  four  men 
returned,  and  selected  one  of  the   most  secluded  and  romantic 
spots  in  the  woods  of  Saugus,  for  their  abode.     The  place  of 
their  retreat  was  a  deep,  narrow  valley,  shut  in  on  two  sides  by 
high  hills  and  craggy,  precipitous  rocks,  and  shrouded  on  the 
others  by  thick   pines,   hemlocks,   and   cedars,   between   which 
there  was  only  one  small  spot  to  which  the  rays  of  the  sun,  at 
noon,  could  penetrate.     On  climbing  up  the  rude  and  almost 
perpendicular  steps  of  the  rock  on  the   eastern  side,  the  eye 
could  command  a  full  view  of  the  bay  on  the  south,  and  a  pros- 
pect of  a  considerable  portion  of  the  surrounding  country.     The 
place  of  their  retreat  has  ever  since  been  called  the  Pirates' 
Glen,  and  they  could  not  have  selected  a  spot  on  the  coast,  for 
many  miles,  more  fxvorable   for  the  purposes  both  of  conceal- 
ment and  observation.     Even  at  this  day,  when  the  neighbor- 
hood has  become  thickly  peopled,  it  is  still  a  lonely  and  desolate 
place^  and  probably  not  one  in  a  hundred  of  the  inhabitants  has 
ever  descended  into  its  silent  and  gloomy  recess.     There  the 
pirates   built  a  small  hut,  made   a   garden,  and  dug  a  well,  the 
appearance  of  which  is  still  visible.     It  has  been  supposed  that 
they  buried  money ;  but  though  people  have  dug  there,  and  in 
several  other  places,  none  has  ever  been  found.     After  residing 
there  some  time,  their  retreat  became  known,  and  one  of  the 
king's  cruisers  appeared  on  the   coast.     They  were   traced  to 
the  glen,  and  three  of  them  were  taken  and  carried  to  England, 
where  it  is  probable  they  were  executed.     The   other,  whose 
name  was  Thomas  Yeal,  escaped  to  a  rock  in  the  woods,  about 
two  miles  to  the  north,  in  which  was  a  spacious-  cavern,  where 
the   pirates   had  previously  deposited   some   of  their  plunder. 
There  the  fugitive  fixed  his  residence,  and  practised  the  trade 
of  a  shoemaker,   occasionally  coming  down   to   the  village  to 
obtain  articles  of  sustenance.     He  continued  his  residence  till 
the  great  earthquake  this  year,  when  the  top  of  the  rock  was 
loosened,   and   crushed   down  into   the   mouth   of  the    cavern, 
enclosing  the  unfortunate  inmate,  in  its  unyielding  prison.     It 
has  ever  since  been  called  the  Pirate's  Dungeon. 

[By  his  romantic  labor  in  thus  gathering  together  detached 
and  dim  traditions,  and  giving  them  a  connected  form  and  local 
habitation,  Mr.  Lewis  has  succeeded  in  exciting  a  lively  interest 
in  many  minds  where  a  love  of  the  marvellous  could  hardly  have 
been  supposed  to  exist.     Without  any  desire  to  obliterate  the 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1658.  245 

glowiug  impressions  which  a  fond  credulity  loves  to  cherish,  it 
seems  a  duty  to  inquire  as  to  the  foundation  on  which  these 
stories  rest.  No  recorded  evidence  has  been  discovered  respect- 
ing the  persons  and  transactions  so  circumstantially  brought  to 
view.  Among  the  records  of  the  various  courts,  which  abound 
in  allusions,  at  least,  to  matters  of  even  the  most  trivial  signifi- 
cance, nothing  is  found.  And  none  of  the  gossiping  old  writers 
who  delighted  especially  to  dwell  upon  whatever  partook  of  the 
wonderful  and  mysterious  make  any  mention  of  these  things. 
The  alleged  abode  of  the  pirates  was  almost  within  a  stone^s 
throw  of  the  Iron  Works,  which  were  in  operation  at  the  time ; 
and  yet  we  find  no  evidence  that  any  about  the  Works  even 
suspected  the  neighborhood  of  the  outlaws.  I  once  directly 
questioned  Mr.  Lewis  as  to  whence  he  obtained  the  information  ; 
but  he  declined  answering.  It  has,  however,  been  understood 
that  he  simply  claimed  the  authority  of  tradition ;  and  is  said  to 
have  remarked  that  his  inquiries  on  the  subject  were  induced 
by  the  same  sort  of  evidence  that  induced  his  inquiries  concern- 
ing the  Iron  Works.  But  however  the  researches  may  have 
commenced,  they  must  have  been  pursued  under  very  different 
circumstances.  A  glance  at  the  colony  records,  would  at  once 
have  assured  anyone  of  the  existence  of  the  Iron  Works.  And 
in  recorded  deeds  they  are  again  and  again  mentioned,  as  well 
as  in  the  filed  depositions  of  individuals  connected  with  them. 
The}'  were  about  as  important  in  their  day,  as  is  the  mint  of 
the  United  States  in  this.  And  besides,  at  this  very  hour  may 
be  seen  the  heaps  of  scoria  which  were  ejected  from  their  sooty 
portals.  Mr.  Hiram  Marble,  who  is  now  engaged  in  excavating 
Dungeon  Rock,  probably  has  much  more  faith  in  the  supposed 
spiritual  revelations  that  day  by  day  are  vouchsafed  him,  than 
he  could  have  in  any  traditions.  And  if  he  should,  under  the 
spiritual  guidance,  discover  hidden  treasure,  and  traces  of  a 
piratical  abode  within  the  rock,  then  it  will  be  deemed  a  triumph 
of  spiritualism  entirely  eclipsing  the  few  obscure,  discordant 
traditions  that  float  up  from  an  age  of  mysteries. 

[It  was  in  1852,  that  Mr.  Marble  purchased  from  the  City  of 
Lynn  the  lot  of  woodland  in  which  the  Dungeon  Rock  is  situ- 
ated. He  came  hither,  a  stranger,  enticed  by  alleged  clairvoy- 
ant revelations,  and  immediately  commenced  the  laborious  task 
of  excavation.  And  he  has  continued  to  ply  the  ponderous 
drills  and  rending  blasts  for  these  twelve  years  with  a  courage 
and  faith  almost  sublime.  His  faith  surely  has  not  been  without 
works  nor  his  courage  barren  of  results.  And  centuries  hence, 
if  his  name  and  identity  should  be  lost,  the  strange  labor  may 
be  referred  to  some  recluse  cyclops  who  had  strayed  hither 
from  mystic  lands.  The  rock  is  of  very  hard  porphyry,  and  the 
work  has  been  so  extremely  uncomfortable  and  hazardous,  that 
U* 


24G  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1658. 

very  few  would  have  persisted  in  it.  The  course  of  the  exca- 
vation is  irregular,  and  such  as  a  sensible  mortal  might  avoid,  as 
involving  great  waste  of  labor.  But  it  is  declared  to  be  pursued 
under  spiritual  direction,  the  unseen  superintendents — there- 
doubtable  Yeal  among  the  rest  —  being  constantly  at  hand  to 
direct  where  a  blast  should  be  made.  As  it  can  readily  be 
believed  that  no  mortal  would  give  such  apparently  erratic 
directions,  spiritual  interposition  may  as  well  be  referred  to  for 
an  explanation. 

[Mr.  Marble  is  a  man  by  no  means  deficient  in  intelligence ; 
and  he  is  an  energetic  and  persevering  enthusiast — just  such  a 
person  as  often  accomplishes  great  things,  either  directly  or 
indirectly.  He  is  of  medium  size,  has  a  bright,  quick  eye,  and 
wears  a  flowing  beard,  of  sandy  hue,  which  does  not  always 
bear  evidence  of  having  immediately  been  under  the  restraining 
discipline  of  a  comb.  He  is  communicative,  and  in  his  conver- 
sation there  runs  a  pleasant  vein  of  jocularity.  He  is  now 
verging  upon  old  age,  and  his  health  has  become  somewhat 
impaired,  probably  through  the  severity  of  his  labors  in  that 
damp,  dark  cavern.  He  is  ready  to  converse  on  his  plans,  fears, 
and  hopes ;  and  with  great  good  nature,  and  some  times  with 
an  apparently  keen  relish,  alludes  to  the  jeers  and  taunts  of 
those  who  seem  disposed  to  rank  him  with  lunatics.  It  is 
refreshing  to  observe  his  faith  and  perseverance,  and  impossible 
not  to  conclude  that  he  derives  real  satisfaction  and  enjoyment 
from  his  undertaking.  He  informs  me  that  the  spirit  of  Mr. 
Lewis  has  appeared,  and  through  a  writing  medium  endeavored 
to  cheer  him  by  words  of  approval  and  promise.  That  being 
the  case,  Mr.  Lewis  must  surely  have  changed  his  sentiments 
since  he  left  this  world,  for  he  was  greatly  incensed  against 
those  who  laid  their  destroying  hands  upon  the  interesting 
objects  of  nature  within  our  borders.  And  the  reader,  by 
referring  to  the  first  paragraph  under  date  1834,  will  see  how 
indignantly  he  has  expressed  himself  in  regard  to  former 
attempts  on  the  integrity  of  this  very  rock.  The  hope  of  find- 
ing hidden  treasure  has  been  the  incentive  to  labors  here,  on 
a  small  scale,  in  former  years ;  and  it  is  presumed  that  Mr.  Mar- 
ble would  not  disclaim  a  kindred  motive  in  his  extraordinary 
application ;  secondary,  perhaps,  to  a  due  anxiety  ''  to  establish 
a  great  truth." 

[At  the  close  of  the  year  1863  the  passage  excavated  had 
reached  a  hundred  and  thirty-five  feet,  and  was  of  the  average 
height  and  width  of  seven  feet.  Mr.  Marble  —  who,  by  the 
way  is  a  native  of  Charlton,  in  Worcester  county,  and  was  born 
in  1803  —  when  he  undertook  the  labor  had  about  fifteen  hun- 
dred dollars  which  he  devoted  to  the  enterprise ;  and  that  fund 
being  exhausted,  he  has  for  the  last  eight  years  received  his 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1658.  247 

support  and  been  enabled  to  continue  his  work,  by  the  dona- 
tions of  visitors.  He  is  accustomed,  whenever  in  doubt  as  to  the 
course  he  should  pursue,  to  apply  for  spiritual  direction,  and 
seldom  or  never  conceives  his  application  to  be  in  vain.  The 
following  may  be  given  as  a  fair  specimen  of  his  singular  corres- 
pondence, the  originals  being  at  hand  while  we  write.  And 
that  he  has  perfect  confidence  in  them  as  genuine  communica- 
tions from  disembodied  spirits  is  beyond  question.  The  manner 
in  which  he  conducts  his  unique  correspondence,  may  be  illus- 
trated by  explaining  the  way  in  which  the  communication  from 
Yeal  was  obtained.  He  states  that  he  wrote  the  request  in  this 
form: 

"  I  wish  Veal  or  Han-is  would  tell  what  move  to  make  next." 
He  wrote  it  in  a  room,  while  entirely  alone,  and  folded  the  paper 
in  such  a  manner  that  the  writing  was  covered  by  fifteen  thick- 
nesses. The  medium  was  then  called,  and  merely  feeling  of  the 
exterior  of  the  folded  paper,  took  a  pencil  and  wrote  what  the 
spirit  of  Veal  gave,  through  him,  as  the  response.  The  one 
called  Captain  Harris  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  leader  of  the 
piratical  band. 

Response  of  Veal  :  "  My  dear  charge :  You  solicit  me  or  Captain  Harris 
to  advise  you  as  to  what  to  next  do.  Well,  as  Harris  says  he  has  always  the 
heft  of  the  load  on  his  shoulders,  I  will  try  and  respond  myself,  and  let  Harris 
rest.  Ha !  ha !  Well,  Marble,  we  must  joke  a  bit ;  did  we  not,  we  should 
have  the  blues,  as  do  you,  some  of  those  rainy  days,  when  you  see  no  living 
person  at  the  rock  save  your  own  dear  ones.  Not  a  sound  do  you  hear  save 
the  woodpecker  and  that  little  gray  bird,  [a  domesticated  canary,]  that  sings 
all  the  day  long,  more  especially  wet  days,  tittry,  tittiy,  tittry,  all  day  long. 
But,  Marble,  as  Long  [a  deceased  friend  of  Mr.  Marble,  spoken  of  below,] 
says,  don't  be  discouraged.  We  are  doing  as  fast  as  we  can.  As  to  the  course, 
you  are  in  the  right  direction,  at  present.  You  have  one  more  cui-ve  to  make, 
before  you  take  the  course  that  leads  to  the  cave.  We  have  a  reason  for  keep- 
ing you  from  entering  the  cave  at  once.  Moses  was  by  the  Lord  kept  forty 
years  in  his  circuitous  route,  ere  he  had  sight  of  that  land  which  flowed  with 
milk  and  honey.  God  had  his  purpose  m  so  doing,  notwithstanding  he  might 
have  led  Moses  into  the  promise  in  a  very  few  days  from  the  start.  But  no ; 
God  wanted  to  develop  a  truth,  and  no  faster  than  the  minds  of  the  people 
were  prepared  to  receive  it.  Cheer  up.  Marble ;  we  are  with  you,  and  doing 
all  we  can.  Your  guide,  Tom  Veal." 

[It  seems  proper  to  present  another  illustration  of  this  singu- 
lar phase  of  human  credulity ;  and  we  give  one  that  purports  to 
come  from  the  spirit  of  the  Mr.  Long,  who  is  alluded  to  in  the 
response  of  Veal,  and  who  died  in  1851.  He  was  a  man  of 
good  character,  and  a  steadfast  friend  of  Mr.  Marble.  One  of 
the  most  suspicious  things,  in  our  view,  concerning  him  is,  that 
going  out  of  this  world  with  an  untarnished  reputation,  and  with 
the  seal  of  good  orthodox  churchmembership,  he  should  so  soon 
be  found  concerting  with  pirates  to  allure  his  old  friend  into 
labors  so  severe  and  unfruitful.     The  rhetorical  flourish  about 


OJ 


248  ANNALS  OF  LYNN 1658. 

millions  of  years,  near  the  close,  would  be  thought  weakenin 
did  it  come  from  a  mortal.  The  Edwin  alluded  to  is  Mr! 
Marble's  son,  who  has  faithfully  borne  a  heavy  share  in  the 
operations,  and  is,  if  possible,  a  more  confirmed  spiritualist 
than  his  father. 

Request  of  Mr.  Marble  :  "  Friend  Long,  I  want  you  to  advise  me  what 
to  do." 

Response  of  Long:  "My  dear  Marble,  I  have  nothing  to  advise  above 
what  Captain  Veal  and  HaiTis  have  already  advised.  We  act  in  concert  in 
eveiy  thing  given  you.  I  am  aware  you  feel  not  discouraged ;  but  you  feel 
that  after  ten  years'  hard  labor,  you  should  have  had  more  encouragement 
than  you  have  seemingly  had.  But,  dear  one,  we  have  done  the  most  we 
could  for  you,  and  though  we  may  be  slow  to  advise  you  in  reference  to  that 
which  your  highest  ambition  seems  to  be  —  the  establishment  of  a  truth 
which  but  few  comparatively  now  credit,  or  cannot  believe,  from  the  gross- 
ness  of  their  minds.  But,  Marble,  you  have  done  a  work  that  will  tell,  when 
you  shall  be  as  I  am.  The  names  of  Hiram  and  Edwin  Marble  will  live  when 
millions  of  years  shall  from  this  time  have  passed,  and  when  even  kings  and 
statesmen  shall  have  been  forgotten.  The  names  of  Hiram  Marble  and  Dun- 
geon Rock  shall  be  fresh  on  the  memoi-ies  of  the  inhabitants  that  then  exist. 
What  shall  you  do  ?  seems  to  be  the  question.  Follow  your  own  calculations 
or  impressions,  for  they  are  right. 

Yours  as  ever,  C.  B.  Long." 

[These  curious  communications  are  introduced  for  more  than 
one  purpose.  They  show  something  of  the  kind  of  encourage- 
ment Mr.  Marble  receives  in  his  arduous  labors.  And  they 
likewise  show  something  of  modern  spiritualism,  which  now  pre- 
vails to  some  extent  throughout  the  civilized  world.  Lynn  has 
had  a  good  share  of  believers,  some  of  whom  were  among  the 
intelligent  and  refined.  It  will  be  observed  that  the  orthogra- 
phy and  mode  of  expression  in  the  response  of  Yeal,  who,  if  he 
were  ever  in  this  world,  was  here  in  1658,  are  in  the  style  of  the 
present  day.  This  might  give  rise,  in  a  critical  mind,  to  a  strong- 
suspicion.  Indeed  it  is  not  easily  explained  excepting  oq  the 
supposition  that  the  medium,  after  all,  acts  himself,  in  part  — 
and  if  so,  in  how  great  a  part?  —  or  the  supposition  that  the 
spirits  of  the  departed  are  enabled  to  continue  on  in  the  pro- 
gressive learning  of  this  sphere ;  or  by  taking  a  bolder  sweep 
and  at  once  awarding  to  the  spirits  the  attribute  of  omniscience. 
There  are  difficulties  in  the  way  of  reasoning  in  such  matters, 
because  they  lie  in  that  mystic  province  into  which  no  human 
vision  can  penetrate  —  where  the  vagrant  imagination  so  often 
revels  undisturbed.  And  then  again,  the  allusion  to  sacred 
things,  in  VeaPs  response,  does  not  seem  in  exact  accordance 
with  the  character  of  an  abandoned  outlaw. 

[Spiritualism,  however,  in  the  case  of  Mr.  Marble,  seems  to 
have  been  productive  of  good.  He  states  that  he  was  formerly 
an  unmitigated  infidel,  having  no  sort  of  belief  in  man's  immor- 
tality.    Even  for  some  time  after  he   commenced  his  labors  at 


ANNALS    OP    LYNN — 1658.  249 

Dungeon  Rock,  he  clung  to  his  frigid  principles.  And  it  was 
not  till  after  repeated  exhibitions  of  what  he  was  forced  to 
receive  as  spiritual  manifestations,  around  him,  that  his  old 
opinions  began  to  loosen.  To  minds  constituted  essentially 
like  that  of  Mr.  Marble,  and  there  are  a  great  many,  the  doc- 
trines of  spiritualism  must  commend  themselves  as  fond  reali- 
ties ;  and  they  bringing  consolation  and  trust.  And  they  are 
doctrines  which,  under  different  names  and  forms  have  existed 
ever  since  the  world  began.  It  must  be  a  strong  incentive  that 
could  induce  a  man  to  quit  the  ordinary  pursuits  of  life,  and 
take  up  his  abode  in  a  lonely  forest,  as  Mr.  Marble  has  done, 
there  devoting  years  to  the  severest  toil,  and  undergoing  so 
many  and  great  privations. 

[In  a  late  conversation,  Mr.  Marble  expressed  a  desire  that 
the  facts  regarding  his  enterprise  might  be  stated  in  this  history, 
to  the  end  that  the  people  of  future  generations  might  have 
some  data  by  which  to  judge  concerning  the  pretensions  of  the 
spiritualists  of  this  period ;  saying  that  if  he  should  discover, 
somewhere  in  the  interior  of  that  hill  of  rock,  a  cave  containing 
treasure,  and  evidences  of  ancient  occupancy,  all  according  to 
the  lavish  assurances  he  has  been  daily  receiving  from  the  spirit 
host,  the  truths  of  spiritualism  will  be  considered  most  strongly 
fortified,  if  not  established.  There  is  wisdom  and  fairness  in 
this.  And  on  the  other  hand,  failure  will  teach  a  useful  lesson, 
a  lesson  that  will  remain  before  the  eyes  of  men  so  long  as  the 
rock  itself  endures.  In  either  event,  the  Dungeon  Rock  is 
destined  to  be  forever  famous ;  to  remain  a  monument  of  irra- 
tional credulity  or  triumphant  faith. 

[A  few  words  should  be  added  regarding  the  Pirates'  Glen. 
This  remarkable  locality,  though  exactly  the  opposite  of  the 
Dungeon  Rock  in  some  of  its  principal  features,  being  a  deep 
ravine  instead  of  a  commanding  elevation,  still  possesses  rare 
attractions,  notwithstanding  its  fame  has  become  so  eclipsed. 
During  the  last  score  of  years,  a  great  portion  of  the  wood  io 
the  vicinit}^  has  been  swept  off.  The  axe  is  the  most  unsenti- 
mental of  instruments,  and  by  its  ravages  much  of  the  former 
grandeur  and  beauty  of  the  scene  has  been  extinguished.  Quite 
enough  remains,  however,  to  abundantly  compensate  the  visitor 
who  enjoys  nature  in  her  more  untamed  aspect.  On  a  recent 
visit  I  took  particular  notice  of  the  old  well  from  which  the 
pirates  are  supposed  to  have  drawn  their  supplies.  It  was  cer- 
tainly excavated  by  human  hands  and  if  the  fact  were  once 
established,  that  pirates  dwelt  there,  it  might  be  fair  to  refer 
the  work  to  them.  But  the  reasoning  which  claims  the  exist- 
ence of  the  well  as  proof  of  the  residence  of  the  pirates,  is  no 
more  conclusive  than  that  which  claims  the  fact  that  the  Dun- 
geon Rock  was  riven  by  an  earthquake  and  a  portion  projected 


250  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1659. 

forward,  as  proof  that  a  cave  was  thereby  closed  up  and  a  pirate 
entombed  alive,  with  his  treasure.  The  well  may  have  been 
dug  for  the  convenience  of  those  employed  in  the  woods.  Be- 
ing in  a  swampy  place,  and  hence  requiring  but  little  depth,  a 
few  hours  were  suflScient  for  the  labor  of  excavation.  The 
water  ordinarily  stands  almost  at  the  surface.  The  Glen  would 
have  furnished  a  most  apt  place  for  the  jolly  iron  workers  and 
their  sweethearts  to  retire  to,  on  a  summer  holiday,  to  pursue 
their  sports  and  drink  their  punch.  And  the  convenience  of  a 
well  would  have  been  to  them  worth  the  small  labor  of  the 
digging.  It  may  be  remarked  in  passing,  that  the  evidence 
of  the  splitting  of  Dungeon  Rock,  by  the  earthquake  of  this 
year,  is  not  the  most  satisfactory.  But  it  is  not  an  agreeable 
task  to  reason  against  what  a  doting  imagination  has  long  held  in 
keeping.  And,  moreover,  it  becomes  one  to  be  wary  in  making 
aggressive  suggestions  on  these  mysterious  topics,  lest  Mr. 
Marble's  future  success  should  turn  the  laugh  upon  him.] 

1659. 

A  road  was  laid  out  from  Lynn  to  Marblehead,  over  the 
Swampscot  beaches,  on  the  fifth  of  July.  In  reference  to  the 
part  between  Ocean  street  and  King's  Beach,  the  committe  say, 
"  it  has  been  a  country  highway  thirty  and  odd  years,  to  the 
knowledge  of  many  of  us." 

[Captain  Marshall,  of  Lynn,  was  empowered  by  the  General 
Court,  18  October,  to  join  in  marriage  such  persons  in  Lynn  as 
might  desire  his  services  in  that  interesting  connection,  they 
"being  published  according  to  lawe."] 

At  the  Quarterly  Court,  on  the  29th  of  November,  "  Thomas 
Marshall,  of  Lynn,  is  alowed  by  this  court,  to  sell  stronge  water 
to  trauillers,  and  also  other  meet  provisions." 

The  General  Court  had  passed  some  very  severe  laws  against 
the  people  called  Friends  or  Quakers,  forbidding  any  even  to 
admit  them  into  their  houses,  under  a  penalty  of  forty  shillings 
an  hour.  Mr.  Zacheus  Gould  had  ojffended  against  this  order, 
for  which  he  was  arraigned  by  the  Court.  On  the  25th  of  No- 
vember, "  the  deputies  having  heard  of  what  Zacheus  Gould 
hath  alleged  in  Court,  in  reference  to  his  entertainment  of  Qua- 
kers, do  think  it  meet  that  the  rigor  of  the  law  in  that  case 
provided,  be  exercised  upon  him,  but  considering  his  ingenious 
confession,  and  profession  of  his  ignorance  of  the  law ;  and  he 
also  having  long  attended  the  Court,  do  judge  that  he  shall  only 
be  admonished  for  his  offence  by  the  governor,  and  so  be  dis- 
missed the  court,  and  all  with  reference  to  the  consent  of  our 
honored  magistrates  hereto."  This  decision  of  the  deputies 
was  sent  to  the  magistrates,  and  returned  with  this  endorse- 
ment: "The  magistrates  consent  not  thereto."     So  it  is  proba- 


ANNALS    OF   LYNN  —  1660.  251 

ble  that  Mr.  Gould  was  compelled  to  pay  his  fine.  [The  Court 
ordered  that  Mr.  Gould  pay  a  fine  of  three  pounds.  But  the  fine 
was  remitted,  31  May,  1660,  in  consideration  of  the  great  loss, 
by  fire,  which  he  had  recently  sustained.] 

The  Court  this  year  enacted  that  the  festival  of  Christmas 
should  not  be  observed,  under  a  penalty  of  five  shillings. 

1660. 

Mr.  Adam  Hawkes  commenced  a  suit,  in  June,  against  Oliver 
Purchis,  agent  for  the  Iron  Company,  for  damage  by  overflow- 
ing his  land.  The  following  papers  relating  to  this  subject, 
were  found  in  the  files  of  the  Quarterly  Court. 

The  deposition  of  Joseph  Jenks,  senior,  saith,  that  having  conference  with 
adam  hawkes  about  the  great  dam  at  the  Iron  works  at  Lin,  he  complayned 
that  he  suffered  great  damage  by  the  water  flowing  his  ground.  I  answered 
him,  I  thought  you  had  satisfaction  for  all  from  the  old  companie  ;  he  said  he 
had  from  the  old  company,  and  further  saith  not. 

This  I,  Charles  Phillopes  do  testifie,  that  I,  keepeing  of  the  watter  at  the 
L'one  Workes,  since  Mr.  Porchas  came  there,  Mr.  Porchas  did  att  all  times 
charge  me  to  keepe  the  watter  Lowe,  that  it  might  not  damage  Mr.  Hawkes, 
which  I  did,  and  had  much  ill  will  of  the  workmen  for  the  same. 

Others  testified  that  the  lands  had  been  much  overflowed. 
Francis  Hutchinson  said,  that  the  water  had  been  raised  so 
high,  that  the  bridge  before  Mr.  Hawkes's  house  had  several 
times  been  broken  up,  and  "the  peces  of  tember  raised  up  and 
Made  Sweme."  John  Knight  and  Thomas  Wellman  were  ap- 
pointed to  ascertain  the  damage.  They  stated  that  the  corn 
had  been  "  Much  Spoilled,"  and  the  wells  "  sometimes  ffloted  ; " 
that  the  English  grass  had  been  much  damaged,  and  the  to- 
bacco lands  much  injured,  "  in  laying  them  so  Coulld.'^  They 
judged  the  damage  to  be  the  "  ualloation  of  ten  pounds  a 
yeere." 

[This  year  Charles  II.  took  possession  of  the  throne  of  Eng- 
land. Joseph  Jenks,  Jr.,  who  worked  with  his  father  at  the 
Iron  Works,  and  who  seems  not  to  have  been  very  strongly 
attached  to  the  monarch,  was  accused  of  treason,  having,  proba- 
bly during  some  free  and  easy  discussion  with  the  other  work- 
men, or  perhaps  in  a  political  dispute  with  the  dignitaries 
assembled  at  the  tavern,  after  the  labors  of  the  day,  made 
divers  careless  remarks  that  did  not  favorably  strike  the  loyal 
minds.  He  was  brought  before  the  Court  on  the  first  of  the 
next  April,  and  several  depositions  were  made  against  him. 
Nicholas  Pinion  deposed  that  he  "  did  heere  Joseph  Jinks,  jun. 
say  that  if  he  hade  the  king  heir,  he  wold  cutte  of  his  head  and 
make  a  football  of  it."  Thomas  Tower  testified  that  when  the 
king's  name  was  mentioned  Mr.  Jenks  said,  "  I  should  rather 
that  his  head  were  as  his  father's,  rather  than  he  should  come 


252  ANNALS  OF  LYNN  — 1661,   1662,   1663. 

to  England  to  set  up  popery  there."  Several  others  testified  to 
siroilar  speeches.  He  was  imprisoned  while  the  case  remain- 
ed undetermined,  the  punctilious  authorities  probably  taking  a 
strict  view  of  the  unbailable  character  of  treason.  While  in 
durance,  Mr.  Jenks  wrote  a  long  letter  to  the  Court;  and  they 
finally  decided  that  the  words  proved  against  him,  "  were  all 
too  weak  to  prove  him  guilty  of  treason."] 

1661. 

''  At  a  Generall  Towne  Meetinge,  the  30th  of  December,  1661, 
vpon  the  request  of  Daniell  Salmon  for  some  land,  in  regard  he 
was  a  soldier  att  the  Pequid  warrs,  and  it  was  ordered  by  vote 
that  Ensign  John  ffuller,  Allen  Breed,  senior,  and  Richard  John- 
son, should  vew  the  land  adjoyninge  to  his  house  lott,  and  to 
giue  report  of  it  vnto  the  next  towne  meetinge." 

["  The  canker  worm,"  says  John  Hull,  writing  this  year, 
"  hath  for  fower  years  devoured  most  of  the  apples  in  Boston." 
And  he  adds  that  the  apple  trees,  in  June,  look  as  if  it  were  No- 
vember. So  those  pests  are  not  especially  a  modern  infliction, 
in  this  vicinity,  as  some  have  supposed.] 

1662. 

Mr.  William  Longley  prosecuted  the  town,  for  not  laying  out 
to  him  forty  acres  of  land,  according  to  the  division  of  1638. 
The  case  was  defended  by  John  Hathorne  and  Henry  Collins. 
In  March,  the  Court  decided  that  he  should  have  the  forty  acres 
of  land  or  forty  pounds  in  money.  [For  some  curious  facts 
connected  with  this  matter,  see  page  175.] 

On  13  May,  the  boundary  line  between  Lynn  and  Boston  was 
marked.  It  ran  "from  the  middle  of  Bride's  brooke,  where  the 
foot  path  now  goeth."  This  line  has  since  become  the  boundary 
between  Saugus  and  Chelsea. 

[This  year,  the  price  of  oak  wood  was  one  shilling  and  six- 
pence a  cord. 

[It  was  customary,  at  this  period,  for  Indians  to  bring  ches- 
nuts  hither,  for  sale.  They  usually  sold  them  at  a  shilling  a 
bushel.] 

For  the  first  time  since  the  organization  of  the  general  gov- 
ernment,  in  1634,  the  town  of  Lynn  sent  no  representative. 

1663. 

On  the  evening  of  26  January,  there  was  an  earthquake.  [It 
took  place  about  twilight,  and  proved  quite  severe;  chimneys 
fell,  and  in  many  instances  people  were  forced  to  seize  upon 
supports  to  prevent  falling.  On  the  evening  of  the  fifth  of  the 
next  month  another  earthquake  occurred ;  in  some  places  doors 
opened  and  shut,  walls  split,  bells  rang,  and  floors  fell.     And 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1663.  253 

between  that  time  and  July,  some  tln'rty  shocks  took  place.  In 
most  cases  the  earth  seemed  to  undulate,  as  if  upon  stupendous 
waves,  rolling  from  the  northwest.  In  some  instances  ponds 
were  dried  up,  the  courses  of  streams  changed,  trees  torn  up, 
and  hills  riven,] 

Mr.  John  Hathorne  complained  to  the  church  at  Lynn,  that 
Andrew  Mansfield  and  William  Longley  had  given  false  testi- 
mony in  the  recent  land  case,  for  which  they  were  censured. 
They  appealed  to  the  county  court,  accusing  Mr.  Hathorne  of 
slander,  of  which  he  was  found  guilty,  and  sentenced  to  pay  a 
fine  of  c£10,  and  make  a  public  acknowledgment  in  the  meeting- 
house at  Lynn ;  or  else  to  pay  £20  and  costs.  [See  notice  of 
Richard  Longly,  page  175.]  On  the  fourth  of  April,  the  court 
directed  the  following  letter  to  the  church  at  Lynn. 

Reverend  and  loving  Friends  and  Brethren :  We  undei'stand  that  John  Hath- 
orne hath  accused  Andrew  Mansfield  and  William  Longley  in  the  church  of 
Lynn,  for  giving  a  false  testimony  against  himself  and  Henry  Collins,  at  the  court 
of  Ipswich,  in  March  this  was  12  month,  and  for  which  the  said  Mansfield  and 
Longley  stand  convicted  in  the  church,  and  finding  themselves  aggrieved 
thereat,  hath  brought  their  complaint  against  the  said  Hathorne  in  several 
actions  of  slander,  which  hath  had  a  full  and  impartial  hearing,  and  due 
examination,  and  by  the  verdict  of  the  jury  the  said  Hathorne  is  found  guilty. 
Now  because  it  is  much  to  be  desired  that  contrary  judgments  in  one  and  the 
same  case  may  be  prevented,  if  possibly  it  may  be  attained,  and  one  power 
strive  not  to  clash  against  the  other,  we  thought  it  expedient,  before  we  give 
judgment  in  the  case,  to  commend  the  same  to  the  serious  consideration  and 
further  examination  of  the  church.  We  doubt  not  but  that  there  hath  been 
even  more  than  a  few  both  in  the  words  and  carriage  of  all  the  parties  con- 
cerned, (though  not  the  crime  alleged),  which  if  it  may  please  God  to  put 
into  theii"  hearts  to  see  and  own  so  as  may  give  the  church  opportunity  and 
cause  to  change  their  mind  and  reverse  their  censures,  so  far  as  concerns  the 
particular  case  in  question,  we  hope  it  will  be  acceptable  to  God,  satisfactory 
to  ourselves  and  others,  and  the  beginning  of  their  own  peace  and  quiet,  the 
disturbance  whereof  hitherto  we  are  very  sensible  of,  and  shall  at  all  times  be 
ready  to  afford  them  our  best  relief,  as  we  may  have  opportunity  or  cognizance 
thereof.  Had  you  been  pleased,  before  your  final  conclusion,  to  have  given 
us  the  grounds  of  your  offence,  we  should  kindly  have  resented  such  a  request, 
and  probably  much  of  your  trouble  might  have  been  prevented.  We  have 
deferred  giving  judgment  in  this  case  till  the  next  session  of  this  Court,  to  see 
what  effect  this  our  motion  may  have  with  them.  Now  the  God  of  peace  and 
wisdom  give  them  understanding  in  all  things,  and  guide  them  to  such  conclu- 
sions, in  this  and  all  other  causes  of  concernment,  as  may  be  agreeable  to  his 
will,  and  conducing  to  your  peace  and  welfare.  So  pray  your  friends  and 
brethren.  By  order  of  the  County  Court,  at  Ipswich. 

Robert  Lord,  Clerk. 

To  this  letter  Mr.  Whiting  made  the  following  reply,  on  the 
fourth  of  May : 

Honored  and  beloved  in  the  God  of  love :  We  have  received  your  letter, 
which  you  have  been  pleased  to  send  to  us,  wherein  we  perceive  how  tender 
you  are  of  our  peace,  and  how  wisely  careful  you  declare  yourselves  to  be  in 
preventing  any  clash  that  might  arise  between  the  civil  and  ecclesiastical 
powers,  for  which  we  desire  to  return  thanks  from  oui-  hearts  to  God  and 

V 


254  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1663. 


unto  you  concerning  the  matter  you  signify  to  us;  what  your  pleasure  is  that 
we  sliould  attend  unto,  we  in  all  humility  of  mind  and  desirous  of  peace,  have 
been  willing  to  prove  the  parties  concerned,  to  see  what  errors  they  would 
see  and  o^vn ;  and  for  his  part  that  complained  to  us,  he  doth  acknowledge 
his  uncomely  speeches  and  carriage  both  unto  the  marshal,  he  being  the 
court's  officer,  and  also  to  brethren  in  the  church,  Lr  the  agitation  of  the 
matter,  and  doth  condemn  himself  for  sin  in  ii,  but  for  tne  other  parties  that 
stand  convicted,  they  either  do  not  see  or  will  not  acknowledge  any  error 
concerning  their  testimony,  which  we  judge  they  ought.  Wherefore  we  hum- 
bly present  you  with  these  few  lines,  not  doubting  but  they  will  be  pleasing 
to  God  and  acceptable  to  you,  whatever  hath  been  suggested  to  yourselves  by 
others  that  bear  not  good  will  to  the  peace  of  our  church  ;  we  are  sure  of  this, 
and  our  consciences  bear  us  witness,  that  we  have  done  nothing  in  opposition 
to  you,  or  to  cast  any  reflection  upon  your  court  proceedings,  but  have  justi- 
fied you  all  along  in  what  you  have  done.  Secundum  Allegata  et  probata, 
[according  as  they  were  alleged  and  proved]  in  all  our  church  agitations, 
which  our  adversaries  can  tell,  if  they  would  witness ;  but  by  reason  of  this, 
that  some  of  our  brethren  did  swear  contrary  oaths,  we  thought  it  our  duty 
upon  complaint  made  to  us  to  search  who  they  were  that  swore  truly  and 
who  did  falsify  their  oath,  and  after  much  debate  and  dispute  on  Sunday 
days — [this  must  be  an  error;  sundry  days  is  no  doubt  intended.  Besides 
the  awkwardness  of  the  phrase  in  the  mouth  of  such  a  man  as  Mr.  Whiting, 
it  is  a  familiar  fact  that  the  Puritans  did  not  use  the  name  Sunday,  but  called 
the  fij'st  day  of  the  week  Lord's-day,  or  Sabbath,  and  occasionally  First-day.]  — 
about  this  matter,  we  did  judge  those  two  men  faulty,  wliich  in  conscience 
we  dare  not  go  back  from,  they  continuing  as  they  do  to  this  day.  Could  we 
discern  any  token  of  these  men's  repentance,  for  this  that  they  are,  especially 
one  of  them,  censured  in  the  church  for,  we  should  cheerfully  take  off  the 
censures;  but  inasmuch  as  they  justify  themselves,  and  tell  us  if  it  were  to  do 
again  they  would  do  it,  and  lift  up  their  crests  in  high  language  and  come  to 
such  animosities  from  the  jury's  verdict,  w^e  desu*e  the  honored  court  would 
not  count  us  transgressors  if  we  do  not  recede  from  what  we  have  done ; 
especially  considering  what  disturbers  they  have  been  to  us ;  especially  one 
of  them,  for  these  several  years.  Now,  therefore,  honored  and  dear  sirs,  see- 
ing by  what  we  have  done  we  have  gone  in  our  own  way  as  a  church  in  the 
search  after  sin,  we  hope  the  court  will  be  tender  of  us  and  of  him  that  com- 
plained to  us  on  that  account,  and  if  we  humbly  crave  that  it  be  not  grievous  to 
you  that  we  humbly  tell  you  that  in  our  judgment  the  discipline  of  these  churches 
must  fall;  and  if  so,  of  what  sad  consequence  it  will  be,  we  leave  it  to  those 
that  are  wiser  than  ourselves  to  judge,  for  this  case  being  new  and  never 
acted  before  in  this  country,  doth  not  only  reflect  on  our  church  but  on  all  the 
churches  in  the  country;  for  if  delmquents  that  are  censured  in  churches, 
shall  be  countenanced  by  authorit}%  against  the  church  in  their  acting  in  a 
just  way,  we  humbly  put  it  to  the  consideration  of  the  court,  whether  there 
will  not  be  a  wide  door  opened  to  Erastianisme,*  which  we  hope  all  of 
us  do  abhor  from  our  hearts.  Now  the  God  of  peace  himself  give  the  country, 
courts  and  church  peace  always  by  all  means ;  grace  be  with  you  all  in  Christ 
Jesus.     Amen. 

Dated  the  4th,  3d,  1663,  with  the  consent  and  vote  of  the  church. 

Samuel  Whiting. 

On  the  next  day,  the  Court  replied  as  follows : 

Reverend  and  beloved:  We  are  veiy  sorry  our  endeavors  have  not  produced 
that  effect  we  hoped  and  desu*ed,  but  seem  to  have  been  interpreted  contrary 

*  Thomas  Erastus.  in  1647.  during  the  civil  war?  in  England,  contended  that  the  church  ha4  no 
power  to  censure  or  decree.    This  opinion  was  termed  Erastianism. 


ANNALS    OP    LYNN — 1664.  255 


to  our  intentions,  (and,  we  conceive,  our  words,)  as  an  encroachment  and 
destructive  to  the  right  and  power  of  the  churches.  We  have  been  taught, 
and  do  verily  believe,  the  civil  and  ecclesiastical  power  may  very  well  consist, 
and  that  no  cause  is  so  purely  ecclesiastical,  but  the  civil  power  may  in  its 
way  deal  therein.  We  are  far  from  thinking  the  churches  have  no  power  but 
what  is  derived  from  the  christian  magistrates,  or  that  the  civil  magistrate 
hath  ecclesiastical  powers,  yet  may,  and  ought,  the  matter  so  requiring,  take 
cognizance  and  give  judgment  in  solving  a  case,  not  in  a  church  but  civil  way. 
We  suppose  we  "have  kept  much  within  these  bounds  in  the  case  that  hath 
been  before  us,  and  that  our  opinion  and  practice  herein  hath  been  as  clear 
from  Erastianisme,  as  some  men's  assertions  have  been  from  the  opposite 
error,  and  the  declared  judgments  of  our  congregational  divines.  In  that 
point,  we  own  and  desire  so  to  regulate  our  proceedings  accordingly.  The 
God  of  order  guide  all  our  mdnis&'ations  to  his  glory,  and  the  peace  and  edifi- 
cation of  his  people. 

By  order  and  unanimous  consent  of  the  County  Court,  sitting  at  Ipswich, 
May  5th,  1663,  p.  me.  *     Robert  Lord,  Clerk. 

[For  a  year  or  two,  difficulties  seem  to  have  existed  regard- 
ing the  organization  and  disposition  of  the  "  Lynn  troopers.'^ 
The  Court,  in  June,  judged  it  meet  to  declare,  "that  Capt. 
Hutchinsons  comission  doeth  bind  him  to  comand  the  troopers 
residing  in  Lynne,  that  are  listed  w*^^  him,  as  formerly."  And 
in  October  the  Court  say,  in  answer  to  a  petition  of  the  Lynn 
troopers,  that  "  henceforth  the  troopers  inhabitting  in  Lynne, 
shall  apperteine  unto  and  joyne  w*^  Salem  troope,  .  .  .  except- 
ing only  such  as  shall  rather  choose  to  continue  w*^  the  Three 
County  Troope,  and  shall  certify  theire  desire  soe  to  doe,  under 
theire  hands,  at  the  next  meeting  of  Salem  troope." 

[There  was  a  great  eclipse  of  the  sun,  22  August,  the  light 
becoming  "  almost  like  eventyde,"  as  a  writer  of  the  time  ob- 
serves.] 

1664. 

On  the  28th  of  June,  Theophilus  Bayley  was  licensed  to  keep 
a  public  house.     (Q.  C.  Files.) 

This  year  the  wheat  is  first  mentioned  to  have  been  blasted. 
(Hubbard.)  Little  has  been  raised  on  the  sea  coast  of  New 
England  since. 

A  public  fast  was  appointed  on  account  of  dissensions  and 
troubles. 

In  November,  a  comet  appeared,  and  continued  visible  till 
February.  [In  Bradstreet's  journal  this  comet  is  noticed  in  a 
manner  that  aptly  illustrates  the  popular  opinion  regarding  the 
influence  of  such  celestial  visitants.  "  Novem.  A  great  blazing 
star  appeared  in  the  S :  west  w'^^  continued  some  monthes. 
The  effects  appeared  much  in  England,  in  a  great  and  dreadful 
plague  that  followed  the  next  sumer;  in  a  dreadfuU  warr  by 
sea  w*''  the  dutch;  and  the  burning  of  London  the  2"^  year 
following."  By  Josselyn  this  is  called  '^  the  great  and  dreadful 
comet."] 


256        ANNALS  OF  LYNN  — 1665,  1666,  1667. 


1665. 

On  the  27th  of  June,  Thomas  Laighton,  Oliver  Purchis,  and 
John  Fuller,  were  appointed  commissioners  to  try  small  causes. 

[A  fast  was  held,  in  June,  on  account  of  the  caterpillars  and 
palmer  worms.  John  Hull  makes  this  note :  '^  This  summer 
multitudes  of  flying  caterpillars  arose  out  of  the  ground,  and 
from  roots  of  corn,  making  such  a  noyse  in  the  aire,  that  travel- 
lers must  speak  lowd  to  hear  one  another ;  yet  they  only  seazed 
upon  the  trees  of  the  wilderness."  Could  these  ''flying  cater- 
pillars" have  been  locusts?] 

On  the  29th  of  November,  Mr.  Joseph  Jenks  was  admonished 
by  the  Salem  court,  for  not  attending  public  worship. 

[The  Court,  in  the  absence  of  newspapers  through  which  to 
promulgate  their  orders,  were  obliged,  on  many  occasions,  to 
resort  to  the  primitive  way  of  proclaiming  by  herald.  They 
order,  this  year,  that  a  declaration  be  "  published  by  M'"  Oliuer 
Purchis  on  horse  backe,  by  sound  of  trumpet,  and  that  Thomas 
Bligh,  the  trumpeter,  and  Marshall  Richard  Wajte  accompany 
him,  and  y'  in  the  close  he  say,  w*^  an  audible  vojce,  '  God  saue 
the  king.' "  It  can  hardly  be  imagined  that  Mr.  Purchis  ut- 
tered the  closing  ejaculation  with  any  great  heartiness,  as  he 
is  understood  to  have  been  a  decided  anti-royalist.] 

1666. 

Mr.  Andrew  Mansfield  was  chosen  town  recorder. 

On  the  7th  of  December,  the  General  Court  assembled  for 
religious  consultation  and  prayer,  in  which  Mr.  Whiting  and  Mr. 
Cobbet  sustained  a  part. 

[This  year  was  marked  by  several  conspicuous  events.  The 
small-pox  prevailed  extensively,  and  a  great  many  died  of  it. 
An  unusual  destruction  of  life  by  lightning,  also  took  place  ;  an 
almanac  memorandum  says,  ''  Divers  were  this  year  slain  by 
lightning."  Grasshoppers  and  caterpillars  did  great  mischief 
during  the  growing  season. 

[Nathaniel  Bishop  and  Hope  Allen,  curriers,  petitioned  the 
Court  to  forbid  tanners  and  shoemakers  exercising  the  trade 
of  curriers.  But  the  Court  judged  "  it  not  meete  to  grant  y® 
peticoners  request."] 

1667. 

[The  spring  was  so  forward  that  apple  trees  began  to  blossom 
by  the  18th  of  April.] 

At  the  Quarterly  Court,  on  the  26th  of  June,  Nathaniel  Kert- 
land,  John  Witt,  and  Ephraim  Hall,  were  presented,  '' for  pro- 
phaining  the  Lord's  Day,  By  Going  to  William  Craft's  house,  in 
time   of  publike   exercise,  (they  both  beiiig  at  meeting,)  and 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN  — 1668,  1669.  257 

Drinkeing  of  bis  sider,  and  Rosteiiig  his  Aples,  without  eyther 
the  consent  or  knowledge  of  him  or  his  wife.'' 

Mr.  Joseph  Jenks  presented  a  petition  to  the  General  Court 
for  aid  to  commence  a  wire  manufactory,  but  did  not  receive 
sufficient  encouragement. 

[Bradstreet  notes  that  "  toward  the  end  of  February,  there 
was  a  mighty  long  beam  appeared  in  the  S :  West,  and  was  seen 
four  or  five  nights ;  it  appeared  like  the  tail  of  a  comet,  but  no 
starre  was  to  bee  seen,  nor  had  it  any,  vnlesse  it  was  depressed 
vnder  y®  Horizon."  This,  taken  in  connection  with  the  descrip- 
tion given  in  Morton's  Memorial  has  led  some  to  suppose  that 
an  unsually  brilliant  display  of  the  zodiacal  light  then  took  place. 
But  I  do  not  see  how  it  could  have  been  that.  Most  likely  it 
was  a  comet  with  the  head  below  the  horizon,  or  without  a 
head  of  any  density.  But  whatever  it  was,  it  created  consider- 
able alarm  and  numerous  disasters  were  ascribed  to  its  agency. 
The  next  year.  Rev.  Mr.  Shepard  of  Rowley,  Rev.  Mr.  Flint  of 
Braintree,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Mitchell,  of  Cambridge,  died.  And  the 
apprehensive  Bradstreet  observes,  "Possibly  the  death  of  these 
precious  Servants  of  Christ  might  not  bee  the  least  thing  sig- 
nefyed  by  that  Blaze  or  Beam." 

[The  winter  of  this  year  ''  was  exceedingly  mild  above  N. 
English  winters,"  says  Bradstreet.  There  was  not  much  snow 
and  but  little  depth  of  frost.] 

1668. 

The  ministers  of  the  several  towns  assembled  in  Boston,  on 
the  15th  of  April,  to  hold  a  public  disputation  with  the  Baptists. 
Mr.  Whiting  and  Mr.  Cobbet  were  among  the  principal. 

On  the  13th  of  June,  Robert  Page,  of  Boston,  was  presented 
for  ^'  setinge  saille  from  Nahant,  in  his  boate,  being  Loaden  with 
wood,  thereby  Profaining  the  Lord's  daye." 

Land  on  the  north  side  the  Common  was  this  year  sold  for 
£4  an  acre ;  and  good  salt  marsh,  £1.10. 

1669. 

On  the  29th  of  April,  the  boundary  line  between  Lynn  and 
Salem  was  defined.  It  ran  from  the  west  end  of  Brown's  pond, 
in  Danvers,  "to  a  noated  Spring,"  now  called  Mineral  Spring; 
thence  to  "  Chip  Bridge,"  on  the  little  brook  which  runs  out 
near  the  house  of  John  Phillips,  to  the  sea  shore. 

[The  Dolphin,  a  vessel  belonging  to  Charlestown,  lost  a  top- 
sail and  some  other  rigging  in  Ipswich  Bay,  and  these  were 
taken  up  at  Lynn,  by  Mr.  King  —  Daniel  King,  it  is  probable, 
who  lived  at  Swampscot  —  and  he,  for  some  reason  that  does 
not  appear,  refused  to  give  them  up,  notwithstanding  recom- 
pense had  "  been  tendered  for  all  his  paynes  and  charge  in 
V*  17 


258  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1670. 

securing  the  same.  Uppon  application  for  redress,  by  the  mas- 
ter, Major  Hathorne  was  empowered  by  the  Court  to  heare  and 
determine  the  case  according  to  lawe,  to  allow  what  recompense 
he  shall  judge  meet,  and  cause  said  sayle  and  rigging  to  be 
delivered  to  the  sajd  master." 

[A  difference  existing  between  the  county  treasurer  and  the 
constable  of  Lynn,  ^'  about  the  prosecution  of  hues  en  cry,"  and 
on  some  other  accounts,  the  Court,  19  May,  gave  to  a  committee 
power  to  "  inspect  the  sajd  differences,  and  together  with  the 
treasurer,  to  put  issue  thereto."] 

1670. 

The  Court  ordered,  that  the  lands  of  deceased  persons  might 
be  sold  for  the  payment  of  debts.  Before  this,  if  a  person  died 
in  debt,  his  land  was  secure.  The  method  of  conveyance  was 
by  "  turfe  and  twig;"  that  is,  the  seller  gave  a  turf  from  the 
ground  and  a  twig  from  a  tree,  into  the  hands  of  the  buyer,  as 
a  token  of  relinquishment.  [This  is  a  mistake.  The  earlier 
practice  of  the  courts  here,  even  went  to  the  extent  of  treating 
real  estate  the  same  as  chattels  ;  in  administration,  allowing  sales 
to  be  made  regardless  of  heirship.  The  old  English  mode  of 
conveying,  by  turf  and  twig,  was  never  adopted  here.  It  was 
about  this  time,  however,  that  the  distinguishing  features  of 
real  estate  law  began  to  be  recogized ;  and  petitions  for  leave 
to  sell  were  occasionally  presented. 

[Capt  Marshall,  who  had  been  empowered  to  perform  the 
marriage  ceremony,  at  Lynn,  as  stated  under  date  1659,  was 
discharged  by  the  Court,  31  May,  "from  officyating  in  tliat 
implo3^ment."  He  seems  to  have  been  "  abused  by  the  misin- 
formation of  some,"  and  by  "  his  oune  ouermuch  credulity," 
and  to  have  exceeded  his  commission,  by  marrying  parties  from 
other  places,  and  such  as  had  not  been  legally  published.  Some 
of  his  grievous  offences  are  stated  on  the  colony  records.  It 
is  presumed  that  he  inconsiderately  performed  the  ceremony  in 
the  following  case.  "  Hope  AUin  and  John  Pease,  .  .  appear- 
ed in  Court,  and  y®  sajd  John  Pease  acknouledged,  that  not- 
withstanding the  counsell  of  the  major  general,  who  had  declined 
y®  marrying  of  M^  Deacon  to  Hope  Allins  daughter,  he  did  ac- 
company them  to  Lynn,  to  Capt.  Marshall,  &c.  and  Hope  Allin 
declared  he  did  give  his  consent  y*  y®  sajd  M^  Deacon  should 
have  his  daughter,  and  told  Capt.  Marshall  y*  he  hoped  they 
might  be  legally  published  before  y*  time,  &c. ;  the  Court  judged 
it  meet  to  censure  the  sajd  Hope  Allin  to  pay  ten  pounds  as  a 
fine  to  the  country  for  his  irregular  proceedure  and  John  Pease 
forty  shillings."  And  so  it  appears  that  Mr.  Allen  had  to  pay 
rather  dearly  for  manifesting  a  little  anxiety  to  get  his  daughter 
off  his  hands.] 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1671.  259 


1671. 

On  the  18th  of  January,  there  was  a  great  snow  storm,  in 
which  there  was  muph  thunder  and  lightning. 

The  following  memorandum  is  copied  from  the  leaf  of  a  Bible. 
May  22.  ''  A  very  awful  thunder,  and  a  very  great  storm  of  wind 
and  hail,  especially  at  Dorchester  town,  so  that  it  broke  many 
glass  windows  at  the  meeting-house." 

Mr.  Samuel  Bennet  sued  Mr.  John  Gilford,  the  former  agent 
of  the  Iron  Works,  and  attached  property  to  the  amount  of 
£400,  for  labor  performed  for  the  company.  On  the  27th  of 
June,  the  following  testimony  was  given :  '^  John  Paule  aged 
about  forty-five  years,  sworne,  saith,  that  living  with  Mr.  Sam- 
uel Bennett,  upon  or  about  the  time  that  the  Iron  Works  were 
seased  by  Capt.  Savage,  in  the  year  53  as  I  take  it,  for  I  lived 
ther  several  years,  and  my  constant  imployment  was  to  repaire 
carts,  coale  carts,  mine  carts,  and  other  working  materials  for 
his  teemes,  for  he  keept  4  or  5  teemes,  and  sometimes  6  teemes, 
and  he  had  the  most  teemes  the  last  yeare  of  the  Iron  Works, 
when  they  were  seased,  and  my  master  Bennet  did  yearly  yearne 
a  vast  sum  from  the  said  Iron  Works,  for  he  commonly  yearned 
forty  or  fifty  shillings  a  daye  for  the  former  time,  and  the  year 
53,  as  aforesaid,  for  he  had  five  or  six  teemes  goeing  generally 
every  faire  day."     (Salem  Q.  C.  files.) 

The  Iron  Works  for  several  years  were  carried  on  with  vigor, 
and  furnished  most  of  the  iron  used  in  the  colony.  But  the 
want  of  ready  money  on  the  part  of  the  purchasers,  and  the 
great  freedom  with  which  the  company  construed  the  liberal 
privileges  of  the  Court,  caused  their  failure.  The  owners  of  the 
lands  which  had  been  injured,  commenced  several  suits  against 
them,  and  at  last  hired  a  person  to  cut  away  the  flood  gates  and 
destroy  the  works.  This  was  done  in  the  night,  when  the  pond 
was  full.  The  dam  was  high,  and  just  below  it,  on  the  left, 
stood  the  house  of  Mac  Galium  More  Downing.  The  water 
rushed  out  and  flowed  into  the  house,  without  disturbing  the 
inhabitants,  who  were  asleep  in  a  chamber.  In  the  morning, 
Mrs.  Downing  found  a  fine  live  fish  flouncing  in  her  oven.  The 
works  were  much  injured,  and  the  depredator  fled  to  Penobscot. 

The  suits  against  the  Iron  Works  were  protracted  for  more 
than  twenty  years.  Mr.  Hubbard  says  that  ^'  instead  of  drawing 
out  bars  of  iron  for  the  country's  use,  there  was  hammered  out 
nothing  but  contention  and  law  suits."  The  works  were  con- 
tinued, though  on  a  smaller  scale,  for  more  than  one  hundred 
years  from  their  establishment.  But  they  have  long  been  dis- 
continued, and  nothing  now  is  to  be  seen  of  them,  except  the 
heaps  of  scoria,  cafled  the  "  Cinder  Banks." 

[Jonathan  Leonard,  in  a  letter  published  in  the  N.  E.  Histori- 


260  ANNALS   OF    LYNN — 1672. 

cal  and  Genealogic^il  Register,  Oct.  1857,  mentioDS  a  tradition 
handed  down  from  his  ancestors,  one  of  whom  was  employed  at 
the  Lynn  works,  in  their  very  infancy,  to  the  effect  that  after 
these  works  had  done  considerable  business,  the  people  became 
alarmed  through  the  apprehension  that  the  quantity  of  charcoal 
used,  would  occasion  a  scarcity  of  wood ;  and,  urged  on  by  their 
fears,  threw  so  many  obstacles  in  the  way  of  the  company  that 
the  business  was  broken  up.  It  is  quite  certain  that  they  were 
constantly  beset  by  difficulties,  and  the  singular  apprehension 
alluded  to  may  have  laid  the  foundation  for  some  at  least. 

[As  evidence  of  the  desire  to  diffuse  education  among  the 
people,  it  may  be  remarked  that  at  this  time  the  law  required 
every  town,  consisting  of  as  many  as  one  hundred  families,  to 
establish  a  grammar  school,  with  a  master  able  to  fit  the  youth 
for  college.  And  every  town  neglecting  the  requisition  was 
liable  to  a  penalty  of  ten  pounds  a  year. 

[That  a  disposition  towards  independence  was  early  entertain- 
ed by  the  people  of  New  England,  is  evidenced  by  a  note  in 
Evelyn's  journal,  under  date  of  this«year.  He  says,  '^  There  was 
a  fear  of  their  breaking  from  all  dependence  on  this  nation." 
Evelyn  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  trade  and  plantations.] 

1672. 

Mr.  Daniel  Salmon  attached  the  property  of  the  town,  to  the 
value  of  forty  pounds,  for  not  laying  out  the  land  granted  to 
him  in  1661.  On  the  27th  of  June,  the  Quarterly  Court  required 
the  town  to  give  him  about  six  acres,  near  his  house. 

[On  the  first  of  April  there  was  a  violent  snow  storm.  Drifts 
were  left  six  feet  in  height.  And  the  rains  that  followed  did 
much  damage.     It  rained  fourteen  days  during  the  month. 

[The  whole  General  Court  resolved  to  keep  the  twenty-sec- 
ond of  May  as  a  day  of  fasting  and  humiliation,  and  to  meet  at 
the  court  house,  where  Rev.  Messrs.  Whiting,  Cobbet,  John 
Eliot,  Increase  Mather,  and  others,  were  appointed  ''  to  carry 
on  the  worke  of  that  day,  by  prayer  and  preaching."  The 
solemnities  were  held  on  account  of  the  disturbances  and  dis- 
tresses in  Europe,  and  to  supplicate  for  freedom  from  like 
afflictions  here. 

[Joseph  Jenks,  senior,  made  proposals  to  coin  the  money. 
But  the  Court  judged  it  "meet  not  to  grant  his  request." 

[The  first  dancing  school  in  the  colony  was  commenced  this 
year.  It  was  soon,  however,  suppressed  by  the  strong  arm  of 
the  law.  And  up  to  this  time  there  were  no  professed  musi- 
cians in  the  colony. 

[The  sun  was  eclipsed,  12  August,  "  total  or  very  near." 

[There  was  a  great  easterly  storm,  10  November.  It  brought 
in  "  so  great  a  tyde  as  hath  not  bene  this  36  years."] 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN— 1673,  1674.  261 


1673. 

On  the  18t]i  of  June,  a  new  road  was  laid  out  from  Lynn  to 
Marblehead,  on  the  north  of  the  former  road.  It  is  now  called 
Essex  street. 

The  second  inhabitant  of  Nahant,  of  whom  we  find  any  men- 
tion, was  Robert  Coats.  He  probably  lived  there  as  a  fisherman 
and  shepherd,  and  left  before  he  married  Mary  Hodgkin,  which 
was  29  December,  1682.  He  had  six  sons  and  three  daughters. 
After  he  left,  there  appears  no  inhabitant  until  1690. 

1674. 

[John  Tarbox,  one  of  the  first  farmers  in  Lynn,  died  26  May. 
He  had  seven  acres  of  upland  on  Water  Hill,  an  orchard,  three 
cows  and  nine  sheep,  at  the  time  of  his  decease.  His  will  says, 
"  I  bequeath  my  house  and  housing,  with  orchard  and  all  my 
land  and  meddow,  with  a  greene  Rugg,  and  a  great  Iron  kettell, 
and  a  round  Joynd  table,  to  my  son  John  Tarbox."  He  was  a 
small  proprietor  in  the  Iron  Works.  This  was  the  same  John 
Tarbox,  for  the  winning  of  the  affections  of  whose  daughter, 
Matthew  Stanley  was  fined  £5,  in  1649.     See  page  225.] 

Some  of  the  inhabitants  of  Salem  attempted  to  form  a  new 
church,  and  engaged  Mr.  Charles  Nicholet  for  their  minister ; 
but  their  design  being  opposed,  they  came  to  Lynn  to  complete 
it.  Mr.  Rogers,  minister  of  Ipswich,  wrote  a  tetter  to  Mr.  Phil- 
lips, minister  of  Rowley,  requesting  him  to  assist  in  preventing 
the  accomplishment.  This  letter  was  handed  to  Major  Dennison, 
who  subjoined  the  following  approbation :  "  Sir,  Though  I  know 
nothing  of  what  is  above  written,  I  cannot  but  approve  the  same 
in  all  respects."  On  Sunday,  the  11th  of  December,  the  dele- 
gates from  the  churches  of  Boston,  Woburn,  Maiden,  and  Lynn, 
with  the  governor,  John  Leverett,  assembled  at  Lynn,  and 
formed  a  council.  They  chose  the  Rev.  John  Oxenbridge,  of 
Boston,  moderator,  and  agreed  that  the  new  church  should  be 
formed.  Afterward,  the  delegates  of  the  churches  of  Salem, 
Ipswich,  and  Rowley,  arrived,  when  the  vote  of  the  council 
was  reconsidered,  and  decided  in  the  negative.  In  the  curious 
church  records  of  Rowle}^  it  is  said  that  '^  This  work  was  begun 
without  a  sermon,  which  is  not  usuall.  There  was  also  a  break- 
ing out  into  laughter,  by  a  great  part  of  the  congregation,  at  a 
speech  of  Mr.  Batters,  that  he  did  not  approve  of  what  Major 
Hathorne  had  spoken.  Such  carriage  was  never  known  on  a 
first  day,  that  I  know  of."  After  the  frustration  of  this  design, 
Mr.  Nicholet  went  to  England.  [Nicholas  Root  was  active  in 
this  design. 

[This  year  closed  with  gloomy  apprehensions  touching  the 
impending  storm  of  savage  retribution.] 


262  ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1675. 


1675. 

This  year  we  find  mention  made,  in  the  records  of  the  Society 
of  Friends,  of  the  sufferings  of  that  people,  in  consequence  of 
their  refusal  to  pay  parish  taxes.  In  reference  to  George  Oaks, 
who  appears  to  be  one  of  the  first  who  embraced  the  doctrines 
of  George  Fox,  in  Lynn,  is  the  following  record  :  "  Taken  away 
for  the  priest,  Samuel  Whiting,  one  cow,  valued  at  X3."  Oth- 
ers afterward  suffered  for  refusing  to  perform  military  duty,  or 
to  pay  church  rates,  by  having  their  cattle,  corn,  hay,  and  do- 
mestic furniture  taken  away. 

On  the  29th  of  August,  there  was  "  a  very  great  wind  and 
rain,  that  blew  down  and  twisted  many  trees."     (Bible  leaf) 

The  year  1675  is  memorable  -for  the  commencement  of  the 
great  war  of  Pometacom,  called  king  Philip,  sachem  of  the  Wam- 
panoag  Indians,  in  Plymouth  county  and  Rhode  Island,  just  one 
hundred  years  before  the  war  of  the  independence  of  the  United 
States.  Pometacom  was  a  son  of  Massasoit,  but  was  more  war- 
like than  his  father.  Perhaps  he  had  more  cause  to  be  so.  As 
we  have  received  the  history  of  this  war  only  from  the  pens 
of  white  men,  it  is  probable  that  some  incidents  that  might  serve 
to  illustrate  its  origin,  have  been  passed  unnoticed.  It  com- 
menced in  June,  and  some  of  the  eastern  tribes  united  with  the 
Wampanoags.  One  of  the  causes  of  their  offence,  was  an  out- 
rage offered  by  some  sailors  to  the  wife  and  child  of  Squando, 
sagamore  of  Saco.  Meeting  them  in  a  canoe,  and  having  heard 
that  young  Indians  could  swim  naturally,  they  overturned  the 
frail  bark.  The  insulted  mother  dived  and  brought  up  her 
child,  but  it  died  soon  after. 

[Considerable  alarm  was  felt,  even  in  this  quarter,  so  powerful 
and  determined  did  the  Indians  appear,  in  this,  their  last  great 
struggle.]  The  military  company  in  Lynn,  at  this  time,  was 
commanded  by  Capt.  Thomas  Marshall,  Lieut.  Oliver  Purchis, 
and  Ensign  John  Fuller.  The  troops  from  Massachusetts,  which 
went  against  the  Indians,  were  commanded  by  Major  Samuel 
Appleton.  [The  following  answer  of  the  Court,  despatched  in 
October,  to  a  letter  of  the  Major  General,  will  give  a  glimpse 
of  the  existing  state  of  feeling.  "  Sr :  Wee  received  your  letter 
dated  at  Lynn,  23th  instant,  and  haue  perused  the  particculs 
inclosed,  w*''^  still  present  us  w*^  sad  tjdings  (the  Lord  haue 
mercy  on  us)  toucheing  the  performance  of  yo^  promise  to  Ma- 
jor Pike  in  your  designe  to  rajse  what  force  you  can  to  resist 
the  enemys  head  quarters  at  Ausebee.  Wee  approove  of  it; 
only  wee  presume  your  intelligence  that  the  enemy  is  there  is 
vpon  good  grounde.  Wee  cannot  give  yow  particular  orders, 
but  leaue  the  management  of  this  affayre  to  yo'^  prudenc  and 
assistance  of  Almighty  God,  not  doubting  yo^  care  in  leaving 


ANNALS    OF   LYNN  —  1675.  263 

sufficient  strength  to  secure  the  frontjer  tounes  of  Norfolke  and 
Essex,  least  the  enemy  should  visit  them  when  the  fforces  are 
abooard.  W*^out  doubt,  if  their  squawes  and  pappooses,  &c.  be 
at  Assabee,  and  God  be  pleased  to  deliver  them  into  our  hands, 
it  would  be  much  for  our  interest.  As  for  ^''our  personall  march- 
ing, it  will  be  acceptable,  if  God  inable  to  psecute  it." 

[Solomon  Alley  and  Benjamin  Farnell,  of  Lynn,  were  among 
the  slain  at  Bloody  Brook,  having  been  in  Lathrop's  command.] 

Fifteen  men  were  impressed  at  Lynn,  by  order  of  the  Court, 
on  the  13th  of  November,  in  addition  to  those  who  had  been 
previously  detached.  Their  names  were  Thomas  Baker,  Robert 
Driver,  Job  Farrington,  Samuel  Graves,  Isaac  Hart,  Nicholas 
Hitcheus,  Daniel  Hitchens,  John  Lindsey,  Jonathan  Locke, 
Charles  Phillips,  Samuel  Rhodes,  Henry  Stacey,  Samuel  Tarbox, 
Andrew  Townsend,  and  Isaac  Wellman. 

On  the  19th  of  December,  says  the  Bible  leaf,  there  was  "  a 
dreadful  fight  with  the  Indians."  This  was  the  great  swamp 
fight,  at  South  Kingston,  R.  I.,  when  eighty  white  men,  and 
more  than  three  hundred  Indians,  were  killed.  Mr.  Ephraim 
Newhall,  of  Lynn,  was  one  of  the  slain.  [The  following  affida- 
vit was  signed  by  Thomas  Baker,  and  sworn  to,  at  Lynn,  8  June, 
1730,  before  Theophilus  Burrill,  justice  of  the  peace,  and  is 
recorded  in  Middlesex  Registry.  "  The  deposition  of  Thomas 
Baker,  of  Lyn,  in  the  county  of  Essex,  aged  about  77  years, 
Testifieth  and  saith.  That  I,  being  well  acquainted  with  one 
Andrew  Townsend  of  Lyn  aforesaid,  for  more  than  55  years 
since,  and  do  certainly  know  and  very  well  Remember  that  the 
s"^  Andrew  Townsend  was  a  soldier  in  the  Expedition  to  the 
Narragansett  under  y°  Command  of  Capt.  Gardner,  and  that  he 
was  in  y®  s"^  Narragansett  fite  and  in  s*^  fite  Rec'd  a  wound,  in  or 
about  the  year  1675."] 

Wenepoykin,  the  sagamore  of  Lynn,  who  had  never  been  in 
deep  friendship  with  the  whites,  went  and  united  with  Pometa- 
com.  He  probably  had  some  causes  of  offence  which  have  been 
left  unrecorded.  Indeed,  the  thousand  little  insults,  which  the 
men  of  his  race  have  ever  been  in  the  habit  of  receiving  from 
white  men,  and  which  must  have  been  felt  by  his  proud  mind, 
might  have  been  sufficient  cause  for  his  conduct.  As  a  poetess 
has  well  said  : 

Small  slights,  contempt,  neglect,  unmixed  with  hate, 
Make  up  in  number  what  they  want  in  weight. 

Two  of  the  descendants  of  Nanapashemet,  whose  names  were 
Quanapaug  and  Quanapohit,  living  on  Deer  Island,  had  become 
Christians  by  the  names  of  James  and  Thomas.  These  united 
with  the  whites,  and  became  spies  for  them,  for  which  they 
were  to  have  X5  each ;  for  which  cause  the  Wampanoag  sachem 


264  ANNALS  OP  LYNN — 1676. 

offered  a  reward  for  their  death,  but  they  survived  the  war. 
Several  anecdotes  of  their  cunning  are  preserved  by  Mr.  Drake. 
At  one  time,  when  they  were  taking  him  to  Poraetacom  Quana- 
paug  escaped  by  his  skill  Quanapohit,  also,  came  accidentally 
upon  six  of  his  armed  enemies,  whom  he  put  to  flight,  and  plun- 
dered their  wigwam,  by  turning  round  and  beckoning,  as  if  he 
were  calling  his  company. 

1676.. 

The  war  with  the  Indians  was  prosecuted  by  both  parties 
with  the  most  determined  vi^or  and  cruelty.  Many  towns  were 
burnt  and  many  of  the  inhabitants  put  to  death.  Great  num- 
bers of  the  Indians  also  were  killed,  and  those  who  were  taken 
prisoners  were  most  cruelly  sold  for  slaves  to  the  West  Indies, 
against  the  earnest  entreaties  of  some  of  the  principal  officers. 
At  last,  Philip  was  pursued  to  a  swamp,  near  his  residence,  at 
Mount  Hope,  and  killed,  on  the  morning  of  Saturday,  the  12th 
of  August.  After  his  death  Annawon,  Tispaquin,  and  others 
of  his  chiefs  and  warriors,  submitted  themselves,  on  the  promise 
that  their  lives  would  be  spared;  but  they  were  unmercifully 
put  to  death.  From  the  expressions  of  some  of  them,  it  is 
probable  that  they  did  not  wish  to  survive  the  destruction  of 
their  nation. 

Thus  fell  PhiHp,  the  last  great  king  of  the  Wampanoags  — 
the  last  formidable  enemy  of  the  English.  Like  Sassacus,  he 
foresaw  the  destruction  of  his  nation  ;  but  he  was  at  first  friend- 
ly to  the  white  people,  and  wept  when  he  heard  that  some  of 
them  had  been  killed.  The  pen  of  the  historian  will  do  justice 
to  his  patriotism,  and  the  harp  of  the  poet  will  eulogize  him  in 
strains  of  immortality. 

Tradition,  legend,  tune,  and  song, 
Shall  many  an  age  that  wail  prolong ; 
Still  from  the  su*e  the  son  shall  hear 
Of  that  stern  strife  and  carnage  drear. 

Wenepoykin,  who  had  joined  with  the  Wampanoags,  was 
taken  prisoner,  and  sold  as  a  slave  to  Barbadoes.  He  returned 
in  1684,  at  the  end  of  eight  years,  and  died  at  the  house  of  his 
relative,  James  Muminquash,  at  the  age  of  68  years.  The  tes- 
timony of  Tokowampate  and  Waban,  given  7  October,  1686,  and 
preserved  in  Essex  Registry  of  Deeds,  declares,  that  '^  Sagamore 
George,  when  he  came  from  Barbadoes,  lived  some  time,  and 
died  at  the  house  of  James  Rumneymarsh."  The  old  chief,  who 
had  ruled  in  freedom  over  more  than  half  the  state  of  Massachu- 
setts, returned  from  his  slavery,  sad  and  broken-hearted,  to  die 
in  a  lone  wigwam,  in  the  forest  of  Natick,  in  the  presence  of  his 
sister  Yawata. 

A  law  bad  been  passed,  prohibiting  the  friendly  Indians  from 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1677.  265 

going  more  than  one  mile  from  their  own  wigwams.  On  the 
25th  of  October,  the  Court  agreed  that  they  might  go  out  to 
gather  "  chesnuts  and  other  nuts  in  the  wilderness,"  if  two 
white  men  went  with  each  company,  whose  charges  were  to  be 
paid  by  the  Indians. 

The  injuries  which  the  Indians  received  in  the  early  history 
of  our  country,  cannot  now  be  repaired ;  but  the  opportunity  is 
afforded  for  our  national  government  to  manifest  its  high  sense 
of  magnanimity  and  justice,  and  to  evince  to  the  world  that  re- 
publics are  not  unmindful  of  honor  and  right,  by  redressing  any 
wrongs  which  the  existing  red  men  have  received,  and  by  pro- 
viding for  their  welfare,  in  a  manner  becoming  a  great  and  pow- 
erful nation,  which  has  received  its  extensive  domains  from  a 
people  who  are  now  wandering  as  fugitives  in  the  land  of  their 
fathers.  Such  conduct,  it  may  reasonably  be  expected,  will 
receive  the  approbation  of  heaven ;  and  it  cannot  be  supposed, 
that  He  who  watches  the  fall  of  the  sparrow,  will  regard  its 
neglect  with  indifference. 

[John  Flint,  of  Salem,  shot  a  hostile  Indian  at  the  end  of 
Spring  pond,  in  Lynn,  as  appears  by  the  record  of  an  examina- 
tion before  William  Hathorne,  9  October.  The  next  year,  for 
causing  the  death  of  a  white  man,  he  was  convicted  of  man- 
slaughter.    He  was  a  soldier  in  Philip's  war.] 

The  leaf  of  the  Bible  says,  there  was  ''  a  great  sickness  this 
year." 

1677. 

[Lynn  gave  <£4.13,  for  the  relief  of  captives  from  Hatfield ; 
Salem,  X4.7. 

[In  the  Salem  court  files  is  the  following:  ^' An  inventory  of 
y^  estate  of  Teague  alias  Thaddeas  Braun,  who  was  impressed 
a  soldier  of  Lynn  for  the  Countreys  service  and  was  sent  from 
Lynn  y«  22nd  June,  1677,  and  was  slayne  in  the  fight  at  Black- 
point,  as  we  are  informed,  on  y®  29*^  of  June,  1677."] 

The  following  letter  was  addressed  by  Mr.  Whiting  to  Increase 
Mather,  1  October,  1677. 

"Reverend  and  Dear  Cousin:  I  acknowledge  myself  much  engaged,  as  to 
God  for  all  his  mercies,  so  to  yourself  for  your  indefatigable  labors,  both  in 
our  church  here,  and  in  your  writings,  which  of  your  love  you  have  sent  to 
me  from  time  to  time ;  and  especially  for  your  late  book  which  you  sent  to 
me,  wherein  you  have  outdone  any  tliat  I'have  seen  upon  that  subject.  Go 
on,  dear  cousin,  and  the  Lord  prosper  your  endeavors  for  the  glory  of  his 
great  name,  and  the  good  of  many  souls.  And  let  me  beg  one  request  of  you, 
that  you  would  set  pen  to  paper  in  writing  an  history  of  New  England,  since 
the  coming  of  our  chief  men  hither ;  which  you  may  do,  by  conferring  with 
Mr.  Higginson,  and  some  of  the  first  planters  in  Salem,  and  in  other  places ; 
which  I  hope  you  may  easily  accomplish,  having,  by  your  diligence  and  search 
found  out  so  much  history  concerning  the  Pequot  war.  And  the  rather  let 
me  entreat  this  favor  of  you,  because  it  hath  not  been  hitherto  done  by  any  in 

w 


266  ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1678. 

a  polite  aud  scholar  like  way ;  which,  if  it  were  so  done,  would  glad  the  hearts 
of  the  Lord's  people,  and  turn  to  your  great  account  in  the  last  and  great  day 
of  the  Lord  Jesus.  Thus  commending  my  love  to  you  and  your  loving  con- 
sort, with  thanks  to  you  for  your  kindness  to  me  and  my  son,  when  we  were 
last  with  you  at  your  house,  beseeching  the  Lord  to  bless  you  and  all  yours  • 
not  knowing  how  shortly  I  must  put  off  this  earthly  tabernacle,  I  rest, 

Samuel  Whiting. 

[The  General  Court  order,  10  October,  that  ^'  10  barrels  of 
cranberries,  2  hhds.  of  special  good  samp,  and  3000  cod  fish/' 
be  sent  as  a  present  to  the  king.] 

At  this  time  there  was  but  one  post  office  in  Massachusetts, 
which  was  at  Boston.  On  the  3d  of  December,  the  Court  of 
Assistants  appointed  John  Hayward  postmaster  for  the  whole 
colony. 

On  Thanksgiving  day,  the  4th  of  December,  happened  one 
of  the  greatest  storms  ever  known  in  New  England.  It  blew 
down  many  houses  and  many  trees. 

1678. 

This  year,  Samuel  Appleton,  Jr.,  took  possession  of  the  Iron 
Works,  by  a  grant  in  the  will  of  William  Payne,  of  Boston.  On 
the  9th  of  June,  Thomas  Savage  sued  an  old  mortgage  which 
he  held  on  the  property,  and  Samuel  Waite  testifies,  "  There  is 
land,  rated  at  Three  Thousand  acres  of  Iron  Mill  land."  In 
1679,  Mr.  Appleton  had  possession  of  three  fourths  of  the  Iron 
Works,  valued  at  XloOO,  The  law  suits  respecting  the  Iron 
Works  were  protracted  to  a  tedious  length,  and  papers  enough 
are  preserved  in  the  Massachusetts  archives,  respecting  them, 
to  form  a  volume. 

The  Selectmen,  or,  as  they  were  called,  "  the  Seven  Pruden- 
tial men,"  this  year,  were  Thomas  Laighton,  Richard  Walker, 
Andrew  Mansfield,  William  Bassett,  Nathaniel  Kertland,  John 
Burrill,  and  Ralph  King. 

The  price  of  corn  was  two  shillings  a  bushel. 

[Thomas  Purchis,  senior,  died  11  May,  aged  a  hundred  and 
one  years,  as  stated  by  his  widow  and  son  in  a  petition  to  the 
Salem  court.  He  had  not  long  resided  in  Lynn,  having  been 
among  the  Maine  settlers.  It  seems  hardly  possible  that  he  can 
have  been  the  same  individual  mentioned  by  Mr.  Lewis  under 
date  1640,  though  he  may  have  been  here  for  a  brief  period, 
about  that  time.  Somewhere  between  1625  and  1629  he  located 
in  Maine,  and  engaged  in  the  fur  trade.  He  had  lands  on  the 
Androscoggin,  and  sold  to  Massachusetts,  22  July,  1639,  a  por- 
tion of  the  territory  on  which  Brunswick  now  stands,  of  which 
place  he  was  the  first  settler.  In  1635,  he  was  one  of  Gorges's 
Council ;  subsequently  he  held  the  office  of  sole  Assistant  to  the 
Colony  Commissioners ;  and  was  a  Justice  under  Archdale,  in 
1664.     In  1675,  his  house  was  attacked  by  hostile  Indians,  and 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1679.  2G7 

pillaged.  He  then  removed  to  Lynn.  I  have  seen  it  suggested 
that  he  may  have  been  a  brother  of  Oliver  Purchis  who  was  so 
long  an  active  and  conspicuous  man  here.  But  I  think  it  could 
not  have  been  so.  About  seven  months  after  his  decease,  his 
widow  married  John  Blaney. 

[Thomas  Laighton  was  empowered  by  the  Court  to  join  such 
persons  in  marriage  as  had  been  duly  published,  provided  one 
at  least  resided  in  Lynn.] 

The  first  meeting-house  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  says  an 
old  record  of  one  of  their  members,  "was  raised  on  Wolf  Hill." 
[This  site  was  on  Broad  street,  nearl}^  opposite  Nahant.  The 
first  Friends'  meeting,  in  this  vicinity,  is  supposed  to  have  been 
held,  this  year,  in  a  house  that  stood  ^n  Boston  street,  a  little 
west  of  Brown's  pond.] 

The  people  of  Reading  petitioned  the  General  Court,  on  the 
3d  of  October,  that  the  alewives  might  be  permitted  to  come 
up  to  Reading  pond,  as  before  ;  that  they  might  find  no  obstruc- 
tion at  the  Iron  Works,  but  "  come  up  freely  into  our  ponds, 
where  they  have  their  natural  breeding  place ; "  which  was 
granted. 

Thomas  Dexter,  Jr.,  and  Captain  James  Oliver,  administrators 
of  the  estate  of  Thomas  Dexter,  prosecuted  the  town  of  Lynn, 
on  the  26th  of  November,  at  Boston,  for  the  recovery  of  Na- 
hant. The  jury  decided  in  favor  of  the  town.  This  was  a 
review  of  the  case  decided  1  September,  1657,  against  Mr. 
Dexter. 

1679. 

In  the  number  of  the  early  ministers  of  New  England,  there 
were  few  who  deserved  a  higher  celebrity,  for  the  purity  of 
their  character,  and  the  fervor  of  their  piety,  than  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Whiting.  His  name  has  been  frequently  overlooked 
by  biographers,  and  little  known  and  estimated  even  in  his  own 
parish.  He  has  no  stone  erected  to  his  memory,  and  the  very 
place  where  he  was  buried  is  known  only  to  a  few. 

Dust  long  outlasts  the  storied  stone, 
But  thou  —  thy  very  dust  is  gone. 

[Since  Mr.  Lewis  wrote  the  above,  William  Whiting.  Esq., 
the  eminent  lawyer,  who  is  a  descendant,  has  erected  a  fitting 
monument  to  his  memory.  It  is  a  simple  granite  shaft,  inscribed 
with  his  name,  and  the  dates  of  his  birth  and  decease.  It  is  on 
the  westerly  side  of  the  path  leading  from  the  front  gate-way, 
in  the  Old  Burying  Ground,  near  the  western  end  of  Lynn 
Common.] 

This  is  another  instance  of  the  truth  of  the  observation,  that 
men  are  indebted  to  the  poet  and  the  historian  for  their  remem- 


268  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1G79. 

brance  to  after  ages.  An  honorable  memorial  of  the  deserving 
dead  is  one  of  the  rewards  of  goodness,  and  the  very  desire  of 
remembrance  is  itself  a  virtue.  We  naturally  love  the  idea  that 
we  are  remembered  by  others,  and  that  our  names  will  be 
known  beyond  the  circle  of  those  with  whom  we  shared  the 
endearments  of  friendship.  It  is  sweet  to  think  that  we  have 
not  altogether  lived  in  vain  :  to  persuade  ourselves  that  we  have 
conferred  some  slight  benefit  on  the  world,  and  that  posterity 
will  repay  the  pleasing  debt  by  mentioning  our  names  with  ex- 
pressions of  regard.  It  is  not  vanity,  it  is  not  ambition  ;  it  is  a 
pure  love  of  mankind,  an  exalting  sense  of  right,  that  twines 
itself  around  every  virtuous  and  noble  mind,  raising  it  above 
the  enjoyment  of  worldliness,  and  making  us  wish  to  prolong 
our  existence  in  the  memory  of  the  good. 

Rev.  Samuel  Whiting  was  born  at  Boston,  in  Lincolnshire, 
England,  on  the  20th  of  November,  1597.  His  father,  Mr.  John 
Whiting  was  mayor  of  the  city,  in  1600;  and  his  brother  John 
obtained  the  same  oflSce,  in  1625.  Having  completed  his  studies 
in  the  school  of  his  birthplace,  young  Samuel  entered  the  uni- 
versity at  Cambridge,  where  he  had  for  his  classmate,  his  cousin, 
Anthony  Tuckney,  afterward  Master  of  St.  John's  College,  with 
whom  he  commenced  a  friendship,  which  was  not  quenched  by 
the  waters  of  the  Atlantic.  He  received  impressions  of  piety 
at  an  early  age,  and  loved  to  indulge  his  meditations  in  the 
retired  walks  of  Emanuel  College.  He  entered  college  in  1613, 
took  his  first  degree  in  1616,  and  his  second  in  1620.  Having 
received  orders  in  the  Church  of  England,  he  became  chaplain 
in  a  family  consisting  of  five  ladies  and  two  knights.  Sir  Na- 
thaniel Bacon  and  Sir  Roger  Townsend,  with  whom  he  resided 
three  years.  He  then  went  to  old  Lynn,  where  he  spent  three 
years  more,  a  colleague  with  Mr.  Price.  While  at  that  place, 
complaints  were  made  to  the  Bishop  of  Norwich,  of  his  non- 
conformity in  administering  the  services  of  the  church,  on  which 
he  removed  to  Skirbick,  one  mile  from  old  Boston.  There  the 
complaints  were  renewed,  on  which  he  determined  to  sell  his 
possessions  and  embark  for  America.  He  remarked,  ''I  am 
going  into  the  wilderness,  to  sacrifice  unto  the  Lord,  and  I  will 
not  leave  a  hoof  behind  me."  The  beauty,  piety,  and  harmony 
of  the  church,  in  our  own  time,  induce  us  to  wonder  w^hy  a 
pious  man  should  have  objected  to  her  services.  But  the 
church,  at  that  period,  demanded  more  than  is  now  required ; 
and  the  dissenters,  by  their  repugnance  to  those  ceremonies 
and  requisitions  which  were  excessive,  were  driven  to  revolt 
against  those  forms  which  were  really  judicious. 

Mr.  Whiting  sailed  from  England  in  the  beginning  of  April, 
1636,  and  arrived  in  Boston  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  May.  He 
was  very  sick  on  his  passage,  during  which  he  preached  but 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1679.  269 

one  sermon.  He  observed  that  he  would  "  much  rather  have 
undergone  six  weeks  imprisonment  for  a  good  cause,  than  six 
weeks  of  such  terrible  sea  sickness."  He  came  to  Lynn  in  June, 
and  was  installed  on  the  eighth  of  November,  at  the  age  of 
thirty-nine.  He  was  admitted  to  the  privileges  of  a  freeman  on 
the  seventeenth  of  December.  His  residence  was  nearly  oppo- 
site the  meeting-house,  in  Shepard  street.  He  had  a  walk  in 
his  orchard,  in  which  he  used  to  indulge  his  habit  of  meditation  ; 
and  some  who  frequently  saw  him  walking  there,  remarked, 
"  There  does  our  dear  pastor  walk  with  God  every  day."  An 
anecdote  related  of  him,  will  serve  to  illustrate  his  character. 
In  one  of  his  excursions  to  a  neighboring  town,  he  stopped  at  a 
tavern,  where  a  company  were  revelling.  As  he  passed  their 
door,  he  thus  addressed  them :  "  Friends,  if  you  are  sure  that 
your  sins  are  pardoned,  you  may  be  wisely  merry."  He  is  re- 
puted to  have  been  a  man  of  good  learning,  and  an  excellent 
Hebrew  scholar.  In  1649,  he  delivered- a  Latin  oration  at  Cam- 
bridge, a  copy  of  which  is  preserved  in  the  library  of  the 
Massachusetts  Historical  Society.  He  employed  much  of  his 
leisure  in  reading  history  ;  and  he  could  scarcely  have  chosen 
a  study  more  indicative  of  the  seriousness  and  solidity  of  his 
mind.  He  possessed  great  command  over  his  passions,  was 
extremely  mild  and  affable  in  his  deportment,  and  his  counte- 
nance was  generally  illumined  by  a  smile.  He  was  chosen 
moderator  in  several  ecclesiastical  councils,  and  appears  to  have 
been  generally  respected.  In  his  preaching,  he  was  ardent  and 
devoted ;  but  he  was  less  disposed  to  frighten  his  hearers  by 
wild  and  boisterous  efforts,  than  to  win  them  to  virtue  by  mild 
and  persuasive  eloquence. 

In  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  Mr.  Whiting  was  afflicted  by  a 
complication  of  disorders,  and  endured  many  hours  of  most  ex- 
cruciating pain.  But  his  patience  was  inexhaustible,  and  his 
strength  enabled  him  to  continue  the  performance  of  the  public 
services  till  a  very  advanced  age,  in  which  he  was  assisted  by 
his  youngest  son,  Joseph.  A  short  time  before  his  death,  he 
presented  to  the  General  Court  a  claim  for  five  hundred  acres 
of  land,  which  he  had  by  deed  of  gift  from  his  brother-in-law, 
Mr.  Richard  Westland,  an  alderman  of  Boston,  in  England,  who 
had  loaned  money  to  the  colony  of  Massachusetts.  As  the  claim 
had  been  some  time  due,  the  Court  allowed  him  six  hundred 
acres.  [As  this  petition  recounts  several  interesting  facts,  and 
withal  so  faithfully  exhibits  the  meek  and  pious  spirit  of  the 
venerable  man,  we  insert  it  entire.  The  signature  is  a  fac-simile, 
as  carefully  traced  from  the  original,  which  is  still  in  good  pre- 
servation in  the  state  archives.  The  tremulous  hand  indicates 
age  and  infirmity;  and  he  lived  but  a  few  months  after  the 
petition  was  drawn. 
W* 


270  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1679. 

The  humble  petition  of  Samuel  Whiting,  seur,  of  Lyu,  sheweth,  that  whereaa 
your  petitioner  upon  my  comeiug  to  New  England,  wJiich  is  now  about  forty 
three  years  since,  had  per  deed  of  gift  of  my  kinde  brother  in  law,  Mj-. 
Richard  Westland,  of  Boston,  in  England,  alderman,  in  consideration  of  his 
disbursement  of  fifty  pounds  of  lawful  money  of  England,  in  way  of  loan  to 
this  colony,  then  low,  and  in  its  beginning,  which  sum  the  said  Mr.  Westland 
did  deliver  and  pay  unto  some  of  ye  chief  agents  of  this  patent  then,  which 
was  some  years  before  I  left  England,  they  promising  him  a  compensation 
with  a  farme  of  five  hundred  acres  of  upland  and  meadow,  convenient  and 
nigh  within  the  Bay ;  I  say,  the  wholl  interest  in  the  premises  by  fan*  deed 
and  gift,  by  the  gentleman  himself  freely  given  to  myself  and  wife  and  our 
heires  forever,  as  without  fallacie  I  doe  averr  and  testify  before  God  and  your 
honoured  selves,  being  a  dyeing  man,  and  goeing  out  of  this  world,  and  shortly 
to  appear  before  the  Lord  Jesus,  y®  Judge  of  all. 

]My  humble  request,  and  the  last  petition  I  shall  ever  make  application  of  to 
this  honorable  assembly  is,  that  haveing  been  so  long  in  the  country,  and  as 
long  in  ye  work  of  the  Lord,  and  God  haveing  given  me  issue,  wliom  I  am 
shortly  to  leave,  haveing  little,  of  a  considerable  estate  I  brought,  left  for  them, 
that  your  honors  would  pleas  to  grant  to  myself  and  my  heirs,  that  wh.  pei 
ye  free  gift  of  my  brother  is  our  right,  viz,  five  or  six  hundred  acres  of  land 
and  meadow,  wh.  hath  been  my  due  about  this  forty  3"ears,  altliough  never 
motioned  but  once  to  this  assembly,  nor  should  have  now  been  insisted  on, 
could  I  in  conscience  of  God's  command  and  duty  to  mine  as  a  father,  be 
silent,  and  soe  they  lose  their  right  in  what  belongs  to  them ;  or  if  I  could  die 
with  serenity  of  soule  upon  consideration  of  the  premises,  should  I  neglect  to 
use  this  meanes  of  an  humble  remonstrance. 

I  doe  therefore  humbly  reitterat  my  request,  wherein  I  mention  nothing  of 
use  or  for  forbearance  so  long  time  past,  dues  and  donations,  only  the  5  or 
six  hundred  acres,  that  my  children  may  inherit  what  is  righteously  their 
o\vne,  and  yours  to  grant,  and  which  I  hope  will  not  be  denyed,  beeing  of 
itselfe  so  just  to  be  requested,  and  so  most  equitable  and  just  to  be  granted. 

Thus  begging  the  Lord's  presence  to  be  amongst  you,  and  his  face  to  shine 
on  this  your  court,  the  country,  and  chm'ches,  that  we  may  be  saved,  and 
that  ye  choice  blessing,  divine  wisdom,  councell  and  conduct,  may  preside  in 
all  tilings,  I  leave  the  whole  matter  to  your  honored  selves,  and  yourselves 
with  the  Lord. 

Your  humble  petitioner,  friend  ever,  and  sei-vant  for  Cln-ist's  sake,  though 
ready  to  depart  diemg. 

this  23  of  April  ann.  1679,  X  O.TM-'W?  C/ 

Samuel  Gobbet.]  h^ 

Mr.  Whiting  made  his  will  on  the  25th  of  February,  1679. 
He  commences  thus  :  '*  After  my  committing  of  my  dear  flock 
unto  the  tender  care  of  that  great  and  good  Shepherd,  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ."  He  gave  his  son  Samuel,  at  Billerica,  his  house 
and  four  hundred  acres  of  land  at  Dunstable,  valued  at  £362, 
and  fourteen  acres  of  marsh,  at  Lynn ;  and  his  son  Joseph,  his 
dwelling-house,  orchard,  and  eight  acres  of  marsh,  at  Lynn.  And 
he  remembered  his  other  children.  His  money  and  plate  amount- 
ed to  £77.2  ;  and  his  whole  estate  to  £570.15.6.  He  died  on  the 
11th  of  December,  1679,  at  the  age  of  82;  having  preached  at 
Lynn,  forty-three  years. 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1679.  271 

The  death  of  Mr.  Whiting  called  forth  the  following  elegy 
from  the  pen  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Thompson,  a  schoolmaster,  born 
at  Braintree,  and  the  first  native  American  poet. 

UPON  THE  VERY  LEARNED  SAMUEL  WHITING. 

Mount,  Fame,  the  glorious  chariot  of  the  sun! 
TJirough  the  world's  cirque,  all  you,  her  heralds,  run, 
And  let  this  great  saint's  merits  be  revealed. 
Which  during  life  he  studiously  concealed. 
Cite  all  the  Levites,  fetch  the  sons  of  art. 
In  these  our  dolors  to  sustain  a  part ; 
Warn  all  that  value  worth,  and  every  one 
Within  their  eyes  to  bring  a  Helicon  ; 
For  in  this  single  person  we  have  lost 
More  riches  than  an  India  has  engrost. 

When  Wilson,  that  plerophory  of  love. 
Did  from  our  banks  up  to  his  centre  move, 
Rare  Whiting  quotes  Columbus  on  this  coast, 
Producing  gems  of  which  a  king  might  boast. 
More  splendid  far  than  ever  Aaron  woi'e. 
Within  his  breast  this  sacred  father  bore, 
Sound  doctrine,  Urim,  in  his  holy  cell. 
And  all  perfections,  Thummim,  there  did  dwell. 
His  holy  vesture  was  his  innocence ; 
His  speech,  embroideries  of  curious  sense. 
Such  awful  gravity  this  doctor  used, 
As  if  an  angel  every  word  infused  ; 
No  tui-gent  style,  but  Asiatic  lore ; 
Conduits  were  almost  full,  seldom  run  o'er 
The  banks  of  time  —  come  visit  when  you  will, 
The  streams  of  nectar  were  descending  still. 
Much  like  semtemfluous  Nilus,  rising  so, 
He  watered  Christians  round,  and  made  them  grow. 
His  modest  whispers,  could  the  conscience  reach. 
As  well  as  whirlwinds,  which  some  others  preach. 
No  Boanerges,  yet  could  touch  the  heart. 
And  clench  his  doctrine  with  the  meekest  art. 
His  learning  and  his  language  might  become 
A  province  not  inferior  to  Rome. 
Glorious  was  Europe's  heaven,  when  such  as  these, 
Stars  of  his  size,  shone  in  each  diocese. 

Who  writ'st  the  fathers'  lives,  either  make  room, 
Or  with  his  name  begin  yoiir  second  tome. 
Aged  Polycarp,  deep  Origen,  and  such. 
Whose  worth  your  quills,  your  wits  not  them  eir-ich; 
Lactantius,  Cyprian,  Basil,  too,  the  great. 
Quaint  Jerome,  Austin,  of  the  foremost  seat. 
With  Ambrose,  and  more  of  the  highest  class 
In  Christ's  great  school,  with  honor  I  let  pass, 
And  humbly  pay  my  debt  to  Whiting's  ghost. 
Of  whom  both  Englauds  may  with  reason  boasL 
Nations  for  men  of  lesser  worth  have  strove 
To  have  the  fame,  and  in  transports  of  love 
Built  temples,  or  fixed  statues  of  pure  gold, 
And  their  vast  worth  to  after  ages  told. 


272  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1679. 

His  modesty  forbade  so  fair  a  tomb, 

Wlio  in  ten  thousand  hearts  obtained  a  room. 

What  sweet  composm-e  in  his  angel  face ! 
What  soft  affections !  melting  gleams  of  grace ! 
How  mildly  pleasant !  by  his  closed  lips 
Rhetoric's  bright  body  suffers  an  eclipse. 
Should  half  his  sentences  be  fairly  numbered. 
And  weighed  in  wisdom's  scales,  'twould  spoil  a  Lombard, 
And  churches'  homilies  but  homily  be. 
If,  venerable  Whiting,  set  by  thee. 
Profoundest  judgment,  with  a  meekness  rare, 
Prefen-ed  him  to  the  moderator's  chair. 
Where,  like  truth's  champion,  with  his  piercing  eye, 
He  silenced  errors,  ajid  bade  Hectors  fly. 
Soft  answers  quell  hot  passions,  ne'er  too  soft. 
Where  solid  judgment  is  enthroned  aloft. 
Church  doctors  are  my  witnesses,  that  here 
Affections  always  keep  their  proper  sphere 
Without  those  wilder  eccentricities. 
Which  spot  the  fairest  fields  of  men  most  wise. 
In  pleasant  places  fall  that  people's  line. 
Who  have  but  shadows  of  men  thus  divine  ; 
Much  more  their  presence,  and  heaven-piercing  prayers, 
Thus  many  years  to  mind  our  soul  affairs. 

The  poorest  soil  oft  has  the  richest  mine ! 
This  weighty  ore,  poor  Lynn,  was  lately  thine. 
O,  wondrous  mercy !  but  this  glorious  light 
Hath  left  thee  in  the  terrors  of  the  night. 
New  England,  didst  thou  know  this  mighty  one. 
His  weight  and  worth,  thou  'dst  think  thyself  undone. 
One  of  thy  golden  chariots,  which  among 
The  clergy  rendered  thee  a  thousand  strong ; 
One  who  for  learning,  wisdom,  grace,  and  years, 
Among  the  Levites,  hath  not  many  peers ; 
One,  yet  with  God,  a  kind  of  heavenly  band, 
Who  did  whole  regiments  of  woes  withstand  ; 
One  that  prevailed  with  heaven ;  one  greatly  mist 
On  earth,  he  gained  of  Christ  whate'er  he  list; 
One  of  a  world,  who  was  both  born  and  bred 
At  wisdom's  feet,  hard  by  the  fountain's  head. 
The  loss  of  such  a  one  would  fetch  a  tear 
From  Niobe  herself,  if  she  were  here. 
What  qualifies  our  grief,  centres  in  this ; 
Be  our  loss  ne'er  so  great,  the  gain  is  his. 

The  following  epitapli  has  been  applied  to  him  by  Mr.  Mather. 

In  Christo  vixi  morior,  vivoque,  Whitingus ; 
Do  sordes  morti,  cetera,  O  Christe,  tibi,  do. 

In  Christ  I  lived  and  died,  and  yet  I  live ; 
My  dust  to  earth,  my  soul  to  Christ,  I  give. 

Mr.  Whiting  published  the  following  pamphlets  and  books. 
1.     A  Latin  Oration,  delivered  at  Cambridge,  on  Commence- 
ment day,  1649. 


ANNALS    OF   LYNN— 1679.  273 

2.  A  Sermon  preached  before  the  Ancient  and  Honorable 
Artillery  Company,  at  Boston,  1660. 

3.  A  Discourse  of  the  Last  Judgment,  or  Short  Notes  upon 
Matthew  25,  from  verse  31  to  the  end  of  tlie  chapter,  concerning 
the  Judgment  to  come,  and  our  preparation  to  stand  before  the 
great  Judge  of  quick  and  dead  ;  which  are  of  sweetest  comfort 
to  the  elect  sheep,  and  a  most  dreadful  amazement  and  terror 
to  reprobate  goats.     (Cambridge,  1664,  12mo.  160  pages.) 

4.  Abraham's  Humble  Intercession  for  Sodom,  and  the  Lord's 
Grracious  Answer  in  Concession  thereto.  (Cambridge,  1666^ 
12mo.  349  pages.)  From  this  work  the  following  extracts  are 
taken. 

What  is  it  to  draw  nigh  to  God  in  prayer  ?  It  is  not  to  come  with  loud 
expressions,  when  we  pray  before  Him.  Loud  crying  in  the  ears  of  God,  is 
not  to  draw  near  to  God.  They  are  nearer  to  God,  that  silently  whisper  in 
His  ears  and  tell  Him  what  they  want,  and  what  they  would  have  of  Him. 
They  liave  the  King's  ear,  not  that  call  loudest,  but  those  that  speak  softly  to 
him,  as  those  of  the  council  and  bed  chamber.  So  they  are  nearest  God,  and 
have  His  ear  most  that  speak  softly  to  Him  in  prayer. 

In  what  manner  are  we  to  draw  nigh  to  God  in  prayer  ?  In  sincerity,  with 
a  true  heart.  Truth  is  the  Christian  soldier's  girdle.  We  must  be  time  at  all 
times ;  much  more,  when  we  fall  upon  our  knees  and  pray  before  the  Lord. 

We,  in  this  country,  have  left  our  near  relations,  brothers,  sisters,  fathers' 
houses,  nearest  and  dearest  friends ;  but  if  we  can  get  nearer  to  God  here.  He 
will  be  instead  of  all,  more  than  all  to  us.  He  hath  the  fulness  of  all  the 
sweetest  relations  bound  up  in  Him.  We  may  take  that  out  of  God,  that  we 
forsook  in  father,  mother,  brother,  sister,  and  friend,  that  hath  been  as  near 
and  dear  as  our  own  soul. 

Even  among  the  most  wicked  sinners,  there  may  be  found  some  righteous ; 
some  corn  among  the  chaff —  some  jewels  among  the  Sands  —  some  pearls 
among  a  multitude  of  shells. 

Who  hath  made  England  to  differ  from  other  nations,  that  more  jewels  are 
found  there  than  elsewhere  ?  or  what  hath  that  Island  that  it  hath  not  received  ? 
The  East  and  West  Indies  yield  their  gold,  and  pearl,  and  sweet  Apices ;  but 
I  know  where  the  golden,  spicy,  fragrant  Christians  be  —  England  hath  yielded 
these.  Yet  not  England,  but  the  grace  of  God,  that  hath  been  ever  with  them. 
We  see  what  hope  we  may  have  concerning  New  England ;  though  we  do 
not  deserve  to  be  named  the  same  day  with  our  dear  mother. 

In  enumerating  the  evils  with  which  the  people  of  New  Eng- 
land were  obliged  to  contend,  he  says,  it  is  cause  "  for  humilia- 
tion, that  our  sins  have  exposed  us  to  live  among  such  wicked 
sinners,"  with  whom  he  ranks  '^Atheists  and  Quakers." 

Mr.  Whiting  married  two  wives  in  England.  By  his  first  wife 
he  had  three  children.  Two  of  them  were  sons,  who,  with  their 
mother,  died  in  England. '  The  other  was  a  daughter,  who  came 
with  her  father  to  America,  and  married  Mr.  Thomas  Weld,  of 
Roxbury. 

His  second  wife  was  Elizabeth  St.  John  of  Bedfordshire,  to 
whom  he  was  married  in  1630.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Oliver 
St.  John,  Chief  Justice  of  England  in  the  time  of  Oliver  Crom- 
well.    She  came  to  Lynn  with  her  husband,  and  died  on  the 

18 


274  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1679. 

third  of  March,  1677,  aged  72  years.  She  was  a  woman  of 
uncommon  piety,  seriousness,  and  discretion ;  and  not  only 
assisted  her  husband  in  writing  his  sermons,  but  by  her  care 
and  prudence  relieved  him  from  all  attention  to  temporal  con- 
cerns. 

[Mrs.  Whiting  was  a  sister,  not  a  daughter,  of  Chief  Justice 
St.  John.  Her  pedigree,  as  given  by  Clifford  Stanley  Simms, 
of  Philadelphia,  may  be  found  in  the  New  England  Historical 
and  Genealogical  Register,  v.  14,  p.  61.  It  is  there  stated  that 
Elizabeth  St.  John  Whiting  was  sixth  cousin  to  King  Henry 
YII.  Through  the  Beauchamps,  she  descended  from  the  Earls 
of  Warren  and  Surrey ;  from  the  Earls  of  Warwick,  from  William 
the  Conqueror,  and  from  King  Henry  I.  of  France.  Indeed  her 
pedigree  is  traced  to  William  the  Norman,  in  two  distinct  lines ; 
and  in  her  were  united  the  lineage  of  ten  of  the  sovereigns  of 
Europe,  a  confluence  of  noble  blood  not  often  witnessed.  And 
yet  she  appears  to  have  passed  her  days  here  at  Lynn,  undis- 
turbed by  ambitious  yearnings,  cleaving  lovingly  to  her  worthy 
husband,  and  sedulously  performing  the  duties  of  a  laborious 
pastor's  wife.  Surely  here  is  an  example  of  humility  for  some 
of  the  worldlings  who  now  traverse  our  streets,  swelling  with 
pride  if  they  can  trace  their  lineage  to  an  ancestor  who  bore, 
however  ignobly,  some  small  title,  or  who  happened  to  possess, 
however  unworthily,  a  few  more  acres  or  a  few  more  dollars 
than  the  multitude  around  him.] 

By  his  second  wife,  Mr.  Whiting  had  six  children ;  four  sons 
and  two  daughters.  One  daughter  married  the  Rev.  Jeremiah 
Hobart  of  Topsfield ;  and  one  son  and  one  daughter  died  at 
Lynn.  The  other  three  sons  received  an  education  at  Cam- 
bridge. 

1.  Rev.  Samuel  Whiting,  Jr.,  was  born  in  England,  1633. 
He  studied  with  his  father,  at  Lynn,  and  graduated  at  Cam- 
bridge, in  1653.  He  was  ordained  minister  of  Billerica,  11  No- 
vember, 1663  ;  preached  the  Artillery  Election  Sermon,  in  1682  ; 
and  died  28  February,  1713,  aged  79  years.  The  name  of  his 
wife  was  Dorcas,  and  he  had  ten  children.  1.  Elizabeth.  2. 
Samuel.  3.  Rev.  John,  minister  at  Lancaster;  where  he  was 
killed  by  the  Indians,  11  September,  1697,  at  the  age  of  33.  4. 
Oliver.  5.  Dorothy.  6.  Joseph.  7.  James.  8.  Eunice.  9. 
Benjamin.     10.  Benjamin,  again. 

2.  Rev.  John  Whiting,  graduated  at  Cambridge,  in  1653. 
He  returned  to  England,  became  a  minister  of  the  Church,  and 
died  at  Leverton,  in  Lincolnshire,  11  October,  1689,  very  exten- 
sively respected. 

3.  Rev.  Joseph  Whiting,  graduated  in  1661.  He  was  ordained 
at  Lynn,  6  October,  1680,  and  soon  after  removed  to  Southamp- 
ton,  on  Long  Island.     He  married  Sarah  Danforth,  of  Cambridge, 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1680.  275 

daughter  of  Thomas  Danforth,  Deputy  Governor.  He  had  six 
childreD,  born  at  Lynn.  1.  Samuel,  born  3  July,  1674.  2.  Jo- 
seph, b.  22  Nov.  i675.  3.  Joseph,  again,  b.  8  May,  1677.  4. 
Thomas,  b.  20  May,  1678.  5.  Joseph,  again,  b.  14  Jan.  1680. 
6.  John,  b.  20  Jan.  1681.  All  except  the  first  and  sixth,  died 
within  a  few  weeks  of  their  birth. 

Of  the  descendants  of  Mr.  Whiting,  now  [1844]  living,  are  the 
E,ev.  Samuel  Whiting,  minister  at  BiJlerica  ;  and  Henry  Whiting, 
an  officer  in  the  service  of  the  United  States,  and  author  of  a 
beautiful  little  Indian  tale,  entitled  Ontwa,  or  the  Son  of  the 
Forest. 

[Caroline  Lee  Hentz,  one  of  the  most  esteemed  of  American 
prose  writers,  descended  from  this  venerable  minister  of  the 
Lynn  church.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Gen.  John  Whiting,  who 
did  good  service  in  the  Revolution,  and  died  at  Washington,  in 
1810.  And  Gen.  Henry  Whiting,  of  the  United  States  army, 
quite  distinguished  also  for  his  literary  attainments,  was  a  bro- 
ther of  hers.  She  was  born  at  Lancaster,  Mass.,  in  1800,  and 
was  married  in  1825,  at  Northampton,  to  Mr.  N.  M.  Hentz,  a 
French  gentleman  of  education  and  talents,  who  was  at  that 
time,  in  connection  with  George  Bancroft,  the  historian,  con- 
ducting a  seminary  at  Northampton.  Soon  after  marriage,  they 
removed  to  North  Carolina,  where  Mr.  Hentz  became  a  profes- 
sor in  the  college  at  Chapel  Hill.  They  afterward  lived  at 
Covington,  Ky. ;  then  at  Cincinnati;  and  then  at  Florence,  Ala., 
where  they  established  a  flourishing  seminary.  In  1843,  they 
removed  their  school  to  Tuscaloosa,  Florida;  and  afterward 
they  resided  at  Columbus,  Ga.  Mrs.  Hentz  died  at  the  resi- 
dence of  her  son.  Dr.  Charles  A.  Hentz,  at  Mariana,  Florida,  in 
1856.  And  within  a  year  afterward,  her  accomplished  husband 
died  at  the  same  place.  Hon.  Jeremiah  Mason,  the  distinguished 
lawyer  and  United  States  Senator,  from  New  Hampshire,  who 
died  at  Boston,  4  October,  1848,  aged  80,  was  a  descendant 
from  Mr.  Whiting;  and  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  Mason,  rector 
of  Grace  Church,  Boston,  son  of  Jeremiah,  was  conspicuous  for 
his  talents  and  piety. 

[In  May,  of  this  year,  a  new  troop  was  formed  at  Lynn,  con- 
sisting of  forty-eight  men,  who  petitioned  the  General  Court 
that  Capt.  Richard  Walker  might  be  appointed  commander.  The 
magistrates  named  Walker,  for  captain  ;  Ralph  King,  lieutenant; 
John  Lewis,  cornet ;  and  William  Bassett,  quarter-master.] 

1680. 

[On  the  9th  of  June,  the  town  of  Groton  voted  to  give  Thomas 
Beall,  of  Lynn,  tanner,  ten  acres  of  land,  provided  he  would  go 
and  live  there,  ''  and  be  not  alienating  or  selling  it."  Probably 
he  did  not  accept  the  offer,  for  on  the  14th  of  August,  1691, 


276  ANKaLS    of  LYNN  —  1680. 

the  town  of  Lynn  voted,  ^'  that  Thomas  Beall  should  live  in  the 
watch  house." 

[Joseph  Armitage  died  this  year.  In  the  administration  ac- 
count, filed  in  July,  occur  these  items :  "  For  coffin,  vaile, 
and  digging  the  grave,  14s.  In  wine  and  Sider,  for  his  buriall, 
£2."] 

On  the  6th  of  October,  Mr.  Jeremiah  Shepard  was  ordained 
pastor,  and  Mr.  Joseph  Whiting  teacher,  of  the  church  at  Lynn. 

On  the  18th  of  November,  a  very  remarkable  comet  made  its 
appearance,  and  continued  about  two  months.  The  train  was 
thirty  degrees  in  length,  very  broad  and  bright,  and  nearly 
attained  the  zenith.  A  memorandum  on  a  Bible  leaf,  thus  re- 
marks :  "  A  blazing  star,  at  its  greatest  height,  to  my  appre- 
hension, terrible  to  behold."  It  was  regarded  b}^  most  people 
with  fear,  as  the  sign  of  some  great  calamity.  This  was  the 
comet  on  which  Sir  Isaac  Newton  made  his  interesting  obser- 
vations. While  the  party,  who  were  predominent  in  religious 
affairs,  were  noting  every  misfortune  which  befell  those  of  a 
different  opinion,  as  the  judgments  of  God ;  they,  on  the  other 
hand,  regarded  the  earthquakes,  the  comets,  and  the  blighting 
of  the  wheat,  as  manifestations  of  his  displeasure  against  their 
persecutors.  [Judge  Sewall  remarks,  in  an  interleaved  almanac, 
about  the  time  the  comet  disappeared,  *'  And  thus  is  this  prodi- 
gious spectacle  removed,  leaving  the  world  in  a  fearful  expecta- 
tion of  what  may  follow.  Sure  it  is  that  these  things  are  not 
sent  for  nothing,  though  man  cannot  say  particularly  for  what. 
They  are  by  most  thought  to  be  forerunners  of  evil  coming 
upon  the  world,  though  some  think  otherwise."  So,  it  appears, 
there  were  some  above  the  common  superstitions  of  the  time. 
The  period  of  this  comet  being  five  hundred  and  seventy-five 
years,  it  will  not  again  appear  till  the  year  2255.  And  how 
inconceivable  must  be  the  distance  that  it  journeys  into  space, 
moving  as  it  does  in  the  known  portions  of  its  orbit,  with  start- 
ling rapidity.  Increase  Mather,  in  his  introduction  to  a  lecture, 
remarks,  '^  As  for  the  blazing  star  which  hath  occasioned  this 
discourse,  it  was  a  terrible  sight  indeed,  especially  about  the 
middle  of  December  last."] 

Dr.  Philip  Read,  of  Lynn,  complained  to  the  court  at  Salem, 
of  Mrs.  Margaret  Giflford,  as  being  a  witch.  She  was  a  respect- 
able woman,  and  wife  of  Mr.  John  Giflford,  formerly  agent  for 
the  Iron  Works.  The  complainant  said,  '^  he  verily  believed 
that  she  was  a  witch,  for  there  were  some  things  which  could 
not  be  accounted  for  by  natural  causes."  Mrs.  Giflford  gave  no 
regard  to  her  summons,  and  the  Court  very  prudently  suspended 
their  inquiries. 

"  We  present  the  wife  of  John  Davis,  of  Lynn,  for  breaking 
her  husband's  head  with  a  quart  pot."     (Essex  Court  Rec.) 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN— 1G81,  1682.  277 


1681. 

[Samuel  Worcester  a  representive  to  the  General  Court,  from 
Bradford,  died  io  the  road,  on  the  night  of  20  February,  in  what 
is  now  Saugus,  on  his  way  to  Boston,  to  attend  an  adjourned 
session.  He  was  a  son  of  Rev.  William  Worcester,  and  was  a 
man  distinguished  for  his  piety  and  enterprise.  He  had  walked 
from  Bradford,  and,  much  wearied,  gained  the  tavern  at  Saugus. 
Being  unable  to  obtain  accommodation  there,  he  endeavored  to 
reach  the  house  of  a  ,friend.  In  the  morning,  he  was  found 
dead,  in  the  middle  of  the  road,  in  a  kneeling  posture.  He  was 
Df  the  family  from  which  Rev.  Dr.  Worcester,  the  congregational 
minister  who  for  some  time  supplied  the  pulpit  at  Swampscot, 
descended.] 

In  town  meeting,  on  the  2d  of  March,  the  people  voted  that 
Mr.  Shepard  should  be  allowed  eighty  pounds,  lawful  money,  a 
year,  for  his  salary ;  one  third  of  which  was  to  be  paid  in  money, 
and  the  other  two  thirds  in  articles  of  domestic  production,  at 
stipulated  prices.  Besides  the  salary,  a  contribution  was  kept 
open. 

[A  great  drought  prevailed  during  the  summer  months.  The 
growing  crops  were  injured  to  the  amount  of  many  thousand 
pounds.  '^  Yet  God  hath  gratiously  left  vs  enough  for  a  meat 
and  drink  offering,'^  piously  adds  Bradstreet,  in  his  journal. 

[The  Court  passed  an  order  that  Lynn  might  have  two  hcensed 
public  houses.] 

1682. 

The  Meeting  House  was  this  year  removed  from  Shepard 
street  to  the  centre  of  the  Common  and  rebuilt.  It  was  fifty 
feet  long,  and  forty-four  wide.  It  had  folding  doors  on  three 
sides,  without  porches.  The  top  of  each  door  was  formed  into 
two  semicircular  arches.  The  windows  consisted  of  small  dia- 
mond panes  set  in  sashes  of  lead.  The  floor  was  at  first  supplied 
with  seats ;  and  pews  were  afterward  separately  set  up  by  indi- 
viduals, as  they  obtained  permission  of  the  town.  By  this  means 
the  interior  came  at  length  to  present  a  singular  appearance. 
Some  of  the  pews  were  large,  and  some  small ;  some  square, 
and  some  oblong;  some  with  seats  on  three  sides,  and  some 
with  a  seat  on  one  side  ;  some  with  small  oak  panels,  and  some 
with  large  pine  ones ;  and  most  of  them  were  surmounted  by  a 
little  balustrade,  with  small  columns,  of  various  patterns,  accord- 
ing to  the  taste  of  the  proprietors.  Most  of  the  square  pews  had 
a  chair  in  the  centre,  for  the  comfort  of  the  old  lady  or  gentle- 
man, the  master  or  mistress  of  the  family,  by  whom  it  was  occu- 
pied. One  pew,  occupied  by  black  people,  was  elevated  above 
the  stairs  Tn  one  corner,  near  to  the  ceiling.  [Meeting-hous^ 
X 


278  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 168^. 

pews  are  considered  to  have  been  a  New  England  invention.] 
The  galleries  were  extended  on  three  sides,  supported  by  six 
oak  cokimns,  and  guarded  by  a  turned  balustrade.  They  were 
ascended  by  two  flights  of  stairs,  one  in  each  corner,  on  the 
south  side.  The  pulpit  was  on  the  north  side,  and  sufficiently 
large  to  contain  ten  persons.  The  top  of  the  room  was  unceiled 
for  many  years,  and  exhibited  enormous  beams  of  oak,  travers- 
ing the  roof  in  all  directions.  The  light  from  the  diamond 
windows  in  the  gables  shining  down  upon  the  great  oak  beams, 
presented  quite  a  picturesque  appearance.  The  roof  presented 
four  pediments ;  and  was  surmounted  by  a  cupola,  with  a  roof 
in  the  form  of  an  inverted  tunnel.  It  had  a  small  bell,  which 
was  rung  by  a  rope  descending  in  the  centre  of  the  room.  The 
town  meetings  continued  to  be  held  in  this  house  till  1806.  [For 
divers  facts,  traditions  and  legends,  connected  with  this  interest- 
ing edifice,  see  "Lin:  or,  Jewels  of  the  Third  Plantation."  It 
was  universally  known  as  the  Old  Tunnel  Meeting  House,  and 
remained  on  the  Common  till  1827.  It  stood  opposite  Whiting 
street. 

[Noadiah  Russell,  tutor  at  Harvard  College,  in  a  journal  kept 
by  him,  under  date  26  March,  gives  an  account  of  a  remarkable 
thunder  storm  which  took  place  in  the  latter  part  of  the  after- 
noon, it  being  Sunday.  There  was  a  high  wind  and  much  hail, 
and  the  stones  being  large,  many  panes  of  glass  were  broken. 
And  he  adds  these  remarkable  details,  which  he  says  were  sent 
in  a  letter  from  Rev.  Mr.  Shepard,  of  Lynn,  to  Mrs.  Margaret 
Mitchell,  of  Cambridge,  dated  3  April,  1682  :  "  Moreover,  at  Lyn, 
after  sun  down,  as  it  began  to  be  darkish,  an  honest  old  man, 
Mr.  Handford,  went  out  to  look  for  a  new  moon,  thinking  the 
moon  had  changed,  wdien  in  the  west  he  espied  a  strange  black 
cloud,  in  which,  after  some  space,  he  saw  a  man  in  arms  com 
plete,  standing  with  his  legs  straddling,  and  having  a  pike  in  his 
hands,  which  he  held  across  his  breast ;  which  sight  y^  man, 
with  his  wife,  saw,  and  many  others.  After  a  while  y*'  man 
vanished,  in  whose  room  appeared  a  spacious  ship,  seeming 
under  sail,  though  she  kept  the  same  station.  They  saw  it,  they 
said,  as  apparently  as  ever  they  saw  a  ship  in  the  harbour  w'h 
was  to  their  imagination  the  handsomest  of  ever  they  saw,  with 
a  lofty  stem,  the  head  to  the  south,  hull  black,  the  sails  bright. 
A  long  and  resplendent  streamer  came  from  y®  top  of  y®  mast  — 
this  was  seen  for  a  great  space,  both  by  these  and  other  of  y® 
same  town.  After  this  they  went  in,  where,  tarrying  but  a 
while,  and  looking  out  again,  all  was  gone,  and  y®  sky  as  clear 
as  ever." 

[This  was,  no  doubt,  an  instance  of  the  mirage  produced 
by  atmospheric  refraction.  Several  remarkable  instances  are 
recorded  in  early  New  England  history,   of  which  the  phan- 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN  —  1682. 


279 


torn  ship  at  New  Haven,  furnishes  an  example.  Similar  occur- 
rences are  often  witnessed  at  this  day,  in  this  vicinity;  but 
being  easily  accounted  for,  attract  little  attention.  Our  forefa- 
thers, not  having  made  themselves  acquainted  with  the  natural 
causes  of  such  appearances,  and  withal  being  fond  of  viewing 
themselves  as  objects  of  special  notice  with  the  powers  above, 
awarded  them  supernatural  honors.  And  their  fears  being  ex- 
cited, their  imaginations  had  assistance  in  filling  up  what  was, 
perhaps,  a  very  dim  outline,  and  in  rendering  vivid  what  would 
otherwise  have  appeared  very  dull.  And  in  like  manner,  it  is 
probable  that  some  things  which  to  us  appear  wonderful  and 
inexplicable,  will  to  people  of  future  years  appear  plain  and 
natural.  Mr.  Lewis  gives  the  following  sketches,  which  aptly 
illustrate  atmospheric  phenomena  occasionally  seen  hereabout. 


PHANTOM    SHIPS. 


SUNRISE    ON   THE    WATER. 


[In  another  entry  made  by  Mr.  Russell,  under  date  16  August, 
occurs  this  passage :  "  The  next  day,  being  Fryday,  I  went  t(s 
wait  on  some  company  to  Lynspring,  where,  for  company's  sake, 
drinking  too  much  cold  water,  I  set  myself  in  an  ague  w'^  camo 
on  again  on  Sabbath  and  on  Tuesday."  Does  he  refer  to  the 
Lynn  Mineral  Spring?  The  roqjantic  grounds  adjacent  were 
visited  by  little  pleasure  parties  at  an  early  period.] 


280        ANNALS  OF  LYNN— 1G83,  1G84,  1685. 


1683. 

This  year  the  heirs  of  Major  Thomas  Savage  sold  the  six 
hundred  acres,  called  Hammersmith,  or  the  lands  of  the  Iron 
Works,  to  Samuel  Appleton,  who  thus  became  possessed  of  the 
whole  property.  In  1688,  he  sold  the  whole  to  James  Taylor, 
of  Boston,  who  was  the  last  proprietor  of  the  Iron  Works,  of 
whom  I  have  found  any  record.  They  probably  ceased  opera- 
tions about  this  time.  [I  think  Mr.  Lewis's  statement  here, 
concerning  the  time  of  the  discontinuance  of  the  Iron  Works 
is  more  correct  than  his  statement  under  date  1671,  where  he 
makes  them  to  have  been  in  operation,  to  some  extent,  till  about 
the  middle  of  century  1700.] 

1684. 

A  letter  written  at  Haverhill,  this  year,  by  N.  Saltonstall,  to 
the  captain  of  a  militia  company,  thus  proceeds  :  ''  I  have  orders 
also  to  require  you  to  provide  a  flight  of  colors  for  your  foot 
company,  the  ground  field  or  flight  whereof  is  to  be  green,  with 
a  red  cross  in  a  white  field  in  the  angle,  according  to  the  ancient 
custom  of  our  own  English  nation,  and  the  English  plantations 
in  North  America,  and  our  own  practice  in  our  ships."  This  was 
the  American  standard,  till  the  stripes  and  stars  of  1776. 

[The  English  High  Court  of  Chancery,  at  Trinity  Term,  gave 
judgment  against  the  Massachusetts  Government  and  Company, 
^'  that  their  letters  patent  and  the  enrolment  thereof  be  cancel- 
led." This  was  the  dissolution  of  the  beloved  old  Charter,  and 
a  fresh  impulse  was  given  to  those  political  agitations  which 
surged  on  till  the  whole  aspect  of  things  was  changed ;  indeed 
till  the  colonies  became  an  independent  nation.] 

1685. 

The  following  singular  deposition  is  transcribed  from  the 
files  of  the  Quarterly  Court,  and  is  dated  IJuly,  1685:  "The 
deposition  of  Joseph  Farr,  and  John  Burrill,  junior,  testifieth 
and  saith,  that  they  being  at  the  house  of  Francis  Burrill,  and 
there  being  some  difference  betwixt  Francis  Burrill  and  Benja- 
min Farr,  and  we  abovesaid  understanding  that  the  said  Benja- 
min Farr  had  been  a  suitor  to  Elizabeth  Burrill,  the  daughter  of 
Francis  Burrill,  and  he  was  something  troubled  that  Benjamin 
had  been  so  long  from  his  daughter,  and  the  said  Francis  Burrill 
told  the  said  Benjamin  Farr  that  if  he  had  more  love  to  his  marsh, 
or  to  any  estate  of  his,  than  to  his  daughter,  he  should  not  go 
into  his  house;  for  he  should  be  left  to  his  liberty;  he  should 
not  be  engaged  to  any  thing  more  than  he  was  freely  willing  to 
give  his  daughter,  if  he  had  Jjer;  and  this  was  about  two  days 
before  they  was  married." 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1685.  281 

[A  fast  was  appointed,  14  July,  on  account  of  the  prevailing 
drought.     Great  ravages  were  committed  by  caterpillars.] 

At  a  town  meeting,  on  the  first  of  December,  the  people 
voted,  that  no  inhabitant  should  cut  any  green  tree  upon  the 
common  lands,  which  was  less  than  one  foot  in  diameter. 

The  following  petition  of  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  Lynn, 
for  a  remuneration  of  their  services  in  the  Wampanoag  war,  was 
presented  this  year. 

To  the  Honoured  Governor  and  Company,  the  General  Court  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Bay,  that  is  to  be  assembled  the  27  May,  1685,  the  humble  petition 
of  several  inhabitants  of  Lynn,  who  were  sokl,  impressed,  and  sent  forth 
for  the  service  of  the  country,  that  was  with  the  Indians  in  the  long  march  in 
the  Nipmugg  country,  and  the  fight  at  the  fort  in  Narragansett,  humbly  show- 
eth,  That  your  petitioners  did,  in  obedience  unto  the  authority  which  God  hath 
set  over  them,  and  love  to  their  country,  leave  their  deare  relations,  some  of  us 
our  dear  wives  and  children,  vi^hich  we  would  have  gladlv  remained  at  home, 
and  the  bond  of  love  and  duty  would  have  bound  us  to  cJioose  rather  soe  to 
have  done  considering  the  season  and  time  of  the  year,  when  that  hard  sei-vice 
was  to  be  performed.  But  your  petitioners  left  what  was  dear  to  them,  and 
preferred  the  publique  weal  above  the  private  enjoyments,  and  did  cleave 
thereunto,  and  exposed  ourselves  to  the  difficulties  and  hardships  of  the  winter, 
as  well  as  the  dangers  of  that  cruel  warr,  witli  consideration  to  the  enemy. 
What  our  hardships  and  difficulties  were  is  well  known  to  some  of  your  wor- 
ships, being  our  honoured  magistrates,  as  also  what  mercy  it  was  from  the 
Lord,  who  alone  preserved  us,  and  gave  us  our  lives  for  a  prey,  by  leading  us 
through  such  imminent  dangers,  whereby  the  Lord  gave- us  to  see  many  of 
our  dear  friends  lose  their  blood  and  life,  which  might  have  been  our  case, 
but  that  God  soe  disposed  toward  us  deliverance  and  strength  to  returne  to 
our  homes,  which  we  desire  to  remember  and  ackuow^ledge  to  his  most  glori- 
ous praise.  But  yet,  we  take  the  boldnes  to  signifie  to  this  honored  Court, 
how  that  service  was  noe  whitt  to  our  particular  outward  advantage,  but  to 
the  contrary,  much  to  our  disadvantage.  Had  we  had  the  liberty  of  staying 
at  home,  as  our  neighbors  had,  though  we  had  paid  double  rates,  it  would 
have  been  to  our  advantage,  as  indeed  we  did  pay  our  properties  l3y  our  es- 
tates in  the  publick  rates  to  the  utmost  bounds.  Notwithstanding  all,  yet  we 
humbly  conceive,  that  by  the  suppression  of  the  enemy  which  God  of  his  great 
mercy  vouchsafed,  wee  poor  soldiers  and  servants  to  the  country  were  instru- 
ments to  procure  much  land,  which  we  doubt  not  shall  and  will  be  improved, 
by  the  prudence  of  this  honored  Court,  unto  people  that  need  most  especially. 
And  we,  your  poor  petitioners,  are  divers  of  us  in  need  of  land,  for  want 
whereof  some  of  us  are  forced  upon  considerations  of  departing  this  Colony 
and  Government,  to  seek  accommodations  whereby  the  better  to  maintaine  the 
charge  in  our  families,  with  our  wives  and  children,  and  to  leave  unto  them, 
when  the  Lord  shall  take  us  away  by  death,  which  we  must  expect.  And 
divers  of  us  have  reason  to  fear  our  days  may  be  much  shortened  by  our  hard 
service  in  the  war,  from  the  pains  and  aches  of  our  bodies,  that  we  feel  in  our 
bones  and  sinews,  and  lameness  thereby  taking  hold  of  us  much,  especially  at 
the  spring  and  fall,  whereby  we  are  hindered  and  disabled  of  that  ability  for 
our  labour  which  we  constantly  had,  through  the  mercy  of  God,  before,  that 
served  in  the  warrs.  Now,  your  poore  petitioners  are  hopeful  this  honored 
Court  will  be  moved  with  consideration  and  some  respect  to  the  poor  soldiery, 
and  particularly  to  us,  that  make  bold  to  prefer  our  petition,  humbly  to  crave, 
that  we,  whose  names  are  liereunto  subscribed,  may  be  so  graciously  consid- 
ered by  this  honored  Court  as  to  grant  us  some  good  tracks  of  land  in  the 
Nipmugg  country,  where  we  may  find  a  place  for  a  tov^^nship,  that  we,  your 
petitioners,  and  our  posterity  may  live  in  the  same  colonv  where  our  fathers 


282  ANNALS  OF  LYNN  — 1686.  1687. 

(lid,  and  left  us,  aud  probably  many  of  those  who  went  fellow  soldiers  in  the 
war  may  be  provided  for,  and  their  children  also,  in  the  portion  of  conquered 
lands  their  fathers  fouijht  for.  Your  petitioners  thmk  it  is  but  a  very  reasona- 
ble request,  which  will  be  no  way  offensive  to  this  honored  Court,  which,  if 
they  shall  please  to  grant  unto  your  petitioners,  it  will  not  only  be  satisfaction 
to  their  spirits  for  their  semce  already  done,  but  be  a  future  obligation  to  them 
and  theirs  after  them  for  futm'e  service,  and  ever  to  pray. 

This  petition  was  signed  by  twenty-five  inhabitants  of  Lynn, 
whose  names  were:  William  Bassett,  John  Farrington,  Nathan- 
iel Ballard,  Timothy  Breed,  Jonathan  Locke,  Daniel  Johnson, 
Widow  Hathorne,  Samuel  Tarbox,  Samuel  Graves,  John  Ed- 
munds, Samuel  Johnson,  Daniel  Golt,  Joseph  Hawkes,  Andrew 
Townsend,  John  Davis,  Joseph  Collins,  Samuel  Mower,  Robert 
Potter,  senior,  Joseph  Mansfield,  Robert  Driver,  John  Richards, 
John  Lindsey,  Philip  Kertland,  Joseph  Breed,  Henry  Rhodes. 
It  was  also  signed  by  sixteen  persons  of  other  towns.  On  the 
3d  of  June,  the  Court  granted  them  a  tract  of  land  in  Worcester 
county,  eight  miles  square,  on  condition  that  thirty  families,  with 
an  orthodox  minister,  should  settle  there  within  four  years. 

[Oliver  Purchis  of  Lynn,  was  appointed  on  a  committee  to 
revise  the  laws.  He  was  also  elected  Assistant ;  but  the  record 
adds,  '^  he  declined  his  oath."  He  had  not  probably  finished 
his  days  of  vexation  and  mourning  on  account  of  the  dissolution 
of  the  old  Charter.] 

1686. 

Mr.  Oliver  Purchis  was  chosen  Town  Clerk. 

"  A  great  and  terrible  drouth,  mostly  in  the  4th  month,  [June] 
and  continued  in  the  5th  month,  with  but  little  rain ;  but  the 
18th,  being  the  Sabbath,  we  had  a  sweet  rain." 

James  Quonopohit  and  David  Kunkshamooshaw,  descendants 
of  Nanapashemet,  sold  a  lot  of  land  on  the  west  side  of  the  Iron 
Works'  pond,  on  the  28th  of  July,  to  Daniel  Hitchings. 

[This  year,  also,  David  Kunkshamooshaw,  and  divers  of  his 
kindred,  heirs  of  old  Sagamore  George  No-Nose  alias  Wenepoy- 
kin,  gave  a  deed  confirming  the  title  of  the  town  to  the  lands 
on  which  it  stood.  For  a  copy  of  this  deed,  and  remarks  con- 
cerning it,  see  page  49,  et  seq.] 

1687. 

At  a  town  meeting  on  the  15th  of  February,  "the  town  voted 
the  Selectmen  be  a  committee  to  look  after  encroached  lands, 
or  highways,  from  Francis  Burrill's  barn  to  the  gate  that  is  by 
Timothy  Breed's,  or  parcels  of  land  in  places  least  prejudicial 
to  the  town,  and  make  good  sale  of  any  of  them  on  the  Town's 
behalf,  for  money  to  pay  the  Indians  at  the  time  appointed,  and 
the  necessary  charges  of  that  afiair." 

On  the  16th  of  February,  Capt.  Thomas  Marshall  exchanged 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1687.  283 

with  the  town  his  right  in  Stone's  meadow,  in  Lynnfield,  for  a 
right  in  Edwards's  meadow;  and  the  town,  at  the  request  of  Mr. 
Shepard,  made  a  grant  of  it  to  the  ministry. 

[Thomas  Newhall,  aged  57,  the  first  white  person  born  in 
Lynn,  was  buried  in  the  Old  Burying  Ground,  near  the  west 
end  of  Lynn  Common,  1  ApriL] 

Mr.  Shepard  kept  the  school  several  months  this  winter.  Ed- 
ucation, with  the  children  of  the  early  settlers,  was  a  matter  of 
convenience  rather  than  of  accomphshment.  I  have  seen  the 
signatures  of  several  hundreds  of  the  first  settlers,  and  have  fac- 
similes of  many,  and  they  are  quite  as  good  as  an  equal  number 
of  signatures  taken  at  random  at  the  present  day.  But  in  clear- 
ing the  forest,  and  obtaining  a  subsistence,  they  had  little  leisure 
for  their  children  to  spend  in  study ;  and  a  month  or  two  in 
winter,  under  the  care  of  the  minister,  was  the  principal  oppor- 
tunity which  they  had  to  obtain  the  little  learning  requisite  for 
their  future  life.  The  consequence  was,  that  the  generations 
succeeding  the  early  settlers,  from  1650  to  1790,  w^ere  generally 
less  learned  than  the  first  settlers,  or  than  those  who  have  lived 
since  the  Revolution. 

[The  statement  of  Mr.  Lewis  in  the  second  sentence  of  the 
foregoing  paragraph  may  rather  confuse  than  enlighten.  The 
establishment  of  schools  here,  had  a  religious  purpose.  Thus, 
the  legislative  enactment  of  1647,  commences,  "  It  being  one 
chief  proiect  of  y^  ould  deludor,  Satan,  to  keepe  men  from  the 
knowledge  of  y®  Scriptures,  as  in  former  times  by  keeping  them 
in  an  unknown  tongue,  so  in  these  latter  times,  by  persuading 
from  y®  use  of  tongues,  y*  so  at  least  y®  true  sence  and  meaning 
of  y®  originall  might  be  clouded  by  false  glosses  of  saint-seeming 
deceivers,  y*^  learning  may  not  be  buried  in  y®  grave  of  our 
fathers  in  y®  church  and  commonwealth,  y®  Lord  assisting  our 
endeavors :  It  is  therefore  ordered  y*  every  towneship  in  this 
jurisdiction  after  y®  Lord  hath  increased  them  to  y®  number  of 
50  householders  shall  then  forthwith  appoint  one  within  their 
towne  to  teach  all  such  children  as  shall  resort  to  him,  to  write 
and  reade,"  &c.  .  .  ,  "  And  it  is  further  ordered,  y*^  where  any 
towne  shall  increase  to  y®  number  of  100  families,  or  household- 
ers, they  shall  set  up  a  grammar  schoole,  y®  master  thereof  being 
able  to  instruct  youth  so  farr  as  they  may  be  fitted  for  y®  uni- 
versity, provided  y*  if  any  towne  neglect  y^  performance  hereof 
above  one  yeare,  then  every  such  towne  shall  pay  £5  to  y®  next 
schoole  till  they  shall  performe  this  order."  In  1654,  the  Court 
prohibited  the  teachiHg  of  schools  by  persons  of  "unsound 
doctrine."  Were  such  a  prohibit-ion  in  force  now,  we  should 
see  in  a  glaring  light  the  result  of  the  religious  independency 
they  held  so  dear.  Who  would  be  authorized  to  determine 
what  unsound  doctrine  is?     And  is  it  not  a  melancholy  fact, 


284  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1688. 

that  in  our  day,  either  from  an  undefinable  fear  of  meddhng 
with  some  right  of  conscience,  or  from  some  other  loose  appre- 
hension, the  intellectual  training  in  our  schools  is  treated  as 
altogether  superior  to  the  moral?  Nay  has  not  the  moral  beer 
well-nigh  thrust  out  of  doors?  And  yet,  is  it  not,  in  sober 
truth,  of  quite  as  much  importance  that  children  should,  day  by 
day,  be  instructed  in  the  principles  that  are  to  rule  their  desti- 
nies for  all  eternity,  as  in  the  principles  that  have  relation  only 
to  the  arts  of  money  making  or  at  best  mere  intellectual  disci- 
pline ?  It  does  not  appear  that  the  Bible  was  used,  at  least  to 
much  extent,  as  a  school  book,  our  discreet  fathers  probably 
having  too  much  veneration  for  the  sacred  volume  to  devote  it, 
intact,  to  so  common  a  purpose.  But  the  Psalter,  containing 
extracts  from  Solomon's  Proverbs,  selections  from  the  Psalms 
of  David,  and,  in  some  editions,  selections  from  the  Parables 
of  the  New  Testament,  was  long  in  use.  And  we  are  persuaded 
that  no  special  evil  would  flow  if  a  similar  book  were  introduced 
into  the  schools  which  are  the  boast  of  this  day.  Even  por- 
tions of  the  Church  Prayer  Book  were  used  for  devotional 
purposes.] 

1688. 
During  the  administration  of  Sir  Edmund  Andros,  the  people 
of  Lynn  had  an  opportunity  of  witnessing  the  tendency  of  arbi- 
trary government.  Andros  had  been  appointed  by  the  British 
King,  James  II.,  Governor  of  all  New  England,  and  came  over 
in  1686  to  exercise  that  authority;  and  his  administration,  for 
two  years,  was  characterized  by  many  acts  of  arbitrary  power. 
He  asserted  that  the  people  of  Massachusetts  had  forfeited  their 
charter,  and  that  all  the  lands  belonged  to  the  King.  Edward 
Randolph,  his  Secretary,  looking  round  among  these  lands,  to 
see  where  he  might  establish  a  little  dukedom,  fixed  his  atten- 
tion upon  the  beautiful  domain  of  Nahant,  which  he  requested 
the  Governor  to  give  to  him.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  his 
petition. 

To  his  Excellency,  Sir  Edmund  Andros,  Knidit,  Governor,  &c.  &c. 

The  humble  petition  of  Edward  Randolph,  that  there  is  a  certain  tract  of 
land  nigh  the  Township  of  Lynn,  in  the  County  of  Essex,  in  this  His  Majesty's 
territory  and  dominion,  out  offence  and  undivided,  containing  about  five  hun- 
dred acres,  commonly  called  Nahant  neck,  for  which  your  petitioner  humbly 
prays  His  Majesty's  gi-ant,  and  that  your  Excellence  would  please  to  issue  a 
warrant  to  the  Sui-veyor-General  to  admeasure  the  same,  in  order  to  passing 
a  patent,  he  paying  such  moderate  quitrent  as  your  Excellence  shall  please  to 
direct,  &c.  "     '  Ed.  Randolph. 

On  the  reception  of  this  modest  petition,  the  Council,  on  Fri- 
day, the  third  of  February,  directed  the  constables  to  "  Give 
public  notice  in  the   said  town  of  Lynn,  that,  if  any  person  or 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1688.  285 

persons  have  any  claim  or  pretence  to  the  said  land,  tbey  appear 
before  his  Excellency,  the  Governor,  in  Council,  on  Wednesday, 
the  seventh  of  March  next,  then  and  there  to  show  forth  the 
same,  and  why  the  said  land  may  not  be  granted  to  the  peti- 
tioner." In  pursuance  of  this  order,  the  constable  John  Ed- 
munds, notified  a  town  meeting,  w^hich  was  held  on  the  5th  of 
March,  when  a  committee  was  chosen,  who  made  the  following 
representation. 

To  his  Excellency,  Sir  Edmund  Andros,  Knif^lit,  and  our  Honorable  Gover- 
nor, with  his  Honorable  Council  to  sit  with  him,  on  Wednesday,  the  seventh 
of  this  instant  March,  1688. 

Having  received  an  order  upon  the  second  day  of  this  instant  March,  that 
orders  our  constables  of  Lynn,  or  either  of  them,  to  give  public  notice  in  the 
said  town  of  Lynn,  of  a  petition  of  Mr.  Edward  Randolph,  Esq.,  read  in  a 
council  held  in  Boston,  on  the  third  day  of  February,  1688,  praying  His  Majes- 
ty's grant  of  a  certain  tract  of  land,  therein  called  vacant  land,  lying  nigh  the 
town  of  Lynn,  called  Nahant,  &c.,  as  also,  that,  if  any  person  or  persons  have 
any  claim  or  pretence  to  the  said  lands,  they  appear  before  his  Excellency,  in 
council,  on  Wednesday,  the  seventh  of  this  instant  March,  to  show  forth  the 
same,  and  why  the  said  land  may  not  be  granted  to  the  petition,  &c. 

Wherefore,  we,  the  proprietors  of  the  pasture  of  Nahant,  and  inhabitants 
of  Lynn,  have,  in  obedience  to  our  present  Honorable  Governor,  and  his  Hon- 
orable Council,  presented  before  them  as  followeth. 

Im])rimis:  Our  humble  and  most  thankful  acknowledgment  of  the  favor 
showed  unto  us,  in  giving  us  notice  of  such  an  enterprise,  as  whereby,  should  it 
take  effect,  would  so  extremely  indamage  so  many  of  His  Majesty's  good  sub- 
jects at  once ;  whereby  we  conclude  His  Excellency,  our  Honorable  Governor, 
and  his  Honorable  Council,  are  such  as  will  search  for  and  do  justice,  and 
maintain  the  cause  of  the  innocent,  weak,  and  poor,  as  we  humbly  and  sin- 
cerely acknowledge  ourselves  to  be;  and  yet  being  clearly  satisfied  of  our  just 
right  in  the  tract  of  lands  petitioned  for,  have  good  hope  our  honorable  rulers 
will,  of  clemency  and  justice,  adhere  to,  hear  and  weigh  reasons  herein  pre- 
sented, why  we  cannot  comply  with  Mr.  Edward  Randolph's  petition  for  the 
alienation  of  our  Nahants;  which,  we  humbly  conceive,  is  groundlessly  repre- 
sented to  be  a  parcel  of  vacant  land,  and  therefore  must  apply  ourselves  to 
demonstrate  to  our  Honorable  Governor,  and  his  Honorable  Council  the  con- 
trary. And  although  the  time  is  very  short  indeed  for  us  to  lay  before  your 
Honors  to  vindicate  our  just  right  to  our  Nahants,  yet  our  endeavors  shall  be 
as  effectual  as  we  can  in  so  short  a  time  as  we  have  to  bethink  ourselves,  and 
show  your  Honors,  that  it  is  not  vacant  land,  and  that  the  pi'oprietors  have  a 
true  and  just  right  thereunto,  wherefore  we  present  your  honors  as  followeth. 
That  we  have  in  our  records,  that  in  the  year  1635,  this  tract  of  land,  viz. 
our  Nahants,  was  in  the  hands  of  the  freemen  of  Lynn  to  dispose  of;  who  did 
then  grant  unto  several  inhabitants  to  plant,  and  build  upon,  and  possess ;  and, 
if  they  did  not  perform  the  conditions,  they,  to  whom  it  was  granted,  forfeited 
the  land  to  the  town  again,  to  dispose  as  shall  be  thought  fit ;  and  among 
those  to  whom  these  lauds  were  granted,  that  worthy  and  honorable  gentle- 
man, Mr.  Humphreys,  was  one,  who  was  a  patentee  and  an  assistant  in  the 
first  government ;  therefore,  sure  it  was  the  town's  land  then. 

That  these  inhabitants  that  did  build  and  dwell  there,  they  were  tributaries, 
or  tenants,  and  paid  their  yearly  rent  to  the  town  as  long  as  they  lived,  or 
were  removed  by  the  town ;  as  to  instance,  one  Robert  Coates  yet  living,  to 
testify  it. 

There  have  been  some  that  have  laid  claim  to  this  land  called  Nahant,  and 
commended  suit  at  law  with  the  town  for  it,  but  were  cast  at  law,  the  Court 


286  ANNALS    OP    LYNN — ^1688. 


that  then  was  gave  the  town  the  case,  justified  the  town's  right,  and  never 
denied  it,  nor  blamed  them  about  it. 

This  tract  of  land,  it  hath  been  divided  into  planting  lots  to  the  several  pro- 
prietors by  a  vote  of  the  town,  as  appears  in  our  records,  Anno,  1656,  and  the 
whole  fenced  as  a  common  field,  and  the  lots  been  improved  by  the  proprie- 
tors, in  planting,  tilling,  and  manuring ;  and  afterward,  by  the  agreement  of 
the  proprietors,  converted  into  a  pasture ;  and  so,  ever  since  to  this  day  im- 
proved ;  so  we  have  by  hard  labor  and  industry  subdued  it,  and  brought  it 
into  so  good  a  capacity  as  it  is  at  this  day,  for  the  town's  future  benefit  and 
no  other. 

We  have  honestly  purchased  said  tract  of  land  with  our  money,  of  the  orig- 
inal proprietors  of  the  soil,  viz.  the  Natives,  and  have  firm  confirmation  thereof, 
under  their  hands  and  seals,  according  to  law. 

We  have  possessed  and  improved  the  said  tract  of  land  upwards  of  fifty 
years,  for  so  long  since  it  hath  been  built  upon,  inhabited  by  tenants  paying 
their  acknowledgments  year  after  year. 

We  hope  arguments  of  this  nature  will  be  swaying  with  so  rational  a  com- 
monwealth's man  as  Mr.  Randolph,  who  hath  ever  pretended  great  respect  to 
His  Majesty's  subjects  among  us,  and  an  earnest  care  and  desire  to  promote 
their  welfare  and  prosperity.  Tlie  premises  considered,  we  believe  a  gentle- 
man, under  such  circumstances,  will  not  be  injurious,  by  seeking  a  particular 
benefit,  to  impoverish  and  disadvantage  so  many  of  His  Majesty's  good  sub- 
jects, by  seeking  the  alienation  of  such  a  tract  of  land,  so  eminently  useful 
and  needful  for  those  proprietors  now  in  possession  of  it  —  it  being  a  thing  so 
consistent  with  His  Majesty's  pleasure,  that  his  subjects  should  enjoy  their 
properties  and  flourish  under  his  government. 

We  are  confident,  therefore,  that  this  Honorable  Council  will  be  solicitous 
for  the  promoting  our  welfare,  as  not  to  suffer  us  to  be  impoverished  by  the 
alienation  of  such  a  considerable  tract  of  land,  as  this  will  do,  if  it  should  be 
alienated,  —  yea,  we  are  bold  to  say  again,  extremely  prejudicial,  if  not  impov- 
erish the  body  of  the  inhabitants  of  Lynn,  who  live  not  upon  traffic  and  trading, 
as  many  seaport  towns  do,  who  have  greater  advantages,  but  upon  husbandry, 
and  raising  such  stocks  of  cattle  and  sheep  as  they  are  capable,  and  as  their 
outlands  will  aflford;  for  this,  our  Nahant  is  such  a  place  for  us  as  God  and 
nature  hath  fitted  and  accommodated  with  herbage ;  and  likewise,  the  only 
place  about  us  for  security  for  our  creatures  from  the  teeth  of  ravening  wolves ; 
which,  this  last  summer,  as  well  as  formerly,  have  devoured  very  many  that 
fed  in  other  places  about  us,  to  the  very  great  damage  of  sundry  of  our  inhab- 
itants accordingly.  Therefore,  the  said  tract  of  land  hath  been  improved  by 
the  proprietors  as  a  grazing  field  with  great  benefit  to  the  body  of  the  whole 
town,  which  otherwise  would  be  exposed  to  great  hardships,  inconveniences, 
and  difficulties,  to  obtain  a  poor  living;  and,  therefore,  we  cannot  but  be 
deeply  sensible,  that,  if  the  said  pasture  be  alienated  from  us,  our  poor  families 
will  be  very  great  sufferers,  and  we  shall  be  rendered  veiy  uncapable,  either 
to  provide  for  them,  or  to  contribute  such  dues  and  duties  to  His  Majesty's 
government  set  over  us,  which  othenvise  we  might  be  capable  of,  and  shall 
always  readily  and  carefully  attend  unto  our  utmost  capacity. 

And  we  humbly  trust,  our  Honorable  Governor  and  his  Honorable  Council 
will  show  us  the  favor,  as  in  their  wisdoms,  to  weigh  and  consider  well  our 
dutiful  application  to  their  order,  to  give  in  and  show  our  reasons  why  we 
claim  this  said  tract  of  land  to  be  our  right,  as  not  to  suffer  any  alienation  of 
that  which  we  do  so  much  need  for  our  great  comfort  and  benefit ;  but  rather 
grant  us  further  confirmation  thereof,  if  need  require. 

And  thus  we,  the  proprietors  of  the  tract  of  land,  even  our  Nahant,  that  is 
petitioned  for,  have  taken  notice  of  your  Honors'  order,  and  have,  this  first 
day  of  March,  1687-8,  made  choice  of  a  committee,  to  consider  what  is  meet 
to  lay  before  your  Honors,  and  of  messengers,  to  appear  and  present  the  same 
to  your  Excellency,  our  Honorable  Governor,  and  the  Honorable  Council ; 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1688.  287 


which,  if  these  tilings  are  not  satisfactory,  we  then  in  humility  crave  the  favor 
of  His  Excellency  and  his  Honorable  Council  for  such  a  trial  and  process  as 
the  law  may  admit  of  in  such  a  case,  wherein  persons  are  in  possession  of 
lands,  as  we  of  this  said  tract,  having  tenants  thereon ;  and  further  time  and 
opportunity  being  granted,  we  doubt  not  but  we  shall  produce  such  valid 
confirmations  of  our  true  and  honest  tide  to  said  tract  of  land,  as  shall  be  abun- 
dantly satisfactory  to  our  honored  rulers,  and  put  a  period  to  further  der  ates 
about  it.  So  w^e  rest  and  remain,  His  Majesty's  most  loyal  subjects,  and  your 
Excellency's  and  Council's  most  humble  sei*vants,  The  Committee,  in  the 
name  and  behalf  of  the  Proprietors  of  Nahant. 

Thomas  Laughton 
Ralph  King, 
John  Lewis, 
Oliver  Purchis, 
John  Burrill, 
Edward  Richards, 
John  Fuller. 

It  may  appear  strange  to  many,  at  this  time,  to  notice  tlie 
humble  and  almost  abject  demeanor  of  the  committee,  as  evinced 
in  the  preceding  address.  They  doubtless  thought,  that  nothing 
would  be  lost  by  soft  words ;  but  the  spirit  of  freeman  was  at 
length  roused,  and  ample  vengeance  was  soon  to  be  taken  on 
the  aggressors  of  arbitrary  power.  Notwithstanding  the  repre- 
sentations of  the  committee,  Mr.  Randolph  persisted  in  his  de- 
mand, and  renewed  his  claim  as  follows.     . 

To  His  Excellence,  Sir  Edmund  Andros,  Governor. 

The  humble  representation  of  Edward  Randolph,  sheweth :  That  having, 
by  his  humble  petition  to  your  Excellence,  prayed  a  grant  of  a  certain  tract 
of  land  lying  in  the  township  of  Lynn,  in  the  county  of  Essex,  called  Nahant, 
your  Excellence  was  pleased,  by  your  order  in  Council,  the  third  day  of  Feb- 
ruary last,  to  direct  that  the  constables  of  the  said  town  do  give  public  notice 
to  the  said  town,  that,  if  any  person  or  persons  have  any  claim  or  pretence  to 
the  said  land,  they  should  appear  before  your  Excellence  in  Council,  on  Wed- 
nesday, the  seventh  of  this  instant  March  ;  at  which  time  several  of  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  said  town  of  Lynn  did  appear,  and  presented  your  Excellence 
with  a  paper,  containing  their  several  objections  to  the  said  petition. 

In  answer  whereunto  is  humbly  oflTered  as  follows :  That  by  their  said  prayer, 
it  does  not  appear  the  lands  petitioned  for,  or  any  part  thereof,  were  disposed 
of  to  the  inhabitants  of  Lynn,  nor  that  the  said  town  of  Lynn  was  incorporated 
in  the  year  1635,  nor  at  any  time  since,  and  so  not  endowed  with  a  power  of 
receiving  or  disposing  such  lands. 

That  tlie  freemen  of  Lynn,  mentioned  in  the  fii'st  article  of  their  said  paper, 
were  not  freemen  of  the  corporation  of  Lynn,  (as  they  would  insinuate)  but 
inhabitants  only  in  the  township,  and  were  admitted  by  the  General  Court  to 
be  freemen  of  the  Colony,  with  power  to  elect  magistrates,  etc.,  and  their  town 
of  Lynn  is  equal  to  a  village  in  England,  and  no  otherwise. 

And  in  regard  their  whole  paper  contains  nothing  more  material  than  what 
is  expressed  in  then*  first  article,  the  petitioner  hath  nothing  further  to  offer, 
than  to  pray  your  Excellence's  grant  according  to  his  petition.  All  which  is 
humbly  submitted. 

Ed.  Randolph. 

On  the  reception  of  this  petition,  the  people  of  Lynn  held 
another  meeting,  and  addressed  the  Governor  as  follows. 


288  ANNALS  OF  LYNN— 1688. 

To  His  Excellency,  Sir  Edmund  Andros,  Knight,  our  Honorable  Governor, 
Captain-General  of  His  Majesty's  Territory  and  Dominion  in  New  England, 
the  humble  addi'ess  of  the  inliabitants  of  Lynn  is  humbly  offered. 

We,  whose  names  are  subscribed,  having,  by  the  favor  of  your  Excellency, 
good  information  of  the  endeavors  of  some  to  seek  the  alienation  of  a  tract  of 
land  from  us,  called  the  Nahants,  containing  about  four  or  five  hundred  acres, 
which  will  prove  extremely  prejudicial  and  injurious  to  the  body  of  His  Ma- 
jesty's subjects  among  us ;  it  being  a  ti-act  of  land  honorably  purchased  of  tlie 
natives,  the  original  proprietors  of  the  soil,  and  possessed  by  our  predecessors 
and  om-selves  near  upon  sixty  years,  and  to  this  day.  We  have  also  renewed 
confirmations  of  the  tj-act  of  land  by  firm  deed  from  the  successors  of  the 
ancient  proprietors,  the  natives;  having  also  been  at  great  cost  and  charges, 
and  hard  labor  for  the  subdumg  of  the  said  land,  to  bring  it  into  so  good  a 
capacity  as  it  is  in  at  this  day ;  having  also  defended  our  right  to  this  tract  of 
land  as  well  as  others  possessed  by  us,  by  blood  and  the  loss  of  many  lives, 
both  formerly,  and  especially  i]3  the  late  engagments,  with  the  barbarous 
pagans.  The  said  tract  of  land  having  been  built  upon,  also,  and  inhabited 
upwards  of  fi%  years.  It  hath  been  ploughed,  planted,  tilled,  and  manured, 
and  fenced  in  ;  the  fence  remainmg  to  this  very  day,  only  wanting  reparation  ; 
none  ever,  to  this  day,  from  the  first  settlement  of  our  plantation  —  called 
formerly  by  the  name  of  Saugus  —  dispossessing  of  us;  but  we  have  main- 
tained our  position  and  right,  which  hath  been  owned  and  defended  by  His 
Majesty's  former  government  set  over  us.  The  said  tract  of  land  being  also 
eminently  beneficial  and  needful  for  the  support  of  our  inhabitants ;  it  being 
improved  for  a  grazing  field  for  our  sheep,  and  such  other  useful  creatures  as 
can  scarcely  be  preserved  from  the  ravening  wolves. 

Therefore,  we  are  sensible,  that,  by  the  alienation  of  such  a  tract  of  land 
from  us,  so  cucumstanced,  many  of  His  Majesty's  good  subjects  —  our  honest, 
innocent  neighbors  —  will  be  exposed  to  great  sufferings  and  hardships,  and 
we  all  rendered  incapable  to  contribute  such  dues  and  duties  to  His  Majesty's 
government  set  over  us,  as  is  our  bounden  duty,  and  which  we  shall  always 
readily  attend,  knowing  how  consistent  it  is  with  His  Majesty's  pleasm-e,  and 
how  well  pleasing  to  your  Excellency,  that  we  live  and  prosper  under  your 
government. 

We  request  your  Excellency,  therefore,  to  condescend  to  cast  a  favorable 
aspect  upon  the  premises,  and  that  our  mean  and  shattered  condition  may  not 
induce  your  contempt,  but  rather  obtain  your  pity  and  succor.  And,  therefore, 
we  confide  in  your  Excellency's  favor  for  our  encouraging  answer  to  this  our 
petition,  which  is  for  the  further  and  future  enjoymg  of  our  Nahants. 

By  your  Excellency's  fatherly  and  compassionate  grant  of  such  a  patent  for 
fmlher  confii-mation  thereof  unto  ourselves  and  heirs  forever,  upon  a  moderate 
acknowledgment  to  be  paid  to  His  Royal  Majestj^  as  may  l3e  consistent  with 
your  Excellency's  prudence,  and  most  conducive  to  our  best  behoof  and  ben- 
efit, and  so  that  we  may  live  and  prosper  mider  your  government,  that  we  may 
have  tranquillity  under  the  same  from  henceforth. 

The  second  day  of  April,  Anno  Domini,  One  Thousand  Six  Hundred  Eighty 
and  Eight.     Annoqui  Regni  Regis  Jacobi  Secundi  Quai'to. 

The  above  petition  was  signed  by  seventy-four  inhabitants, 
and,  with  the  preceding  papers,  ai-e  preserved  in  the  Massachu- 
setts archives.  Their  interesting  nature  has  induced  me  to 
give  them  entire.     I  have  only  corrected  the  spelling. 

The  revenge  which  had  been  burning  in  the  breasts  of  the 
eastern  Indians  for  twelve  years,  for  their  friends  killed  and 
sold  into  slavery  in  1676,  this  year  broke  out  into  open  war. 
Their  animosity  was  increased  by  the  instigation  of  Baron  de  St. 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1689.  289 

Castine,  a  Frenchman,  who  married  a  daughter  of  Madockawan- 
do,  the  Penobscot  chief.  His  house  ha*d  been  plundered  by 
Sir  Edmund  Andros,  the  Governor  of  Massachusetts,  and  this 
induced  him  to  join  with  the  Indians.  The  French  of  Canada 
also  united  with  them  in  their  depredations,  which  were  contin- 
ued, with  intervals,  till  1698,  under  the  appellation  of  Castine's 
war.  A  company  of  soldiers  from  Lynn  were  impressed,  by 
order  of  the  Governor,  and  sent  out  against  the  Indians  in  the 
depth  of  winter.  One  of  the  soldiers  from  Lynn,  Mr.  Joseph 
RamsdeJl,  was  killed  by  them  at  Casco  Bay,  in  1690. 

1689. 

The  assumptions  of  Andros  and  his  lordly  secretary,  as  may 
well  be  supposed,  gave  great  offence  to  the  people  of  Lynn,  and 
there  seems  to  have  been  no  other  general  topic  of  conversation 
for  several  years.  At  length  the  spirit  of  the  people  was  roused 
to  such  a  degree,  that,  on  the  19th  of  April,  the  inhabitants  of 
Boston  rose  in  arms,  wrested  the  power  from  Sir  Edmund  and 
confined  him  a  prisoner  on  Fort  Hill  until  he  was  sent  back  to 
England. 

The  people  of  Lynn,  who  had  not  only  been  injured,  but  even 
insulted  by  Governor  Andros,  united  with  some  from  other 
towns,  and  went  up  to  Boston,  under  the  command  of  Rev.  Jer- 
emiah Shepard,  the  minister  of  Lynn.  A  writer  who  was  pres- 
ent says:  "April  19th,  about  11  o'clock,  the  country  came  in, 
headed  by  one  Shepard,  teacher  of  Lynn,  who  were  like  so 
many  wild  bears ;  and  the  leader,  mad  with  passion,  more  sav- 
age than  any  of  his  followers.  All  the  cry  was  for  the  Governor 
and  Mr.  Randolph."  The  Lynn  people  were  doubtless  some- 
what excited,  but  it  may  be  noted,  that  the  above  account 
of  their  conduct  was  written  by  a  friend  of  Governor  Andros. 
[Mr.  Lewis  states,  in  a  note,  that  this  interesting  passage  was 
copied  from  a  manuscript  Account  of  the  Insurrection,  among 
the  papers  of  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  in  the  Lambeth 
Palace,  at  London,  and  that  it  was  probably  written  by  Ran- 
dolph himself] 

In  the  exigency  of  public  affairs,  town  meetings  were  held, 
and  a  Committee  of  Safety  for  the  county  of  Essex  appointed, 
with  directions  to  make  a  report  of  grievances,  to  be  laid  before 
the  government.  The  people  of  Lynn  made  the  following  rep- 
resentation. 

At  Lynn,  the  24th  of  May,  1689,  upon  a  signification  from  Captain  Jonathan 
Corwin,  of  the  Committee  of  the  County  of  Essex,  to  make  inquiry  into  the 
grievances  suffered  under  the  late  government,  that  it  is  expressed,  that  this 
town,  or  any  inhabitants  therein,  that  have  been  aggrieved  or  burthened,  do 
manifest  the  same  under  their  hand,  to  the  Committee  aforesaid,  or  to  Captain 
Jonathan  Coi-wui  to  make  known  the  same.  We  the  Committee  chosen  by 
Y  ,  19 


290  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1689. 

the  inhabitants  of  Lynn,  on  the  20th  of  May,  K.:i9,  to  consider  of  the  significa- 
tion abovesaid,  and  to  draw  up  what  grievancey  hnd  burdens  we  have  sustained 
by  the  late  government,  &c.,  do  declare,  viz.  that  this  poor  town  of  Lynn  have 
sustained  great  wrong  and  damage  by  the  said  late  government ;  in  that  our 
orderly,  honest,  and  just  rights,  in  a  tract  of  land  within  the  bounds  of  Lynn, 
called  Nahants,  that  hath  been  enjoyed,  possessed,  built  upon,  and  improved, 
by  fencing,  planting,  and  pasturing,  &c.,  by  the  township  of  Lynn,  well  onward 
to  sixty  years ;  and  yet,  by  the  injurious,  unjust,  and  covetous  humors  of  some 
veiy  ill  minded  persons,  upon  petitions  preferred  —  as  Mr.  Randolph  first,  and 
Maiy  Baffin,  of  Boston,  in  the  second  place,  when  Mr.  Randolph  could  not 
make  his  petition  true  and  valid,  then  he  throweth  in  Maiy  Baffin  her  petition 
for  the  same  lands,  and  as  unjustly  founded  as  Mr.  Randolph's.  But  on  their 
two  petitions  and  vain  pretences,  we,  the  poor  peopte  of  Lynn,  have  been,  by 
orders  from  the  Governor  and  Council,  called,  summoned,  and  ordered  to 
appear  at  Boston,  and  to  show  and  make  good  title  to  said  lands  before  Sir 
Edmund  Andros,  and  his  Council,  at  one  sitting,  and  a  second  sitting,  and  so 
a  thii'd,  and  a  fourth,  to  our  great  loss,  and  expense  of  time  and  moneys,  and 
no  advantage  nor  benefit  to  us,  because  of  delays  and  procrastinations,  to  screw 
our  moneys  out  of  our  hands,  and  to  make  us  pay,  with  a  vengeance,  for  such 
wi'itings  as  we  must  be  constrained  to  take  forth.  And  thus  we  have  been 
grieved  and  oppressed,  and  put  to  loss,  cost  and  damage,  near  one  hundred 
pounds,  and  never  the  better,  no  justice  done  us,  and  at  last  put  upon  a  threat- 
ened necessity  of  patenting  our  own  old  enjoyed  properties,  and  a  denial  of 
our  rights  in  any  of  our  commons,  always  enjoyed,  but  now  called  King's  lands, 
and  we  denied  to  be  any  town.  Thus  we  have  been  perplexed,  vexed,  and 
oppressed,  and  impoverished ;  and  except  the  Lord  had  wi-ought  for  us,  whose 
name  we  bless,  and  give  thanks  to  the  worthy  gentlemen,  his  instruments,  we 
had  been  the  worst  of  bondmen.  Furthermore,  we  were  debarred,  by  the  late 
government,  of  our  constant  libeity  of  to%vn  meetings  but  once  m  a  year, 
whereby  we  could  not  meet  to  consult  of  defending  our  rights  in  the  premises, 
because  it  should  be  charged  with  riot ;  and  also  of  keeping  a  watch  for  our 
security  from  any  dangers  we  had  too  just  cause  to  fear,  which  was  our  great 
grief  and  burthen ;  and  om*  abuses  by  the  profane  farmers  of  excise ;  and  our 
sons,  neighbors,  and  servants  impressed  and  sent  out  so  remote  in  the  whiter 
season,  and  constrained  hereunto,  and  all  sufferings,  and  we  understand  not 
upon  what  grounds. 

Per  order  of,  or  in  the  name  of  the  Town  and  Committee. 

Oliver  Purchis,  Cleric. 

Jeremiah  Shepard,  aged  foity-two  years,  and  John  Burrill,  aged  fifty-seven 
years,  we,  whose  names  are  subscribed,  being  chosen  by  the  inhabitants  of 
Lynn,  in  the  Massachusetts  Colony,  in  New  England,  to  maintain  then-  right 
to  their  pr(i>perties  and  lands,  invaded  by  Su-  Edmund  Andres's  government, 
we  do  testify,  that,  (besides  Sir  Edmund  Andros  his  unreasonable  demands 
of  money,  by  way  of  taxation,  and  that  without  an  assembly  and  deputies, 
sent  from  our  to%vns,  according  to  ancient  custom,  for  the  raising  of  money 
and  levying  of  rates,  )  our  properties,  our  honest,  and  just,  and  true  titles  to 
our  land  were  also  invaded ;  and  particularly  a  great  and  considerable  tract 
of  land,  called  by  the  name  of  the  Nahants,  the  only  secure  place  for  the  graz- 
ing of  some  thousands  of  our  sheep,  and  without  which  our  inhabitants  could 
neither  provide  for  their  families,  nor  be  capacitated  to  pay  dues  or  duties  for 
the  maintenance  of  the  public,  but,  if  dispossessed  of,  the  town  must  needs 
be  impoverished,  ruined,  and  rendered  miserable.  Yet  this  very  tract  of  land, 
being  petitioned  for  by  Edward  Randolph,  was  threatened  to  be  rent  out  of 
our  hands,  notwithstanding  our  honest  and  just  pleas  for  our  right  to  the  said 
land,  both  by  alienation  of  the  said  land  to  us  by  the  original  proprietors,  the 
natives,  to  whom  we  paid  our  moneys  by  way  of  purchase,  and  notwithstand- 
ing near  sixty  years  peaceable  and  quiet  possesi?ion,  and  improvement,  and  also 


ANNALS    OP    LYNN  —  1690.  291 


enclosure  of  the  said  land  by  a  stone  wall;  in  which  tract  of  laud,  also,  two 
of  our  patentees  were  interested  in  common  with  us,  viz.  Major  Humfrey  and 
Mr.  Johnson  ;  yet  Edward  Randolph  petirioning  for  the  said  land,  Sir  Edmund, 
the  Governor,  did  so  far  comply  with  his  unreasonable  motion,  that  we  were 
put  to  great  charges  and  expense  for  the  vindication  of  our  honest  rights 
thereto.  And  being  often  before  the  Governor,  Sir  Edmund,  and  his  Council, 
for  relief,  yet  could  find  no  favor  of  our  innocent  cause  by  Sir  Edmund ;  not- 
withstanding our  pleas  of  purchase,  ancient  possession,  enclosure,  grant  of 
General  Court,  and  our  necessitous  condition ;  yet  he  told  us  that  all  these 
pleas  were  insignificant,  and  we  could  have  no  true  title,  until  we  could  prove 
a  patent  from  the  king :  neither  had  any  person  a  right  to  one  foot  of  land  in 
New  England,  by  virtue  of  purchase,  possession,  or  grant  of  Court;  but  if  we 
would  have  assurance  of  our  lands,  we  must  go  to  the  king  for  it,  and  get  patents 
of  it.  Finding  no  relief,  (and  the  Governor  having  prohibited  town  meetings,) 
we  earnestly  desired  liberty  for  our  town  to  meet  to  consult  what  to  do  in  so 
difficult  a  case  and  exigency,  but  could  not  prevail ;  Sir  Edmund  angrily  telling 
us,  that  there  was  no  such  thing  as  a  town  in  the  countiy ;  neither  should  we 
have  liberty  so  to  meet ;  neither  were  our  ancient  records,  as  he  said,  which 
we  produced  for  our  vindication  of  our  title  to  the  said  lands,  worth  a  rush. 
Thus  were  we  from  time  to  time  unreasonably  treated,  our  properties,  and 
civil  liberties,  and  privileges  invaded,  our  misery  and  ruin  threatened  and 
hastened,  till  such  time  as  our  country,  groaning  under  the  unreasonable 
heavy  yoke  of  Sir  Edmund's  government,  were  constrained  forcibly  to  recover 
our  rights  and  privileges. 

Jeremiah  Shepard, 
John  Burrill. 

[Robert  Driver  petitions  the  Court  that  his  son  Solomon,  who 
had  been  impressed,  may  be  released,  as  some  others  had  been, 
^'  as  the  life  of  his  wife  Sarah  is  bound  up  in  her  son  Solomon." 
There  is  no  record  of  the  Court's  answer. 

[Capt.  Ralph  King  died  this  year.  He  was  a  man  of  prom- 
inence and  usefulness.  He  left  an  estate  quite  considerable  for 
the  time,  the  appraisal  showing  in  amount  <£2.365  4s.  Rev.  Mr. 
Shepard,  William  Bassett,  senior,  and  John  Ballard  were  ap- 
praisers.] 

1690. 

The  third  inhabitant  of  Nahant,  and  the  first  permanent  one, 
was  James  Mills.  He  had  a  small  cottage,  which  stood  in  the 
field  a  few  rods  southeast  from  Whitney's  hotel,  wherein  he 
resided  twenty-six  years.  He  had  three  children ;  Sarah,  born 
27  February,  1675;  James,  b.  11  October,  1678;  and  Dorothy, 
b.  21  April,  1681.  A  bay  on  the  south  of  Nahant  having  been 
her  favorite  bathing  place,  has  received  the  name  of  Dorothy's 
cove. 

The  first  Monthly  Meeting  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  in  Lynn, 
was  held  at  the  house  of  Samuel  Collins,  on  the  18th  of  July. 
There  were  but  five  Lynn  men  present. 

[The  first  paper  money  of  Massachusetts  was  issued  this  year. 
There  was  an  emission  of  40.000  pounds,  to  defray  the  charges 
of  the  Canada  expedition.] 


292  ANNALS  OF  LYNN— 1691,  1692. 


1691. 

Lieutenant  John  Biirrill  was  chosen  Representative  "  to  the 
great  and  generall  Court."  The  pay  of  a  Representative  was 
three  shillings  a  day. 

Mr.  John  Burrill,  junior,  was  chosen  Town  Clerk,  in  which 
office  he  continued  thirty  years. 

April  14.  "  Clement  Coldam  and  Joseph  Hart  were  chosen 
cannoners,  to  order  and  look  after  the  great  guns." 

July  13.  Lieutenant  John  Fuller  was  chosen  Clerk  of  the 
Writs.  It  is  thus  evident,  that  this  office  was  not  the  same  as 
that  of  Town  Clerk. 

On  the  northern  shore  of  Nahant  is  a  ledge  of  rock,  which 
contains  a  portion  of  iron.  Some  of  it  was  smelted  in  the  foun- 
dry at  Saugus,  and  more  was  taken  for  the  forge  at  Braintree. 
''  It  was  voted  that  Mr.  Hubbard  of  Braintree,  should  give  three 
shillings  for  every  ton  of  Rock  Mine  that  he  has  from  Nahant, 
to  the  town,  for  the  town's  use,  and  he  to  have  so  much  as  the 
town  sees  convenient." 

Mr.  William  Bassett  was  Quarter  Master  in  the  militia,  and 
collector  of  the  parish  taxes.  People  who  held  offices  were 
generally  better  known  by  their  titles  than  by  their  first  names. 
[The  titles  were  used  partly  to  distinguish  persons  of  the  same 
name,  middle  names  not  being  then  in  use.] 

December  21.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Selectmen,  "  Mr.  Shepard, 
with  his  consent,  was  chosen  Schoolmaster  for  the  year  ensu- 
ing."    (Town  Records.) 

1692. 

January  8.  '^  It  was  voted  that  Lieutenant  Blighe  should 
have  liberty  to  set  up  a  pew  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
meeting  house,  by  Mr.  King's  pew,  and  he  to  maintain  the  win- 
dows against  it. 

"  The  town  did  vote,  that  Lieutenant  Fuller,  Lieutenant  Lewis, 
Mr.  John  Hawkes,  senior,  Francis  Burrill,  Lieutenant  Burrill, 
John  Burrill,  junior,  Mr.  Henry  Rhodes,  Quarter  Master  Bassett, 
Mr.  Haberfield,  Cornet  Johnson,  Mr.  Bayley,  and  Lieutenant 
Blighe,  should  sit  at  the  table. 

"  It  was  voted,  that  Matthew  Farrington,  senior,  Henry 
Silsbee,  and  Joseph  Mansfield,  senior,  should  sit  in  the  deacons' 
seat. 

"  It  was  voted,  that  Thomas  Farrar,  senior,  Crispus  Brewer, 
Allen  Breed,  senior,  Clement  Coldam,  Robert  Rand,  senior, 
Jonathan  Hudson,  Richard  Hood,  senior,  and  Sergeant  Haven, 
should  sit  in  the  pulpit. 

^'  The  town  voted,  that  them  that  are  surviving,  that  was 
chosen  by  the  town  a  committee  to  erect  the  meeting-house, 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1692.  293 

and  Clerk  Potter  to  join  along  with  them^  should  seat  the  in- 
habitants of  the  town  in  the  meeting-house,  both  men  and  wo- 
men, and  appoint  what  seats  they  shall  sit  in ;  but  it  is  to  be 
understood,  that  they  are  not  to  seat  neither  the  table,  nor  the 
deacons'  seat,  nor  the  pulpit,  but  them  to  sit  there  as  are  voted 
by  the  town. 

"  The  town  voted  that  Mr.  Shepard  should  have  liberty  to 
remove  Mr.  Shepard's  pew,  and  to  set  it  adjoining  at  the  east- 
ward end  of  the  pulpit." 

Lieutenant  John  Lewis,  Cornet  Samuel  Johnson,  John  Witt, 
Joseph  Breed,  Thomas  Farrar,  junior,  Joseph  Newhall,  and 
John  Burrill,  junior,  were  chosen  Selectmen,  ''to  order  the  pru- 
dential affairs  of  the  town."  These  were  the  first  Selectmen 
of  Lynn  whose  names  are  recorded  in  the  town  book. 

''  The  town  voted,  that  the  persons  undernamed,  in  answer  to 
their  petition,  should  have  liberty  of  the  hindmost  seat  in  the 
gallery  to  sit  in,  and  fit  it  up  as  well  as  they  please,  in  the  north- 
east corner,  provided  they  do  no  damage  in  hindering  the  light 
of  the  window :  Sarah  Hutchins,  Mary  Newhall,  Rebecca  Bal- 
lard, Susanna  Collins,  Rebecca  Collins,  Ruth  Potter,  Jane  Ballard, 
Sarah  Farrington,  Rebecca  Newhall,  Elizabeth  Norwood,  Mary 
Haberfield."     (Town  Records.) 

The  year  1692  has  been  rendered  memorable  in  the  annals  of 
our  country,  by  the  great  excitement  and  distress  occasioned  by 
imputed  Witchcraft.  It  was  an  awful  time  for  New  England  — 
superstition  was  abroad  in  her  darkest  habiliments,  scourging  the 
land,  and  no  one  but  trembled  before  the  breath  of  the  destroyer, 
for  no  one  was  safe.  It  seemed  as  if  a  legion  of  the  spirits  of 
darkness  had  been  set  free  from  their  prison  house,  with  power 
to  infect  the  judgment  of  the  rulers,  and  to  sport,  in  their  wan- 
ton malice,  with  the  happiness  and  the  lives  of  the  people.  The 
stories  of  necromancy  in  the  darkest  ages  of  the  world  —  the 
tales  of  eastern  genii  —  the  imaginary  delineations  of  the  poet 
and  the  romancer  —  wild,  and  vague,  and  horrible  as  they  may 
seem  —  fall  far  short  of  the  terrible  realities,  which  were  per- 
formed in  the  open  daylight  of  New  England.  The  mother  at 
midnight  pressed  her  unconscious  children  to  her  trembling 
bosom  —  and  the  next  day  she  was  standing  before  a  court  of 
awful  men,  with  her  life  suspended  on  the  breath  of  imagina- 
tion—  or  barred  within  the  walls  of  a  prison,  and  guarded  by 
an  armed  man,  as  if  she  were  a  thing  to  be  feared  —  or  swinging 
in  the  breeze  between  earth  and  sky,  with  thousands  of  faces 
gazing  up  at  her,  with  commingled  expressions  of  pity  and  im- 
precation. The  father,  too,  returned  from  his  work  at  eve,  to 
his  peaceful  household  —  and  in  the  morning  he  was  lying  ex- 
tended on  a  rough  plank  —  with  a  heavy  weight  pressing  on 
his  breast  —  till  his  tongue  had  started  from  his  mouth  —  and 


294  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1692. 

bis  soul  had  gone  up  to  Him  who  gave  it  —  and  all  this,  that  he 
might  be  made  to  confess  an  imaginary  crime. 

The  alarm  of  witchcraft  commenced  in  February,  in  the  house 
of  Rev.  Samuel  Parris,  of  Salem,  with  an  Indian  girl  named 
Tituba.  Thirteen  women  and  five  men  were  hung,  and  two, 
Rev.  G-eorge  Burroughs  and  Giles  Corey,  pressed  to  death,  be- 
cause the}^  would  not  answer  or  confess.  More  than  one  hun- 
dred others  were  accused  and  imprisoned,  of  whom  the  following 
belonged  to  Lynn : 

1.  Thomas  Farrar  was  brought  before  the  court,  at  Salem, 
18  May,  and  sent  to  prison  at  Boston,  where  he  was  kept  until 
2  November,  more  that  five  months.  He  was  an  elderly  man, 
and  his  son,  Thomas  Farrar,  jun.,  was  one  orf  the  selectmen 
this  year.  He  lived  in  Nahant  street,  and  died  23  February, 
1694. 

2.  Sarah  Bassett  was  tried  at  Salem,  May  23,  and  sent  to 
Boston  prison,  where  she  was  kept  until  DecemlDer  3,  seven 
months.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Richard  Hood,  and  wife  of 
William  Bassett,  jun.,  in  Nahant  street.  She  had  a  young  child, 
twenty-two  months  old,  which  she  took  with  her  to  prison.  The 
next  daughter  which  she  had  after  her  imprisonment,  she  called 
"  Deliverance.'' 

3.  Mary  Derick,  widow  of  Michael  Derick,  was  carried  to 
Boston  prison.  May  23,  and  kept  there  seven  months.  She  was 
a  daughter  of  William  Bassett,  senior. 

4.  Elizabeth  Hart  was  arraigned  and  sent  to  Boston,  May 
18,  where  she  Avas  imprisoned  until  December  7 ;  nearly  seven 
months.  She  was  an  old  lady,  the  wife  of  Isaac  Hart,  and  died 
November  28,  1700. 

5.  Thomas  Hart,  son  of  Elizabeth  Hart,  in  a  petition  to  the 
Court,  October  19,  says  "  he  has  been  in  prison  ever  since  May, 
for  imputed  witchcraft,  and  prays  to  be  released." 

[Mr.  Lewis  must  be  in  error  in  this  last  paragraph.  "  Thomas 
Hart,  inhabitant  at  Lynn,"  presents  a  petition,  on  the  19th  of  Oc- 
tober, shewing  '^  that  whereas  Elizabeth  Hart,  mother  of  the 
petitioner,  was  taken  into  custody  in  the  latter  end  of  May  last, 
and  ever  since  committed  to  prison  in  Boston  jail,  for  witchcraft," 
&G.  The  petition  among  other  things  says :  "  The  father  of 
your  petitioner,  being  ancient  and  decrepit,  was  wholly  unable 
to  attend  to  this  matter,  and  yo«r  petitioner,  having  lived  from 
his  childhood  under  the  same  roof  with  his  said  mother,  he  dare 
presume  to  affirm  that  he  never  saw  nor  knew  any  ill  or  sinful 
practice  wherein  there  was  any  shew  of  impiety  nor  witchcraft 
by  her."  And  with  strong  expressions  of  filial  regard,  he  begs 
for  her  "  speedy  inlargement."  The  petition  refers  altogether 
to  his  mother,  not  to  himself.  Not  a  hint  is  dropped  of  his  ever 
having  been  imprisoned.     The  petition  indicates  a  pious  turn  of 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1692.  295 

mind,  and  one  not  exempt  from  the  common  superstitions  of  the 
time ;  but  anxiety  about  his  mother  seems  to  predominate.] 

6.  Sarah  Cole,  the  wife  of  John  Cole,  was  tried  at  Charles- 
town,  1  February,  1693,  and  acquitted. 

7.  Elizabeth  Proctor,  wife  of  John  Proctor,  of  Danvers,  was 
a  daughter  of  William  Bassett.  She  was  condemned  to  death, 
but  was  released  on  account  of  her  peculiar  circumstances.  Her 
husband  was  executed. 

That  aged  people,  as  some  of  those  were,  and  respectable,  as 
they  all  were,  should  have  been  subjected  to  long  imprisonment 
and  the  danger  of  death,  on  the  accusation  of  a  few  hoyden 
girls,  of  uncertain  reputation,  influenced  by  wild  malice,  or  a 
distempered  imagination,  is  a  matter  which  now  excites  our 
wonder  and  pity.  My  readers  will  doubtless  be  anxious  to 
know  what  was  said  about  the  accused  from  Lynn.  It  is  really 
too  trifling  for  a  serious  record,  and  only  merits  notice  for  its 
consequences. 

The  following  is  the  testimony  against  Thomas  Farrar.  "  The 
deposition  of  Ann  Putnam,  who  testifieth  and  saith,  that  on 
the  8th  of  May,  1692,  there  appeared  to  me  the  apperishion  of 
an  old  gray  head  man,  with  a  great  nose,  which  tortored  me,  and 
almost  choaked  me,  and  urged  me  to  writ  in  his  book ;  and  I 
asked  him  what  was  his  name,  and  from  whence  he  came,  for  I 
would  complain  of  him  ;  and  people  used  to  call  him  old  father 
pharaoh ;  and  he  said  he  was  my  grandfather,  for  my  father 
used  to  call  him  father ;  but  I  tould  him  I  would  not  call  him 
grandfather,  for  he  was  a  wizard,  and  I  would  complain  of  him ; 
and  ever  since  he  hath  afflicted  me  by  times,  beating  me,  and 
pinching  me,  and  allmost  choaking  me,  and  urging  me  contine- 
wally  to  writ  in  his  book." 

The  testimony  against  Elizabeth  Hart  was  as  follows :  "  The 
deposition  of  Mary  Walcott,  who  testifieth  and  saith,  that  on 
the  13th  of  May,  1692,  I  saw  the  apparition  of  Goody  Hart,  who 
hurt  me  much  by  pinching  and  choaking  of  me ;  and  urged  me 
grievously  to  set  my  hand  to  her  book,  and  several  other  times 
she  has  tormented  me,  ready  to  tare  my  body  in  pieces." 

There  were  several  other  depositions,  but  these  were  the  most 
important ;  yet  on  evidence  like  this,  respectable  people  were 
taken  from  their  homes,  and  imprisoned  more  than  half  a  year. 
It  is  some  satisfaction  to  know,  that  some  of  the  judges  and  ju- 
rymen afterward  saw  their  error  and  regretted  it.  Some  resti- 
tution was  also  made,  by  the  Court,  to  some  of  the  sufi'erers. 
Mary  Derick  was  allowed  £9,  being  at  the  rate  of  six  shillings 
a  week  during  her  imprisonment,  and  £5,  for  her  goods  lost; 
and  Sarah  Bassett  was  also  allowed  <£9. 

The  first  thing  that  opened  the  eyes  of  the  prosecutors,  and 
tended  to   put  a  stop  to  accusations,  was  the  '^  crying  out" 


296  ANNALS  OF  LYNN —  1694. 

against  the  Rev.  Jereruiah  Shepard,  minister  of  the  church  at 
Lynn,  as  a  wizard  !  Every  body  saw  the  absurdity  of  the  charge, 
and  the  court  were  convinced  that  if  the  matter  proceeded  much 
further,  themselves  might  not  be  safe.  [But  this  unduly  mag- 
nifies Mr.  Shepard.  A  number  of  eminent  persons  were  "  cried 
out "  against ;  among  them,  the  wife  of  Gov.  Phipps  and  the 
wife  of  Rev.  Mr.  Hale.  And  are  those  free  discussions  on  the 
dark  subject,  entered  into  by  the  intelligent  young  men  of  Bos- 
ton, as  well  as  the  exertions  of  such  men  as  Bradstreet,  Brattle, 
Calef,  Danforth  —  who,  by  the  way,  had  been  Deputy  Governor, 
and  was  father-in-law  of  Rev.  Joseph  Whiting  —  and  Saltonstall, 
to  pass  for  nought  ?  It  should  not  be  overlooked  that  the 
leaven  of  truth  and  good  sense  had  begun  to  actively  work 
among  all  classes.] 

In  reflecting  on  this  subject,  it  should  be  remembered,  that 
people  at  that  time  generally  believed  in  witchcraft.  It  was 
part  of  their  religion,  and  under  such  a  misconception  of  scrip- 
ture, the  slightest  indications  were  proof.  The  more  absurd, 
improbable  and  even  impossible  a  thing  was,  the  more  certain 
it  appeared  —  for  many  people  very  wisely  conclude,  that  no 
one  would  assert  an  impossibility,  unless  it  were  true !  We 
wonder  at  the  delusion  of  those  days  —  but  is  there  no  mist 
before  our  eyes  at  present  ? 

1694. 

The  society  of  Friends  having  increased,  Mr.  Shepard  became 
alarmed  at  their  progress,  and  appointed  the  19th  of  July,  as  a 
day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  "  that  the  spirital  plague  might  pro- 
ceed no  further."  [And  the  versatile  Mather  says,  "  The  spirit 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  gave  a  remarkable  effect  unto  this 
holy  method  of  encountering  the  charms  of  Quakerism.  It 
proved  a  better  method  than  any  coercion  of  the  civil  magis- 
trate." This  is  very  well.  And  if  he  himself  had  adhered  to 
the  principle  he  would  doubtless  have  been  the  instrument  of 
more  good  than  is  now  placed  to  his  credit.  But  with  amusing 
credulity  he  adds :  "  Quakerism  in  Lynn  received,  as  I  am 
informed,  a  death  wound  from  that  very  day :  and  the  number 
of  Quakers  in  that  place  has  been  so  far  from  increasing,  that  I 
am  told  it  has  rather  decreased  notably."] 

At  a  town  meeting  on  the  25th  of  July,  "  The  constables 
personally  appearing,  and  declaring  that  they  had  all  warned 
their  several  parts  of  the  town,  according  to  their  warrants, 
and  so  many  being  absent  from  said  meeting,  the  town  did  then 
vote  and  give  power  to  Jacob  Knight,  in  behalf  of  the  town,  to 
prosecute  against  any  and  every  person  or  persons,  that  has 
not  attended  this  meeting,  according  to  the  by  laws,  or  town 
orders." 


ANNALS    OF   LYNN  — 1695,    1696.  297 

The  practice  prevailed,  for  many  years,  of  warning  out  of  the 
town,  by  a  formal  mandamus  of  the  selectmen,  every  family  and 
individual,  rich  or  poor,  who  came  into  it.  This  was  done  to 
exonerate  the  town  from  any  obligation  to  render  support  in 
case  of  poverty.  One  old  gentleman,  who  had  just  arrived  in 
town,  to  whom  this  order  was  read,  took  it  for  a  real  intimation 
to  depart.  '^  Come,  wife,"  he  says,  ^'  we  must  pack  up.  But 
there  —  we  have  one  consolation  for  it  —  it  is  not  so  desirable 
a  place." 

1695. 

The  property  of  the  Nahants,  which  had  been  a  cause  of 
contention  from  the  first  settlement  of  the  town,  was  this  year 
claimed  by  the  heiresses  of  Richard  Woody,  of  Boston;  into 
whose  claim  they  probably  descended  by  a  mortgage  of  one 
of  the  sagamores,  in  1652.  At  a  town  meeting,  on  the  18th 
of  October,  '^  There  being  a  summons  read,  wherein  was  signi- 
fied that  the  lands  called  Nahants  were  attached  by  Mrs.  Mary 
DafFern,  of  Boston,  and  James  Mills  summoned  to  answer  said 
DafFern  at  an  inferior  court,  to  be  holden  in  the  county  of  Essex, 
on  the  last  Tuesday  of  December,  1695 ;  the  town  did  then 
choose  Lieutenant  Samuel  Johnson,  Joseph  Breed,  and  John 
Burrill,  junior,  to  defend  the  interests  of  the  town  in  the  lands 
called  Nahants,  and  to  employ  an  attorney  or  attorneys,  as  they 
shall  see  cause,  in  the  town's  behalf,  against  the  said  Daffern, 
and  so  from  court  to  court,  till  the  cause  be  ended  —  they  or 
either  of  them  —  and  the  town  to  bear  the  charge." 

The  following  is  transcribed  from  the  records  of  the  Quarterly 
Court,  December  31.  "  Mrs.  Mary  DafFern  and  Mrs.  Martha  Padis- 
hah, widows,  and  heiresses  of  Richard  Woody,  late  of  Boston, 
deceased,  plaintiffs,  versus  John  Atwill  junior,  of  Lynn,  in  an 
action  of  trespass  upon  the  case,  &c.,  according  to  writ,  dated 
30th  September,  1695.  The  plaintiffs  being  called  three  times, 
made  default  and  are  nonsuited.  The  judgment  of  the  court  is, 
that  plaintiffs  pay  unto  the  defendants  costs."  This  is  the  last 
we  hear  of  any  claim  made  upon  the  Nahants,  as  individual 
property. 

1696. 

January  13.  "  The  Selectmen  did  agree  with  Mr.  [Abraham] 
Normenton  to  be  schoolmaster  for  the  town,  for  the  year  ensuing, 
and  the  town  to  give  him  five  pounds  for  his  labor ;  and  the 
town  is  to  pay  twenty-five  shillings  towards  the  hire  of  Nathan- 
iel NewhalPs  house  to  keep  school  in,  and  the  said  Mr.  Nor- 
menton to  hire  the  said  house." 

Immense  numbers  of  great  clams  were  thrown  upon  the 
beaches  by  storms.     The  people  were  permitted  by  a  vote  of 


298  ANNALS  OF  LYNN— 1697. 

the  town,  to  dig  and  gather  as  many  as  they  wished  for  their 
own  use,  but  no  more ;  and  no  person  was  allowed  to  carry  any 
out  of  the  town,  on  a  penalty  of  twenty  shillings.  The  shells 
were  gathered  in  cart  loads  on  the  beach,  and  manufactured 
into  lime. 

This  year,  two  Quakers,  whose  names  were  Thomas  Farrar 
and  John  Hood,  for  refusing  to  pay  parish  taxes,  suffered  nearly 
one  month's  imprisonment  at  Salem. 

The  winter  of  this  year  was  the  coldest  since  the  first  settle- 
ment of  New  England.  [During  the  latter  part  of  February, 
the  roads  had  become  so  obstructed  by  snow  and  ice  that  travel 
was  suspended.] 

1697. 

On  the  8th  of  January,  the  town,  by  vote,  set  the  prices  of 
provisions,  to  pay  Mr.  Shepard's  salary,  as  follows :  beef,  3d. ; 
pork,  4d.  a  pound.  Indian  corn,  5s. ;  barley,  barley  malt,  and 
rye,  5s.  6d. ;  and  oats,  2s.  a  bushel. 

The  blackbirds  had  to  keep  a  bright  look  out  this  year,  as 
the  whole  town  were  in  arms  against  them.  The  town  voted, 
March  8,  "  that  every  householder  in  the  town,  should,  some 
time  before  the  fifteenth  day  of  May  next,  kill  or  cause  to  be 
killed,  twelve  blackbirds,  and  bring  the  heads  of  them,  at  or 
before  the  time  aforesaid,  to  Ebenezer  Stocker's,  or  Samuel 
Collins's,  or  Thomas  Burrage's,  or  John  Gowing's,  who  are 
appointed  and  chose  by  the  town  to  receive  and  take  account 
of  the  same,  and  take  care  this  order  be  duly  prosecuted;  and 
if  any  householder  as  aforesaid  shall  refuse  or  neglect  to  kill 
and  bring  in  the  heads  of  twelve  blackbirds,  as  aforesaid,  every 
such  person  shall  pay  three  pence  for  every  blackbird  that  is 
wanting  as  aforesaid,  for  the  use  of  the  town." 

[The  small  pox  made  its  appearance  in  Lynn,  in  the  spring 
of  this  year  to  the  great  alarm  of  many  people.  Samuel  Mans- 
field died  of  it,  10  April. 

[There  was  a  "  sore  and  long  continued  drought,"  in  the 
summer.  And  the  season  was  one  peculiarly  fatal  to  farm  stock 
of  all  kinds.  The  winter  was  very  severe,  and  the  ground  was 
covered  with  snow  from  the  first  of  December  till  the  middle 
of  March.  In  February,  the  snow  was  three  and  a  half  feet 
deep,  on  a  level. 

[For  the  purpose  of  giving  an  idea  of  the  facilities  for  inter- 
communication, at  this  time,  the  following  extract  from  a  letter 
dated  in  February,  is  introduced.  The  letter  was  from  Jonathan 
Dickenson,  at  Philadelphia,  to  William  Smith.  ''  In  14  days  we 
have  an  answer  from  Boston;  once  a  week  from  New  York; 
once  in  three  weeks  from  Maryland ;  and  once  in  a  month  from 
Virginia."] 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN— 1698,  1699,  1700.        299 


1698. 

On  the  4th  of  January,  Oliver  Elkins  and  Thomas  Darling 
killed  a  wolf  in  Lynn  woods.  On  the  28th  of  February,  Thomas 
Baker  killed  two  wolves.  This  year  also,  James  Mills  killed 
five  foxes  on  Nahant.  Twenty  shillings  were  allowed  by  the 
tow^n  for  killing  a  wolf,  and  two  shillings  for  a  fox. 

The  town  ordered  that  no  person  should  cut  more  than  seven 
trees  on  Nahant,  under  a  penalty  of  forty  shillings  for  each  tree 
exceeding  that  number. 

June  1.  The  Court  enacted  "that  no  person  using  or  occu- 
pying the  feat  or  mystery  of  a  butcher,  currier,  or  shoemaker, 
by  himself,  or  any  other,  shall  use  or  exercise  the  feat  or  mys- 
tery of  a  Tanner,  on  pain  of  the  forfeiture  of  six  shillings  and 
eight  pence  for  every  hide  or  skin  so  tanned."  They  also  en- 
acted that  no  tanner  should  exercise  the  business  of  a  butcher, 
currier,  or  shoemaker.  "  And  no  butcher  shall  gash  or  cut  any 
hide,  whereby  the  same  shall  be  impaired,  on  pain  of  forfeiting 
twelve  pence  for  every  gash  or  cut."  It  was  also  enacted  that 
no  "  shoemaker  or  cordwainer  shall  work  into  Shoes,  Boots,  or 
other  wares,  any  leather  that  is  not  tanned  and  curried  as 
aforesaid ;  nor  shall  use  any  leather  made  of  horse's  hide  for 
the  inner  sole  of  any  such  shoes  or  boots  on  pain  of  forfeiting 
all  such  shoes  and  boots." 

1699. 

The  platform  of  the  meeting-house  was  covered  with  lead. 
The  bell  was  taken  down  and  sent  to  England  to  be  exchanged 
for  a  new  one.  Mr.  Shepard's  salary  was  reduced  to  sixty 
pounds. 

On  the  7th  of  November,  the  town  ordered  that  any  person 
who  should  follow  the  wild  fowl  in  the  harbor,  in  a  canoe,  to 
shoot  at  them,  or  frighten  them,  should  pay  twenty  shillings  ; 
and  Thomas  Lewis  and  Timothy  Breed  were  chosen  to  enforce 
the  order. 

1700. 

On  the  25th  of  May,  Mr.  John  Witt  killed  a  wolf.  [The  town 
paid  Timothy  Breed  two  shillings  "for  killing  of  one  ffox  at 
nahant." 

[Dr.  John  Caspar  Eichter  van  Crowninscheldt,  bought  of  Eliz- 
beth  Allen,  wife  of  Jacob  Allen,  of  Salem,  20  June,  twenty  acres 
of  land  "  neer  a  certain  pond  called  the  Spring  Pond,  with  all 
the  houses,  buildings,  waters,  fishings,"  &c.  The  land  appears 
to  have  previously  belonged  to  John  Clifford.  The  oldest 
grave  stone  in  the  burying  ground  near  the  west  end  of  Lynn 
Common,  bears  this  inscription:  "Here  lyeth  y^  body  of  lohn 


300  ANNALS    OF   LYNN— 1701,    1702. 

Clifford.  Died  lune  y«  17,  1698,  in  y«  68  year  of  his  age."  It 
is  on  the  west  of  the  foot  path  leading  from  the  front  entrance, 
and,  unlike  the  other  old  stones,  faces  the  east.  The  9  in  the 
date  has  been  altered,  in  a  rough  way,  so  as  to  resemble  a  2,  and 
hence  some  have  been  deceived  into  the  belief  that  there  was  a 
burial  here  as  early  as  1628.  Mr.  Lewis  declared  the  alteration 
to  have  been  made  in  1806,  by  a  pupil  at  Lynn  Academy.  This 
John  Clifford  appears  to  have  been  the  same  individual  who 
owned  lands  in  the  vicinity  of  Mineral  Spring.  He  was  made 
a  freeman  in  1678,  and  is  sometimes  called  of  Salem ;  which 
would  be  natural  enough  if  he  lived  any  where  about  Spring 
Pond.  I  think  he  married  Elizabeth  Richardson,  perhaps  as  a 
second  wife,  28  September,  1688,  he  being  then  some  fifty-eight 
years  of  age.  Mr.  Lewis  states  that  Dr.  Crowninscheldt  built  a 
cottage  at  Mineral  Spring  about  the  year  1690.  And  in  Felt's 
Annals  of  Salem,  under  date  1695,  we  find  the  following:  "  This 
year  Richard  Harris,  master  of  the  Salem  Packet,  bound  to 
Canada  river,  invites  '  Doct.  Grouncell  (Crowninshield,)  a  Ger- 
man, who  married  Capt.  Allen's  daughter  at  Lynn  Spring,'  to 
accompan}^  him,  but  he  declined."  Could  it  have  been  of  his 
mother-in-law,  that  the  Doctor  purchased  the  land,  in  1700? 
At  first  view,  there  seems  something  like  confusion  in  the  above: 
but  I  do  not  see  that  the  statements  are  irreconcilable.] 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Selectmen,  on  the  7th  of  June,  Mr.  Shepard 
was  chosen  to  keep  a  grammar  school,  for  which  thirty  pounds 
were  the  next  year  allowed. 

1701. 

[Henry  Sharp,  innholder,  of  Salem,  let  his  carriage,  a  calash, 
for  the  conveying  of  Mr.  Bulkley,  who  had  arrived  at  that  place, 
sick,  to  his  home.  But  as  he  could  get  no  ferther  on  his  jour- 
ney than  Lynn,  he  here  dismissed  the  driver,  who  returned  to 
Salem  on  Sunday.  For  the  desecration  of  holy  time  Mr.  Sharp 
was  called  to  answer,  but  was  finally  discharged  by  making  it 
appear  that  the  travel  was  necessary.  This  calash  is  noted  as 
being  one  of  the  first  carriages  ever  owned  in  the  vicinity.  On 
horse-back  or  a-foot  our  forefathers  and  mothers  almost  exclu- 
sively traveled,  down  to  a  period  something  later  than  this. 
The  above  incident  well  shows  the  solicitude  with  which  the 
sanctity  of  the  Lord's  day  continued  to  be  guarded.] 

1702. 

[Rev.  George  Keith,  a  missionary  of  the  Church  of  England, 
visited  Lynn,  in  July,  accompanied  by  Rev.  John  Talbot,  also  a 
Church  minister.  He  appears  to  have  come  rather  to  combat 
Quaker  principles  than  to  propagate  his  own.  He  had  himself 
been  a  Quaker  and  suffered  persecution  for  his  faith.     But  now 


ANNALS  OP  LYNN — 1702.  301 

that  he  appeared  as  a  champion  against  them,  he  seems  to  have 
divested  himself  of  at  least  the  pacific  characteristic  that  dis- 
tinguishes the  Quaker  of  this  day.  In  his  journal  appears  the 
following  account  of  the  transactions  on  the  occasion  of  his 
visit.  The  entries  are  made  under  dates  Wednesday  and  Thurs- 
day, July  8  and  9. 

I  went  from  Boston  to  Linn,  accompanied  with  Mr.  Talbot,  and  the  next  day 
being  the  Quakers'  meeting  day,  we  visited  tlieir  meeting  there,  having  first 
called  at  a  Quaker's  house,  who  was  of  my  former  acquaintance.  Mr.  Shep- 
ard,  the  minister  of  Linn,  did  also  accompany  us;  but  the  Quakers,  tliough 
many  of  them  had  been  formerly  members  of  his  chm'ch,  were  very  abusive 
to  him,  as  they  were  to  us.  After  some  time  of  silence  I  stood  up  and  began 
to  speak,  but  they  did  so  interrupt  with  their  noise  and  clamor  against  me, 
that  I  could  not  proceed,  though  I  much  entreated  them  to  hear  me  ;  so  I  sat 
down  and  heard  their  speakers  one  after  another  utter  abundance  of  falsehoods 
and  impertenances  and  gross  perversions  of  many  texts  of  the  holy  Scripture. 
After  their  speakers  had  done,  they  hasted  to  be  gone.  I  desired  them  to  stay, 
and  I  would  shew  them  that  they  had  spoke  many  falsehoods,  and  pei*verted 
many  places  of  Scripture,  but  they  would  not  stay  to  hear.  But  many  of  the 
people  staid,  some  of  them  Quakers,  and  others  who  were  not  Quakers  but 
disafiected  to  the  Quakers'  principles.  I  asked  one  of  their  preachers  before 
he  went  away,  seeing  they  preached  so  much  the  sufficiency  of  the  Light 
within  to  salvation,  (without  any  thing  else)  did  tlie  Light  within  teach  him, 
without  Scripture,  that  our  blessed  Saviour  was  born  of  a  virgin,  and  died  for 
our  sins,  &c.  ?  He  replyed,  if  he  said  it  did,  I  would  not  believe  him,  and 
therefore  he  would  not  answer  me.  After  then*  speakers  were  gone,  I  went 
up  into  the  speakers'  gallery,  where  they  used  to  stand  and  speak,  and  I  did 
read  unto  the  people  that  staid  to  hear  me,  Quakers  and  others,  many  quota- 
tions out  of  Edw.  Burroughs's  folio  book,  detecting  his  vile  errors,  who  yet 
was  one  of  their  chief  authors,  particularly  in  pages  150, 151,  where  he  renders 
it  the  doctrine  of  salvation  that 's  only  necessary  to  be  preached,  viz.  Christ 
within,  and  that  he  ts  a  deceiver  that  exhorts  people  for  salvation  to  any  other 
thing  than  the  Light  within  ;  as  appears  by  his  several  queries  in  the  pages 
cited.  And  where  he  saith,  page  273,  that  the  suflferiugs  of  the  people  of  God 
in  this  age  [meanmg  the  Quakers]  are  greater  sufferings,  and  more  unjust,  than 
those  of  Christ  and  the  Apostles ;  what  was  done  to  Christ,  or  to  the  Apostles, 
was  chiefly  done  by  a  law,  and  in  great  part  by  the  due  execution  of  a  law. 
But  all  this  a  noted  Quaker,  whose  name  I  spare  to  mention,  (as  I  generally 
intend  to  spare  the  mentioning  of  their  names)  did  boldly  defend.  But  another 
Quaker  who  stood  by,  confessed  the  last  passage  in  rendering  the  Quakers' 
suffeiings  greater  and  more  unjust  than  the  sufferings  of  Christ,  was  not  well 
worded ;  but  to  excuse  it,  said,  we  must  not  make  a  man  an  offender  for  a 
word. 

[John  Eichardson,  a  noted  Quaker  preacher,  from  England, 
was  then  in  Lynn,  stopping  at  the  house  of  Samuel  Collins, 
which  stood  on  the  north  side  of  Essex  street,  a  few  rods  east 
of  Fayette.  He  vigorously  engaged  Mr.  Keith,  and  gives  an 
account  of  the  meeting  not  exactly  coincident  with  the  above. 
It  is  but  fair  to  give  his  version.  But  we  shall  first  quote  from 
his  recital  of  an  encounter  the  evening  before.     He  says : 

...  I  came  to  Lynn,  to  Samuel  Callings,  [Collins's]  where  I  had  not  been 
long  before  I  met  with  an  unusual  exercise,  which  I  had  expected  for  some 
time  would  fall  upon  me.  .  .  .  Having  heard  of  George  Keith's  intention  of 

z 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1702. 


beiug  at  Lynn  Monthly  Meeting  the  next  day,  (this  Lynn,  as  near  as  I  remem- 
ber lies  between  Salem  in  the  east  part  and  Boston,)  the  evening  coming  on, 
as  I  was  writing  to  some  friends  in  Old  England,  one  came  in  haste  to  desire 
me  to  come  down,  for  George  Keith  was  come  to  the  door,  and  a  great  number 
of  people  and  a  priest  with  him,  and  was  railing  against  Friends  exceedingly. 
I  said.  Inasmuch  as  I  understood  this  Lynn  Meeting  is,  although  large,  mostly 
a  newly  convinced  people,  I  advise  you  to  be  swift  to  hear,  but  slow  to  speak, 
for  George  Keith  hath  a  life  in  argument ;  and  let  us,  as  a  people,  seek  unto 
and  cry  mightily  to  tlie  Lord,  to  look  down  upon  us,  and  help  us  for  his  name's 
sake,  for  our  presei-vation,  that  none  may  be  hurt.  .  .  .  T  went  to  the  rails  and 
leaned  my  arms  on  them,  near  to  George  Keith's  horse's  head,  as  he  sat  on  his 
back,  and  many  people  were  with  him ;  but  the  few  Friends  who  were  come, 
stood  with  me  in  the  yard. 

[A  warm  discussion  between  the  champions,  followed  this 
abrupt  introduction,  concerning  which  Mr.  Richardson,  with  a 
triumphal  air,  says : 

I  was  roused  up  in  my  spirit  in  a  holy  zeal  against  his  wicked  insults  and 
great  threatenmgs,  and  said  to  him,  that  it  was  the  fruit  of  malice  and  env^', 
and  that  he  was  to  us  but  as  an  heathen  man  and  a  publican.  .  .  .  Then  he 
began  to  cast  what  slurs  and  odiums  he  could  upon  Friends,  with  such  bitter 
mvectives  as  his  malice  could  mvent.  I  stood  with  an  attentive  ear,  and  a  watch- 
ful mind;  for  as  I  stood  leaning  upon  the  rails,  wth  no  small  concern  upon 
my  mind,  I  felt  tlie  Lord's  power  arise,  and  by  it  my  strength  was  renewed  in 
the  inner  man,  and  faith,  wisdom,  and  courage  with  it,  so  that  the  fear  of  man, 
with  all  his  parts  and  learning,  was  taken  from  me ;  and  in  this  state  George 
Keith  appeared  to  me  but  as  a  httle  child,  or  as  notliing.  ...  He  said,  Tlie 
Quakers  pretend  to  be  against  all  ceremonies,  but  he  could  prove  that  they 
used  many  ceremonies,  as  taking  one  another  by  the  hand,  and  men  saluting 
one  another,  and  women  doing  so  to  one  another ;  and  he  said  that  women 
did  salute  men ;  yea,  they  had  done  it  to  him ;  as  it  was  generally  understood 
by  those  who  heard  him,  which  I  thought  not  worthy  of  notice.  He  went  on, 
and  said,  the  Quakers  pretend  to  be  against  all  persecution,  but  they  were  not 
clear,  for  the  Quakers  in  Pennsylvania  and  the  Jerseys  had  persecuted  him, 
and  w^ould  have  hanged  him,  but  that  there  was  some  altei-ation  in  the  govern- 
ment. Then  came  out  one  of  my  arrows  which  cut  and  wounded  him  deep ; 
I  said,  George,  that  is  not  true.  Upon  that  the  priest  drew  near,  and  appeared 
very  brisk,  and  said  I  had  as  good  as  charged  Mr.  Keith  (as  he  called  him)  with 
a  lie.  I  replied,  give  me  time,  and  I  will  prove  that  which  George  said  was  not 
true,  and  then  thou  and  he  may  take  your  advantage  to  rescue  him  from  that  epi- 
thet of  a  liar,  if  you  can.  The  priest  said,  I  know  not  Mr.  Keith.  I  replied,  if  he 
knew  him  as  well  as  I  did,  he  would  be  ashamed  to  be  there  as  an  abettor  of 
him.  The  priest  got  away  and  troubled  me  no  more  m  all  the  arguments  that 
George  and  I  had  afterwards  (although  the  said  priest  was  with  him.) 

[Here  let  us  pause  a  moment  and  throw  a  glance  back  upon 
the  rationale  of  the  edif3ang  occasion,  imagining  how  those 
assembled  partisans,  on  either  side  of  the  fence,  must  have  had 
their  christian  sympathies  refreshed  and  perceptions  improved 
by  the  encounter  of  the  sturdy  combatants.  Do  such  things  give 
us  a  particularly  elevated  idea  of  the  piety  of  the  times?  Or 
does  it  appear  that  the  non-resistant  principles  of  the  Quakers 
had  become  sufficiently  consoHdated  to  withstand  the  pugnacity 
of  nature  ?  But  we  will  proceed  with  Mr.  Richardson's  account 
of  the  transactions  at  the  meeting-house,  the  next  day. 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1702.  303 

Now  to  the  meeting  we  went :  George  Keitii  with  two  priests  and  a  great 
many  people  gathered  together  of  several  professions  and  qualities  into  one 
body,  and  Friends  and  some  friendly  people  into  another  body ;  and  as  we 
came  near  to  the  meeting-house,  I  stood  still,  and  took  a  view  of  the  people, 
and  it  appeared  to  me  as  if  two  armies  were  going  to  engage  in  battle.  There 
appeared  with  George  Keith  men  of  considerable  estates,  parts,  and  learning, 
and  we  appeared  like  poor  shrubs." 

[Before  entering  the  meeting-house,  Mr.  Richardson  addressed 
a  few  words  of  advice  and  encouragement  to  the  Friends.  And 
immediately  after  they  had  entered,  Mr.  Keith  proclaimed  that 
he  had  come,  in  the  Queen's  name,  to  gather  Quakers  from 
Quakerism  to  the  good  old  mother  Church,  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land ;  and  that  he  could  prove,  out  of  their  own  books,  that 
they  held  errors,  heresies,  damnable  doctrines,  and  blasphemies. 
Upon  this,  Mr.  Richardson  was  moved  to  inform  the  assembly 
what  manner  of  man  Mr.  Keith  was.  He  stated  that  he  had 
been  a  Quaker  for  many  years,  but  during  the  latter  part  of  his 
walk  with  them,  had  been  very  troublesome  on  account  of  his 
contentious  spirit ;  and  as  they  had  in  vain  labored  to  reform 
him,  he  had  been  publicly  disowned ;  whereupon  he  commenced 
opposing  and  vilifying  them.  And  sundry  other  rough  person- 
alities and  home  thrusts  did  the  Quaker  champion  deliver.  In 
the  course  of  the  discussion  divers  points  of  doctrine  and  prin- 
ciples of  faith  were  considered  and  more  or  less  darkened  by 
the  unchristian  spirit  manifested.     Mr.  Richardson  proceeds: 

The  priest  of  this  place,  whose  name  was  Shepard,  before  my  mouth  was 
opened  in  testimony,  made  preparation  to  write ;  and  when  I  began  to  speak,  he 
had  his  hat  upon  his  knee,  and  his  paper  upon  its  crown,  and  pen  and  ink  in 
his  hands,  and  made  many  motions  to  write,  but  wrote  nothing ;  as  he  began, 
so  he  ended,  without  writing  at  all.  And  as  Friends  entered  the  meeting-house 
in  the  Lord's  power,  even  that  power  which  cut  Rahab,  and  wounded  the  Drag- 
on, which  had  been  at  work,  kept  down  in  a  good  degree  the  wrong  spirit  in 
George,  for  he  appeared  much  down ;  but  this  busy  priest  called  to  him  several 
times  to  make  his  reply  to  what  I  had  spoke.  After  some  time,  I  said  to  the 
priest,  in  behalf  of  the  meeting,  that  he  might  have  liberty  to  make  reply.  He 
proposed  to  have  another  day  appointed  for  a  dispute;  to  which  I  said,  if  I 
did  make  a  voluntary  challenge,  (which  he  should  not  say  we  put  him  upon) 
we,  or  some  of  us,  (meaning  Friends)  if  a  day  and  place  were  agreed  upon, 
should  find  it  our  concern  to  answer  him  as  well  as  we  could.  He  said  he 
would  have  Mr.  Keith  to  be  with  him ;  I  told  him,  if  he  should,  and  meddled 
in  the  dispute,  if  I  was  there,  I  should  reject  him  for  reasons  before  assigned. 
When  the  priest  had  said  this,  and  somewhat  more,  an  elder  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian congregation  clapped  him  on  the  shoulder,  and  bid  him  sit  down ;  so  he 
was  quiet ;  and  then  stood  up  George  Keith,  and  owned  he  had  been  refreshed 
amongst  us  that  day,  and  had  heard  a  great  many  sound  truths,  with  some 
errors,  but  that  it  was  not  the  common  doctrine  which  the  Quakers  preached. 

[Mr.  Richardson  repelled  the  obnoxious  insinuation  contained 
in  the  last  clause.  Whereupon  the  other  began  to  exhibit 
charges  against  the  Quakers,  declaring  that  he  could  prove 
them  by  their  own  books ;  referring  especially  to  the  works  of 
Fox  and  Burroughs.     Mr.  Richardson  continues  : 


304  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1702. 


He  had  in  a  paper,  a  great  mauy  quotations  out  of  Friends'  books,  and  a 
young  man  with  him  had  many  books  in  a  bag.  .  .  .  He  was  now  crowded 
up  into  the  gallery  between  me  and  the  rail,  with  a  paper  in  his  hand,  and  I 
standing  over  him,  and  being  taller,  could  see  his  quotations,  and  his  para- 
phi-ases  upon  them ;  on  which  I  told  him,  loudly,  that  all  the  meeting  might 
hear,  that  he  offered  violence  to  the  sense  and  understanding  which  God  had 
given  him,  and  he  knew  in  his  conscience,  we  were  not  that  people,  neither 
were  our  Friends'  wi*itings  either  damnable  or  blasphemous,  as  he,  through 
env}^,  endeavored  to  make  the  world  believe,  and  that  he  would  not  have 
peace  in  so  doing,  but  trouble  from  the  Lord  in  his  conscience.  I  spoke  in 
the  Lord's  dreadful  power,  and  George  trembled  so  much  as  I  seldom  ever 
saw  any  man  do.  I  pitied  him  in  my  heart,  yet  as  Moses  said  once  concerning 
Israel,  t  felt  the  wrath  of  the  Lord  go  forth  against  him.  George  said,  "Do 
not  judge  me."  I  replied.  The  Lord  judges,  and  all  who  are  truly  one  in 
spirit  with  the  Lord,  cannot  but  judge  thee.  So  he  gave  over:  and  it  appear- 
ing a  suitable  time  to  break  up  the  meeting,  Friends  parted  in  great  love, 
tenderness,  and  brokenness  of  heart ;  for  the  Lord's  mighty  power  had  been 
in  and  over  the  meeting  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  thereof.  .  .  .  Two 
Friends  w^ere  desired  to  stay,  to  hear  what  George  had  to  say  to  them  who 
remained,  which  said  two  Friends  gave  an  account  to  us  afterwards,  that 
George  said  to  the  people  after  we  were  gone,  that  the  Quakers  had  left  none 
to  dispute  with  him  but  an  ass  and  a  fool ;  when  I  heard  it,  I  said,  could  you 
not  have  replied,  An  ass  was  once  made  sufficient  to  reprove  the  madness 
of  the  prophet.  .  .  .  George  called  to  see  me  the  next  day,  and  said  "  You 
had  the  advantage  over  me  yesterday,  for  you  persuaded  me  to  be  quiet  until 
you  had  done,  and  then  you  would  not  stay  to  hear  me ; "  neither,  indeed, 
were  we  under  any  obligation  so  to  do.  I  told  him,  I  hoped  that  truth  would 
always  have  the  advantage  over  those  who  opposed  it ;  and  so  we  parted,  but 
met  again  upon  Rhode  Island. 

[And  thus  ended  one  of  those  "  disputes  "  on  christian  doc- 
trine, so  characteristic  of  the  time.  The  champions  seem  to  have 
been  well  matched  as  to  ability  and  destitution  of  Christian 
courtesy.  And  it  is  probable  that  the  friends  of  each  claimed 
a  victory,  as  is  usually  the  case  in  such  contests.  I  have  given 
the  account  from  the  details  furnished  by  the  opposing  parties 
themselves,  who  deemed  the  affair  of  sufficient  importance  to 
merit  narration  in  their  journals.  And  certainly  a  strange 
spectacle  is  presented,  though  one  that  well  illustrates  the  man- 
ner of  conducting  religious  controversies  at  that  period  ;  those 
controversies  in  which  asperity  of  temper  and  bitterness  of 
expression  were  especially  conspicuous.  And  when  Episcopa- 
lians, Congregtionalists,  or  Quakers,  of  this  day,  undertake  to 
defend  the  course  of  their  fathers  in  the  faith,  in  every  particu- 
lar, and  on  principles  that  obtain  at  the  present  time,  they 
undertake  a  labor  that  it  would  be  more  creditable  to  avoid. 
And  when  those  same  theological  partisans,  on  the  promulgation 
of  an  unpalatable  truth  concerning  their  kindred  of  the  past, 
deem  themselves  under  censure,  they  exhibit  an  unreasonable 
sensibility. 

[Mr.  Shepard,  the  minister  at  the  Old  Tunnel  Meeting  House, 
was  present  to  enjoy  the  proceedings.  And  he  exhibited  some- 
thing of  that  inclemency  of  temper  which  on  certain  other  occa- 


AKNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1T03,  l704.  305 


sions  reached  a  point  that  furnished  but  a  poor  example  for 
those  to  whom  he  preached  forbearance  and  meekness.  The 
fact  that  such  a  sturdy  hater  of  the  Church  as  he,  could  readily 
fraternize  with  an  Episcopal  missionary,  and  stand  his  abettor  in 
assaults  upon  Quakerism,  is  instructive.  But  we  must  consider 
that  he  had  nothing  to  fear  from  Episcopacy,  while  Quakerism 
was  making  great  inroads  upon  his  parochial  jurisdiction.] 

On  the  14th  of  December,  ten  pounds  were  allowed  for  the 
maintenance  of  a  grammar  master ;  "and  such  master  to  have, 
over  and  above  the  said  ten  pounds,  2  pence  per  week  for  such 
as  are  sent  to  read,  3  pence  per  week  for  them  that  are  sent  to 
write  and  cipher,  and  6  pence  per  week  for  them  that  are  sent 
to  learn  Latin,  to  be  paid  by  parents  and  masters  that  send 
their  children  or  servants  to  learn  as  aforesaid." 

[The  price  of  oak  wood,  was  three  shillings  a  cord,  this  year. 
Walnut  was  generally  preferred  for  fuel,  and  that  sold  for  five 
shillings.] 

1703. 

[The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  letter  sent  to  Governor  Dudley, 
by  the  Quakers  of  Lynn.  "Lynn,  22th  4  m°  1703.  Whereas, 
we,  the  people  called  Quakers,  of  the  town  of  Lynn,  having 
been  requested  by  the  governor  to  give  in  a  list  of  our  names  — 
in  answer  thereunto  each  person  hath  respectively  signed  by 
himselfe."  The  signatures  are,  Richard  Estes,  Samuel  Collins, 
William  Bassett,  Walter  Phillips,  Richard  Oake,  Joseph  Rich- 
ards, John  Hood,  Samuel  Breed,  Hugh  Alley,  William  Bassett, 
Jr.,  John  Bassett,  John  Collins,  Jabez  Jenkins,  Walter  Phillips, 
Jr.,  Isaac  Clark,  Samuel  Collins,  Jr.,  John  Estes. 

[Walter  Phillips,  senior,  being  a  Quaker,  and  refusing  to  per- 
form military  duty,  had  a  fourth  of  an  acre  of  his  land  seized 
and  sold  for  the  payment  of  his  fine. 

[The  town  paid  the  sexton  two  pounds  and  thirteen  shillings 
for  "  sweeping  y®  meeting  house,  and  Ringing  y®  bell  for  y® 
year  past,  and  one  shilling  for  gitting  y*^  Claper  for  y^  bell."] 

1704. 

This  year  another  war  was  prosecuted  with  the  French  and 
Indians,  called  Queen  Anne's  war.  It  was  begun  by  the  In- 
dians in  the  preceding  year,  and  was  productive  of  the  most 
dreadful  cruelty.  Several  of  the  soldiers  from  Lynn  were  taken 
prisoners.     It  continued  about  a  year. 

Col.  Benjamin  Church,  who  commanded   in   this   expedition, 

wrote  a  letter  to  Governor  Dudley,  requesting  "  That  four  or 

five  hundred  pair  of  good  Indian  shoes  be  made ;  and  let  there 

be  a  good  store  of  cow  hides,  well  tanned,  for  a  supply  of  such 

7i^  20 


306  ANNALS  OF  LYNN— 1705,  1706 


shoes,  aod  hemp  to  make  thread,  and  wax,  to  mend  and  make 
more  such  shoes  when  wanted,  and  a  good  store  of  awls." 

On  the  6th  of  March,  the  town,  ^'  being  informed  that  several 
persons  had  cut  down  several  trees  or  bushes  in  Nahants,  where- 
by there  is  like  to  be  no  shade  for  the  creatures,"  voted  that 
no  person  should  cut  any  tree  or  bush  there,  on  a  penalty  often 
shillings. 

1705. 

[There  was  a  very  violent  northeast  storm  on  the  29th  and 
30th  of  January.  Immense  quantities  of  snow  fell.  Joseph 
Newhall,  of  Lynn,  perished  in  the  storm,  on  the  second  day. 
He  was  no  doubt  the  same  individual  elsewhere  noticed  as  a 
son  of  Thomas  Newhall,  the  first  white  person  born  in  Lynn. 
He  was  born  22  September,  1658,  married  Susanna,  a  sister  of 
Thomas  Farrar,  Jr.,  and  settled  in  Lynnfield.  He  had  eleven 
children,  and  a  great  many  of  his  descendants  remain. 

[In  June,  a  severe  drought  prevailed.  "  Corn  and  grass 
perished,  pretty  much."] 

1706. 

Nahant,  and  the  great  range  of  woodland  in  the  north  of  the 
town,  had  from  the  first  settlement,  been  retained  in  common. 
The  same  spirit  of  practical  democracy  which  had  influenced 
the  people  at  the  beginning,  was  carried  out  through  all  their 
public  affairs.  Nahant  was  used  as  a  common  pasture,  where 
any  one  who  chose,  put  cattle  and  sheep,  which  were  tended 
by  a  person,  chosen  and  paid  by  the  town,  called  a  shepherd. 
In  like  manner  the  great  woodlands  had  been  reserved  for 
common  use,  and  the  people  cut  their  fuel  in  such  quantities  as 
they  pleased  in  the  woodlands  nearest  their  dwellings.  If  any 
required  timber  for  building,  they  selected  the  fine  old  oaks 
that  plumed  the  craggy  cliffs,  and  the  tall,  straight  trunks  which 
grew  in  the  dark  pine  forests,  to  make  into  boards  at  the  saw 
mill.  But  now  the  people  had  so  increased,  and  the  limits  of 
their  cultivated  lands  become  so  permanently  established,  that 
they  concluded  it  would  be  best  to  have  some  more  definite 
regulations  for  their  government  in  future. 

On  the  15th  of  April,  a  town  meeting  was  held,  when  it  was 
resolved  to  make  a  division  of  the  public  lands,  only  reserving 
the  training  field,  which  is  now  called  the  Common.  They 
chose  a  committee  of  three  persons  from  other  towns,  to  make 
the  division,  whom  they  directed  to  allow  each  proprietor  at 
least  one  fourth  upland,  and  as  near  his  own  house  as  might  be. 
The  committee  were  Captain  Samuel  Gardner,  of  Salem,  John 
Greenland,  of  Maiden,  and  Joseph  Hasey,  of  Chelsea.  [And 
they  make  return  of  their  doings  as  follows.] 


ANNALS    OP    LYNN — 1706.  307 


We  whose  names  are  hei-eunto  subscribed,  having  been  chosen  by  the 
Towne  of  Lyn,  at  a  Towne  Meeting  held  April  15th,  1706,  as  a  committee  to 
Divide  all  the  Undivided  Common  Lands  within  the  Towne  of  Lyn,  aforesaid, 
by  such  rules,  and  in  such  way  and  manner  as  shall  be  agreed  upon  by  us ; 
we  having  agreed  and  made  Division  of  the  Common  Undivided  Lands  too 
and  amongst  all  the  proprietors  and  Inhabitants  that  have  land  of  their  own 
in  fee,  according  to  said  Town  Voate,  so  far  as  appeared  to  us.  The  way  and 
manner  of  our  Division,  and  that  which  we  have  agreed  upon  to  make  our 
rules  by,  are  as  followeth. 

We  first  obtained  of  the  Selectmen  of  said  Lyn,  a  copy  of  the  List  of  Estate 
taken  by  them  in  1705,  which  list  being  first  perfected  and  made  intelligible 
to  us  by  the  Selectmen,  through  our  desire,  by  their  bringing  each  person's 
land  to  the  Right  owner,  and  by  adding  such  to  said  List,  that  by  Reason  of 
poverty,  or  others  being  in  captivity,  had  been  left  out  of  said  List,  that  soe 
we  might  come  to  the  knowledge  of  all  the  proprietors  and  Inhabitants  that 
have  Lauds  of  theire  owne  in  fee ;  we  having  made  division  of  the  aforesaid 
Common  Lands  according  to  what  each  proprietor  and  Inhabitant  have  of 
Lands  upon  said  List. 

1.  We  first  taking  out,  according  to  the  best  Information  we  could  obtaine, 
all  such  as  had  houses  erected  since  the  year  1694,  who  are  priviledged  for  so 
much  and  no  more  than  what  each  person  hathe  of  Lands  upon  said  List. 

2.  A  second  Rule  by  which  we  make  division  is,  that  all  such  as  have  upon 
said  List  foure  acres  of  Land  or  any  Less  quantity,  to  have  priviledg  for  five 
acres ;  and  all  such  as  have  five  acres  to  have  priviledg  for  six  acres  ;  and  all 
such  as  have  six  acres  to  have  priviledg  of  seven  acres ;  and  all  such  as  have 
seven  acres  to  have  priviledg  for  eight  acres ;  and  no  person  to  receive  advan- 
tage any  further  for  any  more  than  for  what  they  have  upon  said  List. 

3.  A  third  Rule  of  our  Division  is,  that  all  such  as  have  upon  said  List  any 
greater  number  of  acres  than  eight,  till  they  come  to  twenty  acres,  counting 
two  acres  of  pasture  land  for  one  of  tillage  Land ;  we  finding  them  to  be  Rated 
but  halfe  soe  much  for  pasture  Land  as  for  tillage  or  Improved  Lands ;  are 
priviliged  according  to  the  number  of  acres  they  have  on  the  List. 

4.  A  fourth  Rule  is,  that  all  those  that  have  above  twenty  acres  upon  said 
List,  until  they  come  to  thirty  acres,  shall  receive  privilidg  but  for  one  fourth 
part  of  all  they  have  above  twenty  acres;  and  for  what  land  any  person  hathe 
on  said  List  above  thirty  acres,  shall  receive  priviledg  but  for  ojie  eighth  part 
of  what  is  above  thirty  acres. 

5.  And  whereas  we,  the  aforesaid  Committee,  according  to  said  Towne 
voate,  are  to  Leave  convenient  ways  in  all  places,  as  we  shall  think  fitt,  we 
have  agreed  that,  by  reason  of  the  Impossibility  of  making  highways  passable, 
if  Laid  upon  the  Range  Lines,  Doe  therefore  order,  that  all  the  proprietors 
concerned,  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  to  have  free  Liberty  to  pass  and 
Repass  over  each  person's  Letts,  that  is  laid  out  by  us  on  the  commons,  with 
carts  and  teams,  to  transport  wood,  timber,  and  stones,  or  upon  any  other  oca- 
tion  whatsoever,  in  such  places  as  may  be  convenient,  without  any  molestation, 
hindrance,  or  Interruption  from  any  of  the  proprietors,  their  heirs  or  assigns ; 
but  no  person  to  Damnific  his  neighbor  by  Cutting  Downe  his  tree  or  trees. 

We  have  left  a  highway  over  Little  Nahant  two  poles  wide  on  the  west  end, 
and  soe  Runing  over  the  beach  unto  Great  Nahant;  and  soe  on  the  south- 
wardly side  of  the  hill  to  about  ten  pole  above  the  Calf  Spring,  and  running 
slanting  up  the  hill  into  the  old  way,  and  soe  runing  on  the  northeast  end  of 
James  Mills  his  land,  and  soe  on  to  the  first  Range  in  the  ram  pasture ;  and 
have  left  about  one  acre  of  land  joining  to  the  highway  by  the  Spring  to 
accomidate  Cattle  comuig  to  the  Spring.  We  have  also  left  a  highway,  two 
pole  wide  from  the  highway  by  the  Spring,  ouer  into  Bass  neck,  and  soe 
through  the  Ranges  to  the  southermost  Range  on  said  neck.  We  have  also 
left  a  highway,  two  pole  wide,  on  the  Bay  side,  over  to  Bass  neck,  and  so  ouer 
Mr.  Taylor's  lott,  Joseph  Jacob's  lott,  and  Moses  Hudson's  Lett,  unto  the  other 


308  ANNALS  OP  LYNN — 1706. 

highway ;  and  have  left  a  highway  one  poie  wide  over  the  westward  end  of 
each  Range  on  great  Nahant ;  and  a  highway  one  pole  vride,  on  the  north- 
wardly end  of  each  Range  on  Bass  neck;  and  a  highway  one  pole  wide  ouer 
between  the  range  of  lots,  halfe  a  pole  on  each  Range,  on  each  side  of  the 
Range  Line  on  Little  Nahant. 

Thus  we  make  Returne  of  this  our  Doings,  this  first  Day  of  January,  1706-7. 

Samuel  Gardner, 
John  Greenland, 
Joseph  Haset. 

On  the  28th  of  September,  "  The  towne  considering  the  great 
difficulty  of  laying  out  highways  on  the  common  lands,  by  rea- 
son of  the  swamps,  hills,  and  rockenes  of  the  land,  theirfore 
voated,  that  after  said  common  lands  shall  be  divided,  every 
person  interested  therein,  shall  have  free  liberty  at  all  times,  to 
pass  and  repass  over  each  others'  lotts  of  lands,  to  fetch  their 
wood  and  such  other  things  as  shall  be  upon  their  lands,  in  any 
place  or  places,  and  for  no  other  ends,  provided  they  do  not  cut 
downe  any  sort  of  tree  or  trees  in  their  so  passing  over."  Eleven 
persons  entered  their  dissent  to  this  vote,  but  do  not  state 
whether  it  was  against  the  privilege,  or  its  limitation.  Men 
frequently  want  to  pass  on  to  their  lots  for  other  purposes  than 
to  fetch  wood ;  and  in  many  places  in  the  woods,  if  they  had 
not  cut  down  a  tree,  it  would  have  been  utterly  impossible  ever 
to  have  gone  upon  their  lots  at  all  with  a  carriage.  If  this  vote 
were  a  law,  many  proprietors  on  Nahant,  even  now,  could  not 
go  upon  their  lands  to  plant  or  build.  But  the  warrant  for 
calling  this  meeting  is  unrecorded. 

The  Common  Lands  were  laid  out  by  the  committee  in  "Seven 
Divisions."  The  First  Division  began  on  the  west  of  Saugus 
river,  including  what  was  called  the  Six  Hundred  Acres,  which 
were  then  in  Lynn.  The  Second  Division  ran  across  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  town,  and  the  Seventh  Division  was  Nahant. 

There  is  no  record  that  the  report  of  the  committee  was  ac- 
cepted, though  it  probably  was,  as  it  was  recorded,  with  all  the 
separate  lots  and  owners'  names.  The  woodlands  and  the 
Nahants  were  laid  out  in  Ranges,  forty  rods  in  width,  and  these 
were  divided  into  lots,  containing  from  about  one  eighth  of  an 
acre  to  eight  acres.  Many  of  these  lots  were  afterward  subdi- 
vided among  heirs,  so  that  many  lots  on  Nahant  are  now  six 
hundred  and  sixty  feet  long,  and  from  two  feet  to  eight  feet 
wide.  This  renders  it  impossible  in  many  places  to  obtain  a 
building  lot,  without  purchasing  of  many  owners.  Several  lots 
are  as  narrow  as  two  feet  and  three  inches,  and  for  each  of  these 
a  separate  deed  must  be  written.  I  have  constructed  a  com- 
plete map  of  Nahant  on  a  very  large  scale,  on  which  the  lots  are 
shown  with  the  names  of  the  original  proprietors  and  the  pres- 
ent owners. 

[It  will  be  observed  that  the  above  stands  as  it  did  in  the  1844 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN— 1708,  1712,  1713,  1715.  309 

edition.  Many  changes  have  of  course  taken  place  since  that 
time.  But  it  will  always  be  interesting  as  showing  how  mat- 
ters formerly  stood  in  these  important  particulars.] 

1708. 

[A  fast  was  held,  23  June,  and  prayers  offered  for  deliverance 
from  the  devastations  committed  by  insects,  on  the  fruit  trees. 
They  appear  to  have  been  caterpillars  and  canker  worms.  And 
we  had,  in  1863,  another  grievous  instance  of  the  destruction 
that  may  be  accomplished  through  the  combined  industry  of 
those  voracious  little  spoilers.  But  this  unbelieving  generation 
instead  of  resorting  to  prayers  and  fasting,  resorted  to  burning 
brimstone  and  other  stifling  appliances.] 

1712. 

Lynnfield  was  set  off  as  a  parish,  or  district,  17  November. 
The  inhabitants  were  to  be  freed  from  parish  taxes,  as  soon  as 
a  meeting-house  should  be  built,  and  a  minister  settled.  The 
people  of  Lynnfield,  in  the  town  records,  are  called  ^'  our  neigh- 
bors, the  farmers." 

This  year,  all  the  shells,  which  came  upon  the  Nahant  beaches, 
were  sold  by  the  town,  to  Daniel  Brown,  and  William  Gray,  for 
thirty  shilHngs.  They  were  not  to  sell  the  shells  for  more  than 
eight  shillings  a  load,  containing  forty-eight  bushels,  heaped 
measure.  The  people  were  permitted  to  dig  and  gather  the 
clams  as  before,  but  they  were  required  to  open  them  on  the 
beach,  and  leave  the  shells.  The  house  in  which  I  was  born, 
was  plastered  with  lime  made  from  these  shells. 

1713. 

Mr.  John  Merriam  was  employed  as  schoolmaster.  The  school 
was  called  a  grammar  school,  because  Latin  was  taught  in  it. 
The  other  studies  were  reading,  writing,  and  ciphering.  Eng- 
lish grammar  was  not  a  common  study,  and  no  book  on  that 
subject  was  introduced  into  general  use,  till  about  seventy 
years  after  this  time.  No  arithmetic  was  used  by  the  scholars, 
but  the  master  wrote  all  the  sums  on  the  slate.  No  spelling 
book  was  used.  [So  one  would  naturally  conclude  from  the 
ways  in  which  words  were  sometimes  spelled.  There  had  been 
no  established  system  of  orthography,  but  each  spelled  as  best 
suited  his  own  fancy,  using  letters  in  any  way  that  gave  the 
sound  of  the  word.     Some  uniformity,  however,  now  prevailed.] 

1715. 

The  first  meeting-house  in  the  second  parish,  now  Lynnfield, 
was  built.  When  the  building  of  the  first  parish  meeting-house 
was  in  contemplation,  the  people  of  the  northern  part  of  the 


310  ANNALS    OF   LYNN— 1716,    1717. 

town,  being  obliged  to. travel  six  or  eight  miles  to  meeting, 
wished  to  have  the  house  placed  in  a  central  situation,  and  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  "  chuse  "  a  place.  They  selected 
a  hill,  now"  included  in  the  bounds  of  Saugus,  which  was  thence 
called  Harmony  Hill.  It  was  afterward  determined  to  place 
the  house  on  the  Common,  and  the  people  of  Lynnfield  continued 
to  attend  meeting  there  till  this  year. 

1716. 

A  gentleman  whose  name  was  Bishop,  was  schoolmaster. 

Mr.  Ebenezer  Tarbox  w^as  chosen,  by  the  town,  as  shepherd. 

Three  porches  were  added  to  the  first  parish  meeting-house, 
and  a  curiously  carved  and  paneled  oak  pulpit,  imported  from 
England,  was  set  up. 

[Jonathan  Townsend,  of  Lynn,  graduated  at  Harvard  College. 
He  was  settled,  23  March,  in  Needham,  being  the  first  minister 
of  the  place,  and  remained  in  the  ministry  forty-two  years.  He 
died  30  September,  1762,  aged  64.  A  record  in  his  hand  wri- 
ting, dated  Needham,  17  July,  1735,  states  an  interesting  fact 
regarding  a  lady,  who,  it  is  probable,  was  a  member  of  his 
church:  "This  day  died  here,  Mrs.  Lydia  Chickering,  in  the 
83d  year  of  her  age.  She  was  born  in  Dedham,  in  New  Eng- 
land, July  14,  1652,  and  about  the  year  1671  went  up  from 
thence  to  Hadley,  where  for  the  space  of  about  a  year,  she 
waited  upon  Col.  Whalley,  and  Col.  Goffe  (two  of  King  Charles 
Ist's  judges),  who  had  fled  thither  from  the  men  that  sought 
their  lives.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Capt.  David  Fisher,  of 
Dedham,  one  of  the  magistrates  of  the  colony  under  the  old 
charter." 

[GoveiTior  Shute  passed  through  Lynn,  15  October.  There 
was  considerable  parade.  The  Salem  Troop,  under  Col.  Brown, 
came  over,  to  escort  him  to  their  town,  where  he  was  received 
in  a  becoming  manner,  had  "  a  splendid  entertainment,"  and 
remained  over  night.     He  was  on  a  journey  to  New  Hampshire. 

[An  extraordinary  darkness  prevailed  at  mid-day,  21  October. 
Lighted  candles  were  found  necessary  on  the  dinner  table,  fowls 
went  to  roost,  and  there  was  great  alarm.] 

1717. 

Two  great  storms  on  the  20th  and  24th  of  February,  covered 
the  ground  so  deep  with  snow,  that  people  for  some  days  could 
not  pass  from  one  house  to  another.  Old  Indians,  of  a  hundred 
years,  said  that  their  fathers  had  never  told  them  of  such  a  snow. 
It  was  from  ten  to  twenty  feet  deep,  and  generally  covered  the 
lower  story  of  the  houses.  Cottages  of  one  story  were  entirely 
buried,  so  that  the  people  dug  paths  from  one  house  to  another, 
under  the  snow.     Soon  after,  a  slight  rain  fell,  and  the  frost 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1717.  311 

crusted  tlie  snow;  and  then  the  people  went  out  of  their  cham- 
ber windows,  and  walked  over  it.  Many  of  the  farmers  lost 
their  sheep  ;  and  most  of  the  sheep  and  swine  which  were  saved, 
lived  from  one  to  two  weeks  without  food.  One  man  had  some 
hens  buried  near  his  barn,  which  were  dug  out  alive  eleven 
days  after.  During  this  snow,  a  great  number  of  deer  came 
from  the  woods  for  food,  and  were  followed  by  the  wolves, 
which  killed  many  of  them.  Others  were  killed  by  the  people 
with  guns.  Some  of  the  deer  fled  to  Nahant,  and  being  chased 
by  the  wolves,  leaped  into  the  sea,  and  were  drowned.  Great 
damage  was  done  to  the  orchards,  by  the  snow  freezing  to  the 
branches,  and  splitting  the  trees  as  it  fell.  This  snow  formed 
a  remarkable  era  in  New  England ;  and  old  people,  in  relating 
an  event,  would  say  that  it  happened  so  many  years  before  or 
after  the  great  snow.  Hon.  John  Winthrop  says  :  ^'  We  lost  at 
the  island  and  farms  above  1100  sheep,  beside  some  horses  and 
cattle  interred  in  the  snow ;  and  it  was  very  strange,  that  28 
days  after  the  storm,  the  inhabitants  of  Fisher's  Island,  in  pulling 
out  the  ruins  of  100  sheep,  out  of  the  snow  bank  in  the  valley, 
where  the  snow  had  drifted  over  them  sixteen  feet,  found  two 
of  them  alive  in  the  drift,  which  had  lain  on  them  all  that  time, 
and  kept  themselves  alive  by  eating  the  wool  off  the  others." 
The  mail  was  nine  days  in  reaching  Portsmouth,  and  eight  in 
returning.  [But  the  greatest  snow  storm  of  the  year  occurred 
in  April.  It  being  so  late  in  the  season,  however,  the  effects 
were  not  long  visible.] 

The  town  tax,  this  year,  was  £237.  Mr.  Shepard's  salary  was 
eighty-seven  pounds  ;  and  the  rest  was  for  the  school,  and  other 
town  debts. 

It  was  in  one  of  the  great  storms  of  this  year,  that  Samuel 
Bellamy's  pirate  ship,  the  Whidah,  of  23  guns  and  130  men,  was 
wrecked  on  Cape  Cod,  and  more  than  one  hundred  dead  bodies 
were  found  on  the  shore.  Six  of  the  survivors  were  afterward 
executed  at  Boston. 

This  year  Nahant  was  again  without  an  inhabitant ;  James 
Mills  being  dead,  and  his  family  removed.  His  house  and  land 
became  the  property  of  Dr.  John  Henry  Burchsted,  who,  on 
the  18th  of  December,  sold  it  to  Samuel  Breed.  He  built  a 
house  where  Whitney's  Hotel  now  stands.  He  was  very  small 
in  stature,  and  was  generally  called  ^'  Governor  Breed."  He 
was  born  November  11,  1692,  married  Deliverance  Bassett, 
June  25,  1720,  (the  same  who  was  mentioned  as  a  child  in  1692,) 
and  had  five  children ;  Anna,  Sarah,  Huldah,  Nehemiah,  and 
William.  His  house  became  the  property  of  his  son  Nehemiah, 
and  his  grandson  William,  by  whom  it  was  rebuilt  in  1819. 
For  twenty-four  years  this  house  was  kept  as  a  hotel,  by  Jesse 
Eice ;  and  was  purchased,  in  1841,  by  Albert  Whitney.     [Mr. 


312  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1718. 

Whitney  is  a  son-in-law  of  Mr.  Rice,  and  still  [1SG4]  continues 
the  public  house.] 

Jabez  Breed,  brother  of  Samuel,  soon  after  removed  to  Na- 
hant  and  built  a  house  directly  opposite.  A  few  ^^ears  after- 
ward, Richard  Hood  exchanged  his  house  in  Nahant  street  for 
this.  He  married  Theodate  Collins,  May  20,  1718,  and  had 
eight  children;  Theodate,  Jedediah,  Content,  Rebecca,  Hannah, 
Patience,  Abner  and  Abigail.  His  descendants  still  live  at 
Nahant,  on  the  estate  of  their  ancestor. 

The  third  house  on  Nahant  was  built  by  Jeremiah  Gray,  a 
carpenter,  and  uncle  of  Lieutenant  Governor  William  Gray. 
This  house,  about  the  year  1770,  was  sold  to  Jonathan  John- 
son. [And  it  afterward  became  the  property  of  his  son,  Caleb 
Johnson,  by  whom  it  is  still  occupied.] 

These  were  the  only  three  houses  on  Nahant  until  the  year 
1803.  Their  occupants  were  Quakers,  and  kept  no  taverns,  but 
accommodated  a  few  boarders  in  the  summer,  and  occasionally 
made  a  fish  chowder,  for  parties  who  visited  Nahant  from  Bos- 
ton and  other  places. 

1718. 

In  the  beginning  of  this  year,  Mr.  Shepard  was  unwell ;  and 
a  gentleman  whose  name  was  Townsend,  was  emplo3"ed  to  preach 
five  sermons ;  for  which  the  town  paid  him  fifty  shillings.  The 
Selectmen,  on  the  5th  of  March,  were  directed  to  employ  a 
schoolmaster ;  and  in  their  agreement  with  him,  "  to  have  rela- 
tion to  some  help  for  Mr.  Shepard  in  preaching." 

According  to  tradition  —  which  may  not  very  safely  be  relied 
on  in  matters  of  importance,  though  it  may  assist  in  delineating 
manners  and  customs — it  was  about  this  time  that  potatoes  were 
first  introduced  into  Lynn.  Mr.  John  Newhall  received  two  or 
three,  which  he  planted ;  and  when  he  gathered  the  produce, 
a  few  of  them  were  roasted  and  eaten,  merely  from  curiosity ; 
and  the  rest  were  put  into  the  shell  of  a  gourd,  and  hung  up  in 
the  cellar.  The  next  year  he  planted  them  all,  and  had  enough 
to  fill  a  two  bushel  basket.  He  knew  not  what  to  do  with  so 
many,  and  gave  some  of  them  to  his  neighbors.  Soon  after, 
one  of  them  said  to  him :  "  Well,  I  have  found  that  potatoes  are 
good  for  something.  I  had  some  of  them  boiled,  and  ate  them 
with  fish,  and  they  relished  very  well."  It  was  several  years 
after  this,  before  potatoes  came  into  general  use,  and  then  only 
in  small  quantities.  A  farmer,  who  kept  a  very  particular  ac- 
count of  every  day's  employment,  first  mentions  "  patatas,"  as 
a  common  article,  in  1733.  [But  in  the  Colony  Records  we 
find  potatoes  named  as  early  as  1628.  They  were  among  the 
articles  to  be  provided  for  the  Massachusetts  settlers  and  sent 
over  by  the  Company,  probably  for  planting.     Historians  have 


ANNALS    OF   LYNN — 1719.  313 

generally  supposed  they  were  not  known  in  England  before 
1653,  when  some  were  carried  there  by  Sir  John  Hawkins, 
from  Santa  Fe.  But  the  above  indicates  an  earlier  introduction. 
And  besides,  as  Mr.  Felt  mentions,  Bermuda  potatoes  sold  in 
our  colony,  in  1636,  for  2d.  a  pound;  but  these  were  probably 
what  we  now  call  sweet  potatoes.  The  common  potato,  how- 
ever, came  slowly  into  general  use.  And  it  seems  evident  that 
in  some  places  at  least  it  fell  under  a  sort  of  religious  ban; 
attributable,  as  some  have  thought,  to  the  fact  that  it  is  not 
mentioned  in  the  Bible ;  but  this  cannot  have  been  the  case, 
as  the  use  of  sundry  other  vegetables  Avhich  were  highly  esteem- 
ed, would,  for  the  same  reason  have  been  interdicted.  If  it  be 
true  that  potatoes  were  brought  here  as  early  as  1628,  for  culti- 
vation, as  an  article  of  food,  it  is  quite  remarkable  that  almost  a 
century  should  have  elapsed  before  they  began  to  be  served 
upon  the  table.  I  know  it  is  generally  supposed  that  they 
were  not  introduced  here  till  about  the  period  indicated  by  the 
traditions  alluded  to  by  Mr.  Lewis  ;  and  that  they  were  brought 
by  the  '^  Scotch  Irish  "  immigrants,  as  they  were  called.] 

At  this  time,  tea  was  little  used,  and  tea-kettles  were  unknown. 
The  water  was  boiled  in  a  skillet;  and  when  the  ladies  went  to 
visiting  parties,  each  one  carried  her  tea-cup,  saucer,  and  spoon. 
The  tea-cups  were  of  the  best  china,  and  very  small,  containing 
about  as  much  as  a  common  wine-glass.  Coffee  did  not  come 
into  use  until  many  years  after. 

1719. 

The  northern  lights  were  first  mentioned  this  year,  on  the  17th 
of  December.  The  people  were  much  alarmed  at  their  appear- 
ance. The  northern  hemisphere  seemed  to  be  on  fire ;  and  it  is 
said  that  the  coruscations  were  distinctly  heard,  like  the  rustling 
of  a  silken  banner.  [It  is  an  interesting  question,  whether  this 
was  the  first  time  that  the  northern  lights  were  observed  here. 
If  the  earlier  settlers  had  seen  them  it  is  remarkable  that  re- 
corded descriptions  are  not  found.  It  seems  now  to  be  settled 
that  intervals  of  many  years,  perhaps  centuries,  do  occur  in 
which  they  are  not  seen ;  and  then  they  suddenly  blaze  forth 
again  to  the  surprise  and  terror  of  mankind.  I  have  seen  this 
peculiarity  remarked  upon  in  a  history  of  Iceland.  The  ancients 
have  left  no  account  of  the  phenomenon,  under  the  present 
name ;  though  some  have  imagined  that  it  is  alluded  to  in  the 
book  of  Job,  ch.  37,  v.  22  — ''  Fair  weather  cometh  out  of  the 
north  :  with  God  is  terrible  majesty  "  —  the  term  rendered  ^'  fair 
weather,"  meaning  also  bright  light.  And  the  last  reading 
seems  most  natural,  as  there  is  no  ^^  terrible  majesty "  con- 
nected with  fair  weather.  The  following  extract  from  a  curious 
letter,  dated  Chester,  19  June,  1649,  may  be  suflScient  to  con- 
A2 


314  ANNALS  OF  LYNX — 1720. 

vince  some  that  the  northern  lights  were  seen  before  this 
year:  "Being  late  out  on  Saturday  night  to  see  my  horse  eat 
his  Gates,  it  being  past  12  a  clock  at  night,  we  saw  in  the  North 
East,  in  the  Ayre,  2  black  Clowdes  firing  one  against  the  other, 
as  if  they  had  been  2  Armies  in  the  Clowdes :  The  fire  was 
disserned  sometimes  more  and  sometimes  lesse  by  us.  It  was 
not  a  continuing  fire,  but  exactly  as  if  Muskitiers  were  discharg- 
ing one  against  another.  Sometimes  there  could  be  no  fire 
scene,  and  then  about  half  an  hour  after,  we  could  discerne  the 
North  Clowde  retreat :  And  so  it  did  till  the  day  began  to 
appear,  and  all  the  while  the  last  Clowde  following  it,  both  firiug 
each  at  other:  It  was  the  strangest  sight  that  ever  I  saw,  nor 
can  I  relate  the  exactnesse  of  it;  it  was  in  such  a  wonderful 
manner  that  I  cannot  express  it."  It  is  not  easy  to  determine 
what  this  was,  if  it  was  not  the  aurora  borealis,  though  in  some 
particulars  the  description  does  not  exactly  answer  for  the 
usual  appearance  at  the  present  day.  The  wonder-struck  ob- 
servers, however,  could  not  have  supposed  that  the  contending 
forces  intended  much  damage  to  each  other,  as  their  shooting 
was  probabl}^  perpendicular  and  not  horizontal. 

[The  summer  of  this  year  was  remarkable  for  copious  rains. 
In  the  Boston  News  Letter,  for  the  week  ending  17  August, 
appears  this  paragraph :  "  It  is  very  remarkable  that  tho'  on  last 
Lord's  Day  we  had  then  some  Rain,  which  had  been  grievous 
for  about  a  Month  before,  that  after  the  Ministers  of  the  several 
Meeting  Houses  had  made  Intimation  to  their  Congregations 
of  their  intending  the  Thursday  following,  that  the  Publick  Lec- 
ture should  be  turned  into  a  Day  of  Fastirig  and  Prayer,  to  beg 
of  God  that  He  would  avert  His  Judgments  in  granting  suitable 
and  seasonable  Weather,  after  the  great  Rains,  to  ripen  and 
gather  in  the  Fruits  of  the  Earth,  both  by  Land  and  Sea,  that 
that  self  same  Evening  the  Rain  ceased  and  the  sun  shone  clear 
ever  since,  even  before  the  Day  appointed  for  His  people  to  call 
upon  Him  for  these  great  mercies."] 

1720. 
The  Rev.  Jeremiah  Shepard  was  the  fourth  son  of  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Shepard,  minister  of  Cambridge,  who  came  from  Tow- 
cester,  in  England,  in  1635.  His  mother,  who  was  his  father's 
third  wife,  was  Margaret  Boradile.  He  was  born  at  Cambridge, 
August  11th,  1648,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1669. 
He  was  the  first  minister  of  Lynn,  who  was  born  and  educated 
in  America.  His  brother  Thomas  was  minister  of  Charlestown, 
and  his  brother  Samuel  minister  of  Rowley.  In  1675,  he 
preached  as  a  candidate  at  Rowley,  after  the  death  of  his  bro- 
ther ;  and  in  1678  at  Ipswich.  He  came  to  Lynn  in  1679, 
during  the  sickness  of  Mr.  Whiting,  and  was  ordained  on  the 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1720.  315 

6tli  of  October,  1680.  He  was  admitted  a  freeman  in  the  same 
year.  He  resided,  at  first,  in  the  street  which  has  been  called 
by  his  name ;  and  afterward  built  a  house,  which,  was  burnt 
down,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Common,  between  Mall  and  Park 
streets.  In  1689,  he  was  chosen  Representative  to  the  General 
Court ;  and  this  is  perhaps  the  only  instance  in  the  earh^  history 
of  New  England,  in  which  a  minister  of  the  gospel  sustained 
that  office.  He  died  on  the  3d  of  June,  1720,  aged  seventy-two, 
having  preached  at  Lynn  forty  years. 

The  life  of  Mr.  Shepard  was  distinguished  by  his  unvaried 
piety.  He  was  one  of  those  plain  and  honest  men,  who  adorn 
their  station  by  spotless  purity  of  character ;  and  has  left  a  name 
to  which  no  one  can  annex  an  anecdote  of  mirth,  and  which  no 
one  attempts  to  sully  by  a  breath  of  evil.  He  was  indefatigable 
in  his  exertions  for  the  spiritual  welfare  of  his  people ;  but  his 
dark  and  melancholy  views  of  human  nature  tended  greatly  to 
contract  the  circle  of  his  usefulness.  It  is  the  practice  of  many 
who  attempt  to  direct  us  in  the  way  of  truth,  that,  instead  of 
laying  open  to  us  the  inexhaustible  stores  of  happiness,  which 
the  treasury  of  the  Gospel  affords  —  instead  of  drawing  aside 
the  veil  which  conceals  from  man's  darkened  heart  the  inexpres- 
sible joys  of  the  angelic  world,  and  inducing  us  to  follow  the 
path  of  virtue,  from  pure  affection  to  Him  who  first  loved  us  — 
they  give  unlimited  scope  to  the  wildest  imaginations  that  ever 
traversed  the  brain  of  a  human  being,  and  plunge  into  the  un- 
fathomable abyss  of  superstition's  darkness,  to  torture  the  minds 
of  the  living  by  stirring  up  the  torments  of  the  dead,  and  driv- 
ing us  to  the  service  of  God,  by  unmingled  fear  of  his  extermin- 
ating wrath.  It  is  not  requisite  for  the  prevalence  of  truth,  that 
we  should  be  forever  familiar  with  the  shadows  that  encompass 
it.  The  mind  may  dwell  upon  darkness  until  it  has  itself  become 
dark,  and  callous  to  improvement — or  reckless  and  despairing 
of  good.  That  Mr.  Shepard's  views  of  human  nature,  and  of 
the  dispensation  of  the  Gospel,  were  of  the  darkest  kind,  is 
evident  from  the  sermons  which  he  has  left ;  and  these  opinions 
unfortunately  led  him  to  regard  the  greater  part  of  the  christian 
world  as  out  of  the  way  of  salvation,  and  to  look  upon  the 
crushed  remnant  of  the  red  men  as  little  better  than  the  wild 
beasts  of  the  forest.  In  alluding  to  the  mortality  which  pre- 
vailed among  the  Indians,  in  1633,  he  says  that  "  the  Lord  swept 
away  thousands  of  those  salvage  tawnies,  those  cursed  devil 
worshipers." 

His  writings  exhibit  occasional  gleams  of  genius  and  beauty ; 
but  they  are  disfigured  by  frequent  quotations  from  the  dead 
languages,  and  by  expressions  inconsistent  with  that  nobleness 
of  sentiment  and  purity  style,  which  should  be  sedulously  culti- 
vated by  the  young.     It  was  the  custom  in  his  time,  to  prolong 


316  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1720. 


the  sermon  at  least  one  hour,  and  sometimes  it  was  extended 
to  two ;  and  a  sand  glass  was  placed  on  the  pulpit  to  measure 
the  time.  In  one  of  his  sermons  he  alludes  to  this  practice : 
^'  Thou  art  restless  till  the  tiresome  glass  be  run  out,  and  the 
tedious  sermon  be  ended,"     He  published  the  following  works  : 

1.  "  A  Sort  of  Believers  Never  Saved."     Boston,  1711,  12mo. 

2.  ^' Early  Preparations  for  Evil  Daj^s."     Boston,  1712,  24mo. 

3.  "  General  Election  Sermon."     Boston,  1715,  12mo. 

[Mr.  Shepard  does  not  appear  to  have  been  entirely  exempt 
from  the  prevailing  custom  of  the  earl}^  clergy  of  sometimes 
expressing  their  thoughts  in  numbers.  Few  specimens  of  his 
versification,  however,  are  now  to  be  found.  In  the  first  edition 
of  Hubbard's  Indian  Wars,  printed  in  1677,  is  a  page  of  poetry, 
following  the  "  Advertisement  to  the  Reader,"  addressed  '^  To 
the  Reverend  Mr.  William  Hubbard,  on  his  most  exact  History 
of  New  England  Troubles,"  and  signed  J.  S. ;  which  initials  are 
generally  supposed  to  refer  to  Mr.  Shepard.  A  short  extract 
follows : 

When  thy  rare  Piece  UDto  my  view  once  came, 
It  made  my  muse  that  erst  did  smoke,  to  flame ; 
Raising  my  fancy,  so  sublime^  that  I 
That  famous  forked  Mountain  did  espie  ; 
Thence  in  an  Extasie  I  softly  fell 
Down  near  unto  the  Helliconian  Well. 

[That  the  church  at  Lynn  enjoyed  a  good  degree  of  temporal 
prosperity  under  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Shepard  seems  evident ; 
and  it  does  not  appear  that  its  spiritual  progress  was  not  com- 
mensurate ;  though  outward  prosperity  is  not  a  sure  indication 
of  godliness  within.  The  encomiums  of  Mr.  Lewis,  so  far  as  they 
touch  certain  points  in  the  character  of  Mr.  Shepard  are,  no 
doubt,  well  merited ;  and  the  reflections  on  the  dark  features 
are  as  judicious  as  direct.  But  the  entire  character  is  not 
given.  One  might  infer,  from  what  is  said,  that  he  was  of  a 
quiet,  retiring  disposition  ;  but  such,  I  apprehend,  was  by  no 
means  the  case.  He  was  vigorous,  if  not  passionate.  His  piety 
may  have  been  deep  and  sincere;  and  so  were  his  prejudices. 
In  the  troublous  times  of  the  Andros  administration,  he  was 
more  distinguished  for  political  ardor,  than  christian  forbearance. 
He  certainly  seems  to  have  secured  the  attachment  of  the  peo- 
ple here ;  and  he  could  not  have  had  so  many  friends  and  held 
them  so  long  without  possessing  some  sterling  qualities.  But 
while  preaching  at  Rowley  he  was  almost  constantly  embroiled 
with  the  people,  and  became  the  subject  of  severe  censure.  And 
there  is  something  mysterious  if  not  significant  in  the  fact  that 
Cotton  Mather  says  nothing  about  him.  He  seems  to  have 
preached  at  Rowley  and  Ipswich  not  only  before  he  was  or- 
dained, but  before  he  had  become  a  professor.     In  a  note  in 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1720.  317 

Gage's  History  of  Rowley,  page  20,  appears  this  statement :  "  It 
is  understood  that  this  Jeremiah  Shepard  was  not  a  member  of 
any  church,  having  made  no  public  profession  of  religion  at  the 
time  he  preached  at  Rowley  and  Ipswich."  He  commenced 
his  labors  at  Rowley,  in  February,  1673,  and  continued  there 
some  three  years.  Gage  remarks  that  he  was  the  cause  of 
much  trouble  in  the  church  and  town  of  Rowley.  The  town 
made  him  a  grant,  12  December,  1673,  '' of  £50  and  one  load 
of  wood  from  each  man  who  has  a  team,  for  his  work  in  the 
ministr}-"  for  that  year.  And  they  further  agreed,  in  1674,  to 
give  him  £50  a  year,  so  long  as  he  continued  to  preach  for 
them.  There  was,  however,  even  then,  a  respectable  minority 
who  dissented.  The  troubles  increased,  and  in  1676,  obstinate 
hostility  existed  between  his  adherents  and  opponents.  Before 
this  year  closed,  it  became  apparent  that  his  adversaries  had 
risen  to  a  decided  majority.  At  a  town  meeting  held  30  January, 
1677,  a  motion  was  made  to  "  invite  Mr.  Shepard  to  establish  a 
monthly  lecture."  But  it  failed,  and  a  motion  to  reconsider  was 
unsuccessful,  when  the  meeting  "  brake  up  in  confusion."  Mr. 
Shepard  sued  for  his  salary  of  that  year,  and  his  suit  was  con- 
tested. Judgment  was  given  in  his  favor  at  the  Ipswich  court, 
and  the  town  appealed  to  the  Court  of  Assistants.  Finally,  he 
took  X20  as  payment  in  full.  The  discord  attained  such  an 
extremity  that  the  General  Court  was  appealed  to.  And  that 
august  body,  in  warm  terms,  uttered  their  mandate  against  all 
irregular  proceedings,  declaring  that  they  had  by  law  ''  made 
provision  for  the  peace  of  the  churches  and  a  settled  ministry 
in  each  town."  What  their  precise  view  on  the  questions  imme- 
diately concerning  Mr.  Shepard  was,  does  not  seem  perfectly 
clear;  but  they  order  that  certain  of  his  leading  friends,  as 
abettors  in  the  turbulence,  "  be  admonished,  and  pay,  as  costs, 
£6.7.8 ;  "  which  they  certainly  would  not  have  done  had  they 
deemed  them  innocent.  Mr.  Shepard  left  Rowley,  soon  after, 
and  went  to  Chebacco  parish,  Ipswich,  now  the  town  of  Essex, 
where  he  remained  a  short  time,  and  then,  in  1679,  came  to 
Lynn.  I  have  given  these  passages  in  his  life  as  exhibiting 
points  of  character  which  Mr.  Lewis  does  not  appear  to  have 
observed.  And  a  biography  is  never  perfect  without  at  least  a 
glimpse  at  every  principal  trait.  Mr.  Shepard  was  compara- 
tively young,  at  the  time  he  preached  at  Rowley ;  and  no  doubt 
as  he  gathered  experience  saw  more  and  more  clearly  the  neces- 
sity of  restraining  his  natural  temper ;  yet  it  would  occasionally 
assert  itself,  to  the  end  of  his  days.] 

The  name  of  Mr.  Shepard's  wife  was  Mary.     [And  she  was  a 

daughter  of  Francis  Wainwright,  of  Ipswich.]     She  died  March 

28,   1710,   aged   fifty-three   years.     He   had   nine   children;   1. 

Hannah,  born  1676,  married  John  Downing,  of  Boston,  1698, 

A2* 


318  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1720. 

2.  Jeremiah,  born  1677,  died  1700.  3.  Mehetabel,  died  1688. 
4.  Nathaniel,  born  June  16,  1681,  removed  to  Boston.  5.  Mar 
garet,  died  1683.  6.  Thomas,  born  August  1,  1687,  died  1709. 
7.  Francis,  died  1692.  8.  John,  married  Alice  Tucker,  1722. 
9.  Mehetabel  second,  married  Kev.  James  Allin  of  Brookline, 
1717. 

The  following  epitaph  was  transcribed  from  the  grave  stone 
of  Mr.  Shepard,  with  much  difficulty,  having  become  nearly 
obliterated  by  the  dilapidations  of  time. 

Elijah's  mantle  drops,  the  prophet  dies, 

His  earthly  mansion  quits,  and  mounts  the  skies. 

So  Shepherd's  gone. 

His  precious  dust,  death's  prey,  indeed  is  here, 
But 's  nobler  breatli  'moug  seraphs  does  appear ; 
He  joins  the  adoring  crowds  about  the  throne, 
He  's  conquered  all,  and  now  lie  wears  the  crown. 

Rev.  Nathaniel  Henchman,  who  had  been  invited,  in  February, 
to  settle  as  a  colleague  with  Mr.  Shepard,  was  ordained  minister 
of  the  first  parish,  in  December.  His  salary  was  X115  ;  and  he 
received  X160,  as  a  settlement.  Twenty  persons,  "called  Qua- 
kers," were  exempted,  some  entirely  and  others  in  part,  from 
the  pa3"ment  of  parish  taxes. 

Rev.  Nathaniel  Sparhawk  was  ordained  minister  of  the  second 
parish,  now  Lynnfield,  on  the  17th  of  August.  His  salary  was 
£70. 

Mr.  John  Lewis  was  master  of  the  grammar  school.  The 
school  was  kept  in  four  places ;  on  the  Common,  at  Woodend, 
in  the  west  parish,  and  in  the  north  parish.  [It  is  probably 
intended  by  this  phraseology  that  the  grammar  school  was  a 
circulating  institution ;  not  that  there  were  four  schools,  but 
one  school  kept  a  part  of  the  time  in  each  of  four  places.  Yet 
John  Lewis  was  not  the  only  schoolmaster  in  Lynn  about  this 
time.  Samuel  Dexter,  a  son  of  John  Dexter,  of  Maiden,  and 
afterward  minister  of  the  first  church  in  Dcdham,  taught  here. 
In  his  diary  he  says:  "Then  being  Desirous,  if  it  might  be,  to 
Live  nigher  my  friends,  by  y®  Motion  of  some,  I  was  invited  to 
keep  y^  School  at  Lyn.  W^'fore,  Quitting  my  school  at  Taunton, 
I  accepted  of  the  Proffers  made  at  Lyn,  and,  Feb.  17,  1720-21,  I 
Began  my  School  at  L}^,  in  w*"^  I  Continued  a  year ;  and  upon 
y^  Day  y*  my  Engagement  was  up  there  A  Committee  from 
Maldon  Came  to  treat  with  me  in  Reference  to  Maldon  school ; 
w*"^  proposalls  I  Complyed  with  &  kept  y^  school  for  ab*^  six 
weeks  &  then  was  mostly,  to  the  present  time,  [4  Dec.  1722,] 
Improved  in  preaching."  He  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College, 
and  at  the  time  of  taking  the  school  in  Lynn,  was  twenty  years 
of  age.  Some  of  his  descendants  became  eminent  for  their 
talents.] 


ANNALS   OF   LYNN— 1721,   1722,  1723.  319 

The  General  Court  ordered  fifty  thousand  pounds  to  be  emit- 
ted in  bills  of  credit.  Of  this,  Lynn  received  £124.4  as  its 
proportion,  which  was  loaned  at  five  per  cent.  This  money, 
which  was  afterward  called  Old  Tenor,  soon  began  to  depreciate; 
and  in  1750,  forty-five  shillings  were  estimated  at  one  dollar. 

1721. 

The  small  pox  prevailed  in  New  England.  In  Boston,  more 
than  eight  hundred  persons  died.  If  the  small-pox  of  1633  was 
a  judgment  upon  the  Indians,  for  their  erroneous  worship,  was 
not  this  equally  a  judgment  upon  the  inhabitants  of  Boston  ? 
Some  men  are  very  free  in  dealing  out  the  judgments  of  God  to 
their  enemies,  while  they  contrive  to  escape  from  the  conse- 
quence of  their  own  reasoning.  If  a  misfortune  comes  upon  one 
who  differs  from  their  opinions,  it  is  the  vengeance  of  heaven ; 
but  when  the  same  misfortune  becomes  their  own,  it  is  only  a 
trial.  One  might  suppose  that  the  observation  of  Solomon,  that 
'^  all  things  happen  alike  to  all  men,''  and  that  still  more  pertinent 
remark  of  our  Saviour,  respecting  the  Tower  of  Siloam,  would 
teach  men  understanding.  (Luke  13  :  4.)  But  though  he  spoke 
so  plainly,  how  many  do  not  rightly  understand  the  doctrine  of 
that  inimitable  Teacher. 

[The  Hon.  John  Burrill,  of  Lynn,  then  a  Councillor,  died  of 
the  dreaded  disease,  10  December,  aged  63  years.  He  was  one 
of  the  most  eminent  men  that  Lynn,  or  indeed  the  colony  ever 
produced.  A  biograpical  notice  of  him  appears  elsewhere  in 
this  volume.] 

1722. 

Between  the  years  1698  and  1722,  there  were  killed  in  Lynn 
woods  and  on  Nahant,  four  hundred  and  twenty-eight  foxes ; 
for  most  of  which  the  town  paid  two  shillings  each.  In  1720, 
the  town  voted  to  pay  no  more  for  killing  them,  and  the  number 
since  this  time  is  unrecorded.  We  have  also  no  account  of  the 
immense  multitude  which  were  killed  during  the  first  seventy 
years  of  the  town.  If  these  animals  were  as  plenty  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Zorah,  as  they  were  at  Lynn,  Samson  probably  had 
little  difficulty  in  obtaining  his  alleged  number. 

1723. 

[A  terrific  storm  took  place  on  Sunday,  24  February.  The 
tide  rose  to  an  unusual  height.  Mr.  Dexter  says,  in  his  diary, 
there  was  "y®  mightyest  overflowing  of  y^  sea  y*  was  almost 
ever  known  in  this  Country."  Rev.  Thomas  Smith,  in  his  jour- 
nal notes  it  as  ^'  the  greatest  storm  and  highest  tide  that  has 
been  known  in  the  country."  And  on  the  16th  of  the  preceding 
January  he  says,  "This  month  has  been  the  hottest  that  ever 


320  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1723. 

was  felt  in  the  country."  The  hottest  January,  he  probably 
means.  The  Boston  News  Letter,  referring  to  the  storm,  says, 
"  the  water  flowed  over  our  Wharffs  and  in  our  Streets  to  a  very 
surprising  height.  They  say  the  Tide  rose  20  Inches  higher 
than  ever  was  known  before.  The  storm  was  very  strong  at 
North-east." 

[It  is  probable  that  the  old  Friends'  meeting-house  was  built 
tliis  year,  succeeding  the  one  ''raised  on  Wolf  Hill,"  in  1678. 
The  land  on  which  it  stood  was  given  to  the  Society  by  Richard 
Estes,  "in  consideration  of  the  love  and  good  will"  he  bore  to 
"  y^  people  of  God  called  Quakers,  in  Lyn,"  by  deed  dated  "  this 
seventeenth  day  of  the  tenth  month,  called  December  in  y®  ninth 
year  of  the  reign  of  King  George,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  ac- 
cording to  the  English  account,  one  thousand,  seven  hundred 
and  twenty  two."  The  land  was  given  ''  unto  y®  people  afore- 
mentioned, to  bury  their  dead  in,  and  to  erect  a  meeting  house 
for  to  worship  God  in ;  I  say  those  in  true  fellowship  of  the 
gospell  unity  with  the  monthly  meeting,  and  those  are  to  see  to 
y^  Christian  burying  as  we  have  been  in  y^  practice  of."  The 
meeting-house  built  this  year  was  removed  to  give  place  to  the 
new  house,  built  in  1816;  the  same  which  is  the  present  place 
of  worship,  occupying  the  rear  of  the  lot  and  facing  on  Silsbe 
street.  The  old  house  may  still  be  seen  on  Broad  street,  corner 
of  Beach,  where  it  stands,  occupied  by  a  firm  engaged  in  the 
lumber  business.  The  Friends  are  not  high  churchmen,  and  do 
not  scruple,  in  common  with  most  of  the  denominations  around 
them,  to  take  back  an  edifice  that  has  once  been  solemnly  dedi- 
cated to  the  service  of  the  Lord,  and  devote  it  to  worldly  pur- 
poses. But  even  this  is  less  objectionable,  to  the  orderly  mind, 
than  so  to  devote  it  while  it  still  remains  professedly  the  Lord's. 

[The  first  mill  on  Saugus  river,  at  the  Boston  street  crossing, 
was  built  this  year.  It  was  an  important  undertaking,  and  the 
town  records  exhibit  the  public  action  in  the  premises.  A 
privilege  was  granted,  27  October,  1721,  to  Benjamin  Potter, 
Jacob  Newhall,  and  William  Curtis,  to  erect  a  mill  here.  But 
they  did  not  complete  their  project,  and,  in  town  meeting, 
8  October,  1722,  "  resigned  up  their  grant  to  the  town  again." 
At  the  same  meeting  the  privilege  was  granted  to  Thomas  Chee- 
ver  and  Ebenezer  Merriam,  under  some  conditions :  William 
Taylor  and  Josiah  Rhodes  protesting  against  the  grant.  The 
mill  was  soon  in  operation.  In  1729,  Merriam  sold  out  to 
Cheever.  And  in  1738,  Joseph  Gould,  a  Quaker,  purchased 
the  property.  He  died  in  1774,  and  the  premises  became  dilap- 
idated, and  for  a  time  remained  unfit  for  use.  They  were 
afterward  purchased  by  George  Makepeace,  extensive  repairs 
and  additions  were  made,  and  the  manufacture  of  snufF  and 
chocolate  commenced.     Mr.  Makepeace,  in  1801,  sold  the  pro- 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN  — 1724,  1726,   1727.  321 

perty  to  Ebenezer  Larkin,  of  Boston,  and  another,  though  he 
still  continued  to  manage  the  business ;  and  the  premises  were 
afterward  re-deeded  to  him.  On  the  6th  of  June,  1812,  Ama- 
riah  Childs  bought  the  estate,  and  continued  the  business  many 
years,  with  success.  In  1844  Mr.  Childs  sold  to  Charles  Sweet- 
ser.  Saugus  is  undoubtedly,  directly  and  indirectly,  greatly 
indebted  to  these  mills  for  her  prosperity.] 

1724. 
The  eastern  Indians  recommenced  their  hostilities  early  in 
the  spring.  On  the  17th  of  April  they  attacked  a  sloop  from 
Lynn,  at  the  mouth  of  Kennebunk  river,  commanded  by  Captain 
John  Felt,  of  Lynn,  who  went  there  for  a  load  of  spars.  He 
had  engaged  two  younir  men,  William  Wormwood  and  Ebenezer 
Lewis  to  assist  him.  While  standing  on  the  raft,  Capt.  Felt  was 
shot  dead.  Lewis  fled  to  the  mill,  when  a  ball  struck  him  on 
the  head  and  killed  him  instantly.  The  ball  was  afterward 
found  to  be  flattened.  Wormwood  ran  ashore,  closely  pursued 
by  several  Indians,  and  with  his  back  to  a  stump  defended  himself 
with  the  butt  of  his  musket,  until  he  was  killed  by  several  balls. 
They  were  all  buried  in  the  field  near  Butler's  rocks,  and 
Capt.  Felt's  grave  stones  were  standing  but  a  few  years  since. 

1726. 

A  ship  yard  was  open  at  Lynn,  where  the  wharves  have 
since  been  built,  near  Liberty  Square.  Between  this  year  and 
1741,  two  brigs  and  sixteen  schooners  were  built.  (Collins's 
Journal.)  It  is  said  that  before  the  first  schooner  was  launched, 
a  ^reat  number  of  men  and  boys  were  employed,  with  pails,  in 
filling  her  with  water,  to  ascertain  if  she  was  tight.  [Such  a 
way  of  trying  new  vessels  was  common  down  to  the  time  of  the 
Revolution,  and  was  not  unknown  for  some  years  after. 

[At  the  Salem  Court,  this  year,  .£13.15  were  awarded  to  Na- 
thaniel Potter,  for  three  pieces  of  linen  manufactured  at  Lynn.] 

1727. 

[The  bridge  over  Saugus  river  was  repaired  this  year,  the 
county  bearing  two  thirds  of  the  expense. 

[News  of  the  death  of  the  King  was  received  in  Lynn,  14 
August,  and  George  11.  immediately  proclaimed. 

["  This  was  a  very  hott  August,  throughout,"  says  Jeremiah 
Bumstead,  in  his  diary  of  this  year.] 

An  earthquake  happened  on  the  29th  of  October,  about  twenty 
minutes  before  eleven,  in  the  evening.  The  noise  was  like  the 
roaring  of  a  chimney  on  fire,  the  sea  was  violently  agitated,  and 
the  stone  walls  and  chimneys  were  thrown  down.  Shocks  of 
earthquakes  were  continued  for  many  weeks ;  and  between  this 

.    ^  21 


322  ANNALS  OP  LYNN— 1728,  1729 


time  and  1744,  the  Rev.  Matbias  Plant,  of  Newbury,  has  recorded 
nearly  two  hundred  shocks,  some  of  which  were  loud  and  vio- 
lent. [A  memorandum  in  an  interleaved  almanac,  made  by 
James  Jeffrey,  of  Salem,  speaks  of  this  as  the  most  terrible 
earthquake  ever  known  in  New  England,  the  first  shock  being 
of  two  minutes'  duration,  and  there  being  a  succession  of  shocks 
during  the  week.  Rev.  Benjamin  Colman,  in  a  letter  to  his 
daughter,  dated  Boston,  30  October,  1727,  says :  "  My  dear 
Child:  No  doubt  you  felt  y^  awful  and  terrible  shock  of  y^ 
Earthquake  on  y^  last  Night,  about  half  an  hour  after  ten ;  and 
some  of  y®  after  tremblings  at  eleven  and  before  twelve  again, 
and  about  three  and  five  toward  morning.  Y^  first  shock  was 
very  great  with  us  and  very  surprising.  We  were  all  awake, 
being  but  just  got  into  bed,  and  were  soon  rais'd  and  sat  up  till 
two  in  y®  morning,  spending  y^  time  in  humble  cries  to  God  for 
our  selves  and  our  nei'bours,  and  in  fervent  praises  to  him  for 
our  singular  preservations.  Your  mother  and  sister  were  ex- 
ceeding thankful  y*  I  was  not  with  you :  that  is  to  say,  not 
absent  from  them,  as  we  were  proposing  on  thursday  last.  And 
as  God  has  ordered  it  I  hope  it  is  much  y®  best.  We  long  to 
hear  from  you,  how  j^ou  do  after  such  a  terrifying  dispensation 
to  y^  whole  land.  We  hear  from  Dedham,  Watertown,  Concord, 
Chelmsford,  Lyn,  &c.  that  y^  shake  was  y^  same,  and  about  y^ 
same  time,  with  them  that  it  was  w*''  us.  It  remains  a  loud  call 
to  y^  whole  land  to  repent,  fear,  and  give  glory  to  God.  God 
sanctify  y^  rod  w"^  he  has  shook  over  us  for  our  humiliation  and 
reformation."  [A  fast  wa^^  held  throughout  the  province,  on 
Thursday,  21  December,  on  account  of  the  earthquake.] 

The  town,  on  the  22d  of  November,  fixed  the  prices  of  grain  ; 
wheat  at  6s.,  barley  and  rye  at  5s.,  Indian  corn  at  3s.,  and  oats 
at  Is.  6d.  a  bushel. 

1728. 

The  General  Court  having,  the  preceding  year,  issued  sixty 
thousand  pounds  more,  in  bills  of  credit,  the  town  received 
£130.4,  as  its  proportion,  which  was  loaned  at  four  per  cent. 

A  school  house  was  built  in  Laighton's  lane,  now  Franklin 
street. 

1729. 

A  great  snow  storm  happened  on  the  15th  of  February,  during 
which  there  was  much  thunder  and  lightning. 

The  General  Court  was  held  at  Salem,  on  the  28th  of  May,  in 
consequence  of  the  measles  at  Boston. 

At  the  request  of  the  first  parish,  Mr.  Henchman  relinquished 
his  salary  of  <£115,  trusting  entirely  to  the  generosity  of  the 
people  for  his  support ;  in  his  own  words,  "  depending  on  what 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1730,  1731.  323 

encouragement  hath  been  given  me,  of  the  parish  doing  what 
may  be  handsome  for  the  futnre."  At  the  end  of  the  year,  the 
contribution  amounted  to  £143.1.4. 

1730. 

On  Sunday  evening,  12  April,  there  was  an  earthquake. 

On  Monday,  24  August,  "  Governor  Jonathan  Belcher  went 
through  Lynn,  and  the  people  paid  their  respects  to  him  in  an 
extraordinary  manner."     (Collins.) 

On  the  31st  of  August  Mr.  Andrew  Mansfield  was  killed  in  a 
well,  at  Lynnfield,  by  a  stone  falling  on  his  head. 

On  the  22d  of  October,  the  northern  lights  appeared  very 
brilliant  and  awful,  flashing  up  in  red  streams. 

1731. 

The  Kev.  Nathaniel  Sparhawk  was  dismissed  from  the  pastoral 
charge  of  the  north  parish,  now  Lynnfield,  on  the  first  of  July, 
having  preached  eleven  years.  He  was  a  son  of  Mr.  Nathaniel 
Sparhawk  of  Cambridge.  He  was  born  in  1694,  and  graduated 
at  Harvard  College  in  1715.  He  was  ordained  August  17, 1720  ; 
and  died  May  7,  1732 ;  about  one  year  after  his  separation  from 
that  church.  A  part  of  his  people  had  become  dissatisfied  with 
him,  and  some,  whom  he  considered  his  friends,  advised  him  to 
ask  a  dismission,  in  order  to  produce  tranquillity.  He  asked  a 
dismission,  and  it  was  unexpectedly  granted.  A  committee  was 
then  chosen  to  wait  on  him,  and  receive  the  church  records ; 
but  he  refused  to  deliver  them.  Soon  after,  he  took  to  his  bed, 
and  is  supposed  to  have  died  in  consequence  of  his  disappoint- 
ment. I  have  sixteen  papers  of  his  hand  writing,  the  confes- 
sions of  faith  of  his  wife  and  other  members  of  his  church.  He 
married  EHzabeth  Perkins,  who  died  May  12,  1768,  aged  68 
years.  He  had  four  children.  1.  Elizabeth,  2.  Nathaniel,  3. 
Edward  Perkins  Sparhawk,  born  July  10,  1728,  and  graduated 
at  Harvard  College  in  1753.  He  married  Mehetabel  Putnam, 
1759.  He  was  never  ordained  though  he  preached  many  times 
in  the  parishes  of  Essex.  I  have  twenty-six  of  his  manuscript 
sermons,  and  seventeen  interleaved  almanacs.  He  appears  not 
to  have  approved  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Adams  as  minister  of 
the  parish  for  which  he  was  a  candidate,  and  calls  him  "  old 
Adams,  the  reputed  teacher  of  Lynnfield."  He  is  the  first  per- 
son whom  I  found  in  our  records,  having  three  names.  The 
custom  of  giving  an  intermediate  name  seems  not  to  have  been 
common,  till  more  than  one  hundred  years  after  the  settlement 
of  New  England.  4.  John,  born  October  24,  1730,  was  appren- 
ticed as  a  shoemaker,  and  afterward  became  a  physician  in  Phil- 
adelphia. 

Rev.  Stephen  Chase,  of  Newbury,  was  ordained  minister  of 


324       ANNALS  OF  LYNN  — 1732,  1733,  1736,  1737,  1738. 

the  second  parish,  on  the  24th   of  November.     His  salary  was 
XIOO. 

On  the  3d  of  August,  the  school-house  was  removed  from 
Franklin  street  to  Water  Hill. 

1732. 

[A  severe  northeast  snow  storm  took  place  on  the  night  of  the 
5th  of  April.  A  memorandum  in  an  interleaved  almanac  says : 
"  Very  wett  going  to  the  Fast."] 

On  the  5th  of  September,  there  was  an  earthquake  without 
noise. 

In  October,  an  epidemic  cold  affected  most  of  the  people  in 
Lynn.  It  ranged  through  America,  and  passed  to  Europe. 
(Collins.) 

1733. 

A  settlement  was  begun  at  Amherst,  in  New  Hampshire,  by 
people  from  Lynn. 

A  memorandum  respecting  the  town  Meeting,  on  the  5th 
of  March,  says :  '^  At  this  meeting  we  had  a  great  debate  and 
strife,  so  that  the  town  was  much  in  a  hubbub."     (Collins.) 

[The  following  appears  on  the  Lynnfield  church  records : 
*'Dec.  y«  20,  1733,  at  a  Chh.  meeting.  Voted  that  every  Com- 
municant of  this  Chh.  shall  pay  three  pence  every  Sacrament 
day,  in  Order  to  make  provision  for  the  Lord's  table."] 

17  3  6. 

The  first  meeting-house  in  the  third  parish,  now  Saugus,  was 
built  this  year. 

On  the  4th  of  September,  Thomas  Hawkes  was  drowned. 

173  7, 

On  Sunday,  6  Februar}^,  there  was  an  earthquake,  says  Col- 
lins's  journal. 

Square  toed  shoes  went  out  of  fashion  this  year,  and  buckles 
began  to  be  used.  [It  took  buckles  about  three  years  to  get 
into  general  use.  Square  toed  shoes  were  again  in  use  in  1833, 
and  continued  for  about  seven  years.  They  are  now  again  in 
fashion,  and  ought  never  to  give  place  to  the  cramping  round 
or  pointed  toe.] 

1738. 

On  the  31st  of  March,  two  houses  were  burnt ;  one  of  which 
belonged  to  Mr.  Edmund  Lewis,  and  the  other  to  Mr.  John 
Hawkes. 

Mr.  Richard  Mower  was  schoolmaster. 

The  town  tax  was  £119.16.10, 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1739,  1740,  1741.        325 


1739. 

On  the  3d  of  March,  Mr.  Theophiliis  BurrilPs  barn  was  burnt. 

Rev.  Edward  Cheever  was  ordained  minister  of  the  third 
parish,  now  Saugus,  on  Wednesday,  the  5th  of  December. 

Mr.  Edmund  Lewis  and  Mr.  Ralph  Lindsey,  were  chosen  by 
the  town,  to  enforce  the  act  of  the  General  Court,  to  prevent 
the  destruction  of  deer. 

1740. 

A  fatal  disease,  called  the  throat  distemper,  prevailed  in  Lynn, 
and  many  fell  victims  to  it.  In  October,  six  children  died  in 
one  week.     (Collins.) 

[The  summer  was  uncommonly  wet.] 

In  a  great  snow  storm,  on  the  17th  of  December,  a  schooner 
was  wrecked  on  Nahant  rocks. 

The  winter  was  exceedingly  cold,  with  many  storms.  The 
rivers  were  frozen  in  October.  Snow  began  to  fall  on  Thanks- 
giving day,  November  13,  and  on  the  4th  of  April  following  it 
covered  the  fences.     (Collins.) 

17  41. 

The  winter  of  1741,  was  perhaps  the  coldest  ever  known  in 
New  England,  since  its  settlement.  Francis  Lewis,  signer  of 
the  Declaration  of  Independence,  drove  his  horse  from  New 
York  to  Barnstable,  the  whole  length  of  Long  Island  Sound,  on 
the  ice. 

"  For  these  3  weeks  we  have  had  a  continued  series  of  ex- 
treme cold  weather,  so  that  our  harbors  and  rivers  are  entirely 
frozen  up.  On  Charles  river  a  tent  is  erected  for  the  entertain- 
ment of  travellers.  From  Point  Alderton  along  the  south  shore, 
the  ice  is  continued  for  the  space  of  above  20  miles."  (Boston 
Post  Boy,  Jan.  12.) 

"  People  ride  every  day  from  Stratford,  Con.,  to  Long  Island, 
which  is  three  leagues  across,  which  was  never  known  before.'' 
(Boston  News  Letter,  March  5.) 

"  We  hear  that  great  numbers  of  horses,  cattle,  and  sheep,  are 
famishing  for  want  of  food.  Three  hundred  sheep  have  died  on 
Slocum's  Island,  and  3000  on  Nantucket.  Neat  cattle  die  in 
great  numbers."  Some  farmers  offered  half  their  cattle  for  the 
support  of  the  rest  till  May,  "  but  in  vain."     (Same,  26  March.) 

"  Dorchester,  March  28.  People  from  Thompson's  Island, 
Squantum,  and  the  adjacent  neighborhood,  have  come  fifteen 
Sabbaths  successively  upon  the  ice  to  our  meeting."  (Same, 
2  April.) 

A  letter  dated  at  New  London,  on  the  ninth  of  July,  five  days 
later  than  our  day  of  Independence,  says :  "  There  is  now  at 
B2 


326  ANNALS  OF  LYNN— 1742,   1743,   1744. 

Lyme  on  the  east  side  of  Connecticut  river,  at  a  saw  mill,  a 
body  of  ice,  as  large  as  two  carts  can  draw,  clear  and  solid,  and 
I  believe  might  lay  there  a  month  longer,  were  it  not  that  so 
many  resort,  out  of  curiosity,  to  drink  punch  made  of  it."  (Same, 
27  July.) 

On  the  17th  of  July,  a  mass  of  "  snow  congealed  into  ice," 
lay  at  Ipswich,  '^  nearly  four  foot  thick."     (Same,  22  July.) 

A  difference  had  existed  for  several  years,  between  Mr.  Hench- 
man and  his  parish,  in  consequence  of  their  refusal  to  make  so 
large  an  addition  as  he  desired  to  his  salary,  on  which  he  declined 
to  accept  it.  This  year  he  offered  to  preach  lectures  to  them 
gratuitously,  for  which  he  received  their  thanks,  and  an  increase 
of  his  salary. 

Great  CQmmotions  were  excited  in  the  neighboring  towns, 
by  Mr.  Whitefield's  preaching.  In  some  places,  meetings  were 
held  almost  every  evening ;  and  exhortations  and  prayers  were 
offered  by  women  and  children,  which  had  never  before  been 
done  in  New  England. 

1742. 

The  Eev.  George  Whitefield  preached  in  Lynn.  An  evening 
meeting  on  the  11th  of  March,  is  thus  noticed.  ''  This  evening 
sundry  young  persons  were  struck,  as  they  call  it,  in  the  reli- 
gious manner.     This  is  the  first  of  so  in  our  town."     (Collins.) 

On  the  18th  of  June,  Mr.  Nathaniel  Collins's  house  was  struck 
by  lightning. 

On  the  12th  of  October,  Mr.  Jonathan  Norwood  fell  from  a 
fishing  boat,  near  Nahant,  and  was  taken  up  dead. 

1743. 

[A  memorandum,  27  June,  says,  ^'Multitudes  of  worms  eat 
almost  every  green  thing  in  the  ground."] 

On  the  13th  of  July,  Mr.  Moses  Norwood,  of  Lynn,  was 
drowned  at  Boston. 

1744. 

On  Sunday  morning,  June  3d.,  there  was  an  earthquake,  suffi- 
ciently violent  to  throw  down  stone  wall.  It  was  repeated  on 
the  26th.     (Collins.) 

On  the  14th,  a  small  company  of  men  were  impressed,  to  be 
sent,  with  other  troops  from  Massachusetts,  against  the  French 
and  Indians,  who  were  making  depredations  on  the  northern 
frontier.  The  town  was  furnished  with  a  stock  of  powder, 
which  was  stored  in  a  closet  beneath  the  pulpit  of  the  first 
parish  meeting-house. 

On  the  31st  of  December,  Mr.  Theophilus  Merriam  was  found 
dead  on  the  ice,  on  Saugus  river. 


J 


ANNALS  OP  LYNN— 1745,  1746.  327 


1745. 

On  tbe  evening  of  March  9th,  there  was  a  night  arch. 

Rev.  George  Whitefield  came  to  Lynn,  on  the  3d  of  July,  and 
requested  Mr.  Henchman's  permission  to  preach  in  his  meeting- 
house, which  was  refused.  Some  of  the  people  resolved  that 
he  should  have  liberty  to  preach ;  and  taking  the  great  doors 
from  Mr.  Theophilus  HallowelPs  barn,  and  placing  them  upon 
some  barrels,  they  made  a  stage,  on  the  eastern  part  of  the 
Common,  from  which  he  delivered  his  address.  [The  barn 
alluded  to  was  an  outbuilding  belonging  to  the  Hallowell  house, 
which  still  stands  on  North  Common  street,  the  second  east 
from  St.  Stephen's  church.  It  did  not  then  belong  to  Mr. 
Hallowell,  who  was  not  born  till  1750,  but  to  Benjamin  Newhall, 
who  built  the  house,  and  whose  daughter  Mr.  Hallowell,  many 
years  after,  married.  Mr.  Newhall  was  town  clerk,  and  died 
during  the  Revolution.]  Mr.  Whitefield  also  delivered  a  dis- 
course, standing  on  the  platform  of  the  whipping-post,  near  the 
first  parish  meeting-house.  On  the  first  application  and  refusal, 
Mr.  Henchman  addressed  a  letter,  in  a  printed  pamphlet,  to  the 
Rev.  Stephen  Chase,  of  Lynnfield,  containing  reasons  for  declin- 
ing to  admit  Mr.  Whitefield  into  his  pulpit.  Some  of  these 
reasons  were  that  Mr.  Whitefield  had  disregarded  and  violated 
the  most  solemn  vow,  which  he  took  when  he  received  orders 
in  the  Church  of  England,  and  pledged  himself  to  advocate  and 
maintain  her  discipline  and  doctrine  —  that  he  had  intruded  into 
places  where  regular  churches  were  established  —  that  he  used 
vain  boasting,  and  theatrical  gestures,  to  gain  applause  —  that 
he  countenanced  screaming,  trances,  and  epileptic  fallings  —  that 
he  had  defamed  the  character  of  Bishop  Tillotson,  and  slandered 
the  colleges  of  New  England.  To  this  letter,  Mr.  William  Hob- 
by, minister  of  Reading,  made  a  reply ;  and  Mr.  Henchman 
rejoined  in  a  second  letter.  The  controversy  extended  through- 
out New  England;  and  many  pamphlets  were  written,  both  for 
and  against  Mr.  Whitefield.  Some  good  seems  to  have  been 
done  by  him,  in  awakening  the  people  to  a  higher  sense  of  the 
importance  of  piety ;  but  seeking  only  to  awaken  them,  and  not 
direct  them  to  the  Church,  of  which  he  was  a  minister,  they 
were  left  to  form  new  separations,  and  to  build  up  other  sys- 
tems of  faith. 

1746. 

A  packet  schooner,  commanded  by  Capt.  Hugh  Alley,  passed 
from  Lynn  to  Boston.  It  continued  to  sail  for  many  years,  and 
was  a  great  convenience. 

On  the  18th  of  August,  there  was  a  frost,  sufficient  to  damage 
the  corn. 


328       A^-NALS  OF  LYN^  — 1747,  1749,  1750. 


1747. 

The  Rev.  Edward  Cheever  relinqnislied  his  connection  with 
the  third  parish,  of  which  he  had  been  minister  for  eight 
years.  He  was  a  son  of  Mr.  Thomas  Cheever,  of  Lynn,  and 
was  born  May  2,  1717.  He  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  in 
1737,  and  was  ordained  in  1739.  He  removed  to  Eastham,  where 
he  died,  August  24,  1794,  aged  77  years. 

1749. 

The  drought  of  this  summer  was  probably  never  exceeded  in 
New  England.  The  preceding  year  had  been  unusually  dry, 
but  this  was  excessively  so.  There  was  but  little  rain  from  the 
6th  of  May  to  the  6th  of  July.  A  memorandum  on  the  18th  of 
July,  by  Collins,  says :  "  Extreme  hot  dry  weather,  such  as  has 
not  been  known  in  the  memory  of  man  —  so  scorched  that  the 
creatures'can  but  just  live  for  the  want  of  grass."  The  effect 
of  the  drought  was  so  great,  that  hay  was  imported  from  England. 
Immense  multitudes  of  grasshoppers  appeared.  They  were  so 
plenty  on  Nahant,  that  the  inhabitants  walked  together,  with 
bushes  in  their  hands,  and  drove  them,  by  thousands,  into  the 
sea.  [And  this  is  the  year  in  which  it  is  said  the  good  bishop 
of  Lausanne  pronounced  the  frightful  sentence  of  excommunica- 
tion against  caterpillars.] 

1750. 

John  Adam  Dagyr,  a  shoemaker,  from  Wales,  came  to  Lynn. 
He  was  one  of  the  best  workmen  for  ladies'  shoes,  who  had 
ever  appeared  in  the  town.  At  the  time  of  his  arrival,  the 
business  of  shoemaking  at  Lynn  was  very  limited,  and  the 
workmen  unskillful.  There  were  but  three  men  who  conducted 
the  business  so  extensively  as  to  employ  journeymen.  These 
were  John  Mansfield,  Benjamin  Newdiall,  and  William  Gray, 
grandfather  of  William  Gray,  Lieutenant  Governor  of  Massachu- 
setts. The  workmen  had  frequently  obtained  good  shoes  from 
England,  and  taken  them  to  pieces,  to  discover  how  they  were 
made.  By  the  instruction  of  Mr.  Dagyr,  they  were  soon  enabled 
to  produce  shoes  nearly  equal  to  the  best  imported  from  Eng- 
land. Shoemakers,  from  all  parts  of  the  town,  went  to  him  for 
information;  and  he  is  called,  in  the  Boston  Gazette  of  1764, 
"  the  celebrated  shoemaker  of  Essex."  He  resided  on  Boston 
street,  not  far  from  the  foot  of  Mall.  He  married  Susanna  New- 
hall,  in  1761,  and  had  three  children,  Caroline,  Sarah,  and  Joseph. 
Like  many  who  have  consulted  the  public  interest  more  than 
their  own,  he  was  poor,  and  died  in  the  Lynn  alms-house,  in 
1808. 

[Quite  an  excitement  prevailed  regarding  the  raising  of  silk- 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN— 1751,  1752,  1753,  1755.  329 

worms  and  manufacture  of  silk ;  but  it  died  away  without  im- 
portant results.  Numerous  mulberry  trees,  however,  were 
planted,  which  continued  to  yield  their  delicate  fruit,  for  many 
years.] 

On  the  night  of  July  2,  Mr.  Robert  Mansfield's  house,  near  the 
Flax  pond,  was  struck  by  lightning. 

1751. 

On  the  8th  of  February,  Capt.  Benjamin  Blaney,  of  Swampscot, 
fell  from  his  horse,  at  Maiden,  and  was  taken  up  dead. 

[On  the  10th  of  April,  there  was  so  great  a  snow  storm  that 
the  fences  were  covered.  It  was  thought  to  have  been  the 
greatest  since  1717.] 

1752. 

Rev.  Joseph  Roby  was  ordained  minister  of  the  third  parish, 
now  Saugus,  in  August. 

The  school  house  was  removed  from  Water  Hill,  to  its  former 
place  in  Franklin  street,  on  the  29th  of  September ;  and  on  the 
27th  of  November,  it  was  again  removed  to  the  eastern  part 
of  the  Common. 

The  selectmen  were  allowed  two  shillings  a  day  for  their 
services. 

Dr.  Nathaniel  Henchman  was  schoolmaster. 

1753. 

Many  sheep  having  been  killed  by  wild  animals,  the  people 
assembled,  on  the  6th  of  August,  and  ranged  through  the  woods, 
to  kill  the  wolves  and  foxes.  On  the  27th,  a  great  number 
of  the  inhabitants  of  Lynn,  Salem,  and  Reading,  met  and  spent 
the  day,  in  endeavoring  to  clear  the  forest  of  them. 

[The  General  Court  this  year  ordered  that  all  persons  having 
barberry  bushes  growing  on  their  lands,  should  extirpate  them 
before  the  10th  of  June,  1760.  And  the  surveyors  of  highways 
were  required  to  destroy  all  growing  by  the  roadside  within 
the  specified  time,  or  the  towns  should  pay  two  shillings  for 
every  one  left  standing.  The  reasons  for  this  order  were  that 
those  bushes  had  so  much  increased  that  the  pasture  lands 
were  greatly  encumbered;  and  it  was  imagined  that  something 
''flew  off"  from  them  that  blasted  the  English  grain. 

1755. 

A  shop,  on  the  Common,  belonging  to  Mr.  Benjamin  James, 
was  burnt,  on  the  4th  of  February.  On  the  24th,  a  schooner, 
from  Salem,  was  cast  away  on  Short  Beach,  at  Nahant.    (Collins.) 

On  Sunday,  April  27th,  the  Society  of  Friends,  for  the  first 
time,  had  two  meetings  in  one  day.     (Collins.) 
B2*  . 


330  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1756. 

Rev.  Stephen  Chase,  resigned  the  care  of  the  second  parisli, 
now  Lynnfield.  He  graduated  at  Harvard  University,  in  1728, 
and  was  ordained  November  24,  1731.  He  married  Jane  Win- 
get,  of  Hampton,  in  1732  ;  and  his  children,  born  at  Lynn,  were, 
Abraham,  Stephen,  Jane,  Stephen,  second,  and  Mary.  He  re- 
moved to  Newcastle,  in  New  Hampshire,  where  he  settled  and 
died. 

Mr.  Benjamin  Adams,  was  installed  minister  of  the  second 
parish,  on  the  5th  of  November. 

The  greatest  earthquake  ever  known  in  New  England,  hap- 
pened on  Tuesday,  the  18th  of  November,  at  fifteen  minutes 
after  four,  in  the  morning.  It  continued  about  four  minutes. 
Walls  and  chimneys  were  thrown  down,  and  clocks  stopped. 
On  the  following  Saturday,  there  was  another  earthquake.  (Col- 
lins.) On  the  first  of  this  month  Lisbon  was  destroyed.  [It 
was  very  destructive,  from  Maryland  to  Halifax,  in  many  places. 
More  than  fifteen  hundred  chimneys  were  thrown  down  or  shat- 
tered, in  Boston;  some  twelve  brick  hou-ses  had  their  gables 
thrown  down ;  and  the  spindle  of  the  vane  on  the  market  house 
was  broken  off.  It  does  not  appear  that  any  greater  damage 
was  done  in  Lynn  than  the  injuries  to  walls  and  chimneys.  Its 
direction  seemed  to  be  from  the  northwest.  In  the  West  Indies 
the  sea  rose  six  feet,  having  first  subsided,  leaving  the  vessels 
dry  at  the  wharves.  In  this  vicinity  the  air  was  calm,  the  sky 
clear,  and  a  bright  moon  shining;  but  the  sea  was  roaring  in  a 
portentous  manner.] 

A  whale,  seventy-five  feet  in  length,  was  landed  on  King's 
Beach,  on  the  9th  of  December.  Dr.  Henry  Burchsted  rode 
into  his  mouth,  in  a  chair  drawn  by  a  horse ;  and  afterward  had 
two  of  his  bones  set  up  for  gate  posts,  at  his  house  in  Essex 
street,  where  they  stood  for  more  than  fifty  years.  [Opposite 
the  Doctor's  house,  the  cot  of  Moll  Pitcher,  the  celebrated  for- 
tune teller,  stood.  And  many  were  the  sly  inquiries,  from 
strangers,  for  the  place  where  the  big  whale  bones  were  to  be 
seen.] 

In  the  eastern  French  and  Indian  war.  Governor  Lawrence, 
of  Nova  Scotia  sent  to  Massachusetts,  in  the  course  of  two 
years,  about  2000  French  Catholic  Neutrals,  who  were  quar- 
tered in  different  places.  Lynn  had  fourteen.  Thomas  Lewis 
supplied  them  with  provisions ;  and  among  the  items  of  his  bill 
are  432  quarts  of  milk,  at  six  pence  a  gallon.  The  war  continued 
until  1763. 

1756. 

The  manuscript  of  Dr.  John  Perkins  gives  a  long  and  partic- 
ular relation  of  a  singular  encounter  of  wit,  had  between  Jona- 
than Gowen,  of  Lynn,  and  Joseph  Emerson,  of  Reading.     They 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN— 1757,  1758.  331 

met,  by  appointment,  at  the  tavern  in  Saugus,  and  so  great  was 
the  number  of  people,  that  they  removed  to  an  adjacent  field. 
The  Reading  champion  was  foiled,  and  went  home  in  great 
chagrin.  Dr.  Perkins  says  that  the  exercise  of  Go  wen's  wit 
*'  was  beyond  all  human  imagination."  But  he  afterward  fell 
into  such  stupidity,  that  the  expression  became  proverbial  — 
"  You  are  as  dull  as  Jonathan  Gowen."  [The  championship,  in 
such  an  exercise,  is  much  more  worthy  of  being  striven  for 
than  the  championship  in  those  pugilistic  encounters  which 
are  the  delight  of  this  refined  age.  But  a  bloody  nose  is  more 
eaaiily  appreciated  by  most  people  than  an  intellectual  achieve- 
ment.] 

1757. 

There  was  an  earthquake  on  the  8th  of  July,  at  fifteen  minutes 
after  two  o'clock.  (Collins.)  [A  witness  says  of  this  earth- 
quake, "  it  seemed  as  though  some  small  body  was  swiftly  roll- 
ing along  under  the  earth,  which  gently  raised  up  that  part 
of  the  surface  that  was  over  it,  and  then  left  it  as  gently  to 
subside."] 

On  the  6th  of  February,  two  merchant  vessels,  from  London, 
valued  at  one  hundred  thousand  pounds,  were  wrecked  on  Lynn 
Beach. 

On  the  afternoon  of  Sunday,  August  14,  the  people  were 
alarmed,  during  meeting  time,  by  the  beating  of  drums ;  and  on 
the  next  day,  twenty  men  were  impressed,  and  marched  to 
Springfield.     (Pratt.) 

On  the  6th  of  December,  Lord  Loudon's  regiment,  in  march- 
ing through  Woodend,  took  a  boy  named  Nathaniel  Low,  living 
with  Mr.  Zaccheus  Collins.  His  master  followed  the  regiment 
into  Marblehead,  and  on  his  solicitation,  being  a  Quaker,  the 
boy  was  released.  This  regiment  had  for  some  time  been 
quartered  in  Boston,  where  Lord  Loudon  sported  his  coach  and 
six  horses.  (Collins.)  [The  regiment  is  judged  to  have  been 
a  rather  unruly  one,  from  the  frequent  complaints  made  by  the 
citizens.] 

1758. 

Thomas  Mansfield,  Esq.*  was  thrown  from  his  horse,  on  Friday, 
January  6,  and  died  the  next  Sunday. 

A  company  of  soldiers,  from  Lynn,  marched  for  Canada,  on 
the  twenty-third  of  May.  Edmund  Ingalls  and  Samuel  Mudge 
were  killed. 

In  a  thunder  shower,  on  the  4th  of  August,  an  ox,  belonging 
to  Mr.  Henry  Silsbe,  was  killed  by  lightning. 

A  sloop  from  Lynn,  commanded  by  Capt.  Ralph  Lindsey,  was 
cast  away,  on  the  15th  of  August,  near  Portsmouth. 


332  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1759,  1761. 


1759. 

[A  bear,  weighing  four  hundred  pounds,  was  killed  in  Lynn 
woods,  this  year. 

[The  Lynnfield  church  records  state  the  death,  4  June,  of 
Margaret,  wife  of  John  Briant,  of  "  something  supposed  to 
breed  in  her  brain." 

[Rev.  Jacob  Bailey,  a  Church  of  England  missionary,  on  the 
13th  of  December,  having  walked  all  the  way  from  Gloucester 
to  Lynn,  stopped  at  Norwood's  tavern  for  lodging.  And  in 
speaking  of  the  company  found  there  he  says  :  *'  We  had  among 
us  a  soldier  belonging  to  Capt.  Hazen's  company  of  rangers, 
who  declared  that  several  Frenchmen  were  barbarously  mur- 
dered by  them,  after  quarters  were  given  ;  and  the  villain  added, 
I  suppose  to  show  his  importance,  that  he  split  the  head  of  one 
asunder,  after  he  fell  on  his  knees  to  implore  mercy."] 

1761. 

The  Rev.  Nathaniel  Henchman  was  a  son  of  Mr.  Nathaniel 
Henchman,  a  bookbinder,  and  deacon  of  a  church,  in  Boston. 
He  was  born  on  the  22d  of  November,  1700,  according  to  a 
statement  on  the  Lynn  records,  in  the  hand  writing  of  his  son, 
though  some  other  records  give  a  different  date.  He  graduated 
at  Harvard  University,  in  1717,  and  was  ordained  minister  of 
the  first  parish  of  Lynn,  in  December,  1720.  His  residence 
was  on  North  Common  street,  between  Mall  and  Park  streets. 
The  house  which  he  built  was,  till  within  a  short  time  of  its 
removal,  in  1855,  owned  by  Mr.  George  Brackett,  and  now 
stands  on  the  west  side  of  Park  street,  a  few  rods  south  of  the 
brook.]  Mr.  Henchman  died  on  the  twenty-third  day  of  De- 
cember, 1761,  aged  61,  having  preached  forty-one  years.  In  the 
early  part  of  his  ministry,  he  enjoyed  the  esteem  and  confidence 
ot"  his  people.  His  learning  was  extensive,  and  his  integrity 
and  virtue  entitled  him  to  high  respect.  He  was  strongly  at- 
tached to  regularity  and  order,  and  disinclined  to  every  species 
of  enthusiasm.  He  thought  the  services  of  the  Sabbath,  in 
general,  were  sufficient,  and  was  decidedly  opposed  to  evening 
meetings.  By  his  omitting  to  deliver  lectures,  and  refusing  to 
admit  itinerant  preachers  into  his  pulpit,  disaffections  were  cre- 
ated, which  deprived  him  of  the  regard  of  many  of  his  people. 
The.  occasion  of  these  difficulties  is  to  be  imputed  to  the  opinions 
of  the  time,  rather  than  to  any  want  of  urbanity  on  the  part  of 
Mr.  Henchman,  who  was  very  affable  in  his  manners,  and  treated 
Mr.  Whitefield  with  great  civility  and  respect  in  his  own  house, 
and  invited  him  to  remain  longer,  as  appears  by  Whitefield's 
Journal  and  Dr.  Wigglesworth's  Letter.  Mr.  Henchman  pub- 
lished the  following  pamphlets. 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN  —  1763.  333 

1.  Reasons  for  Declining  to  Admit  Mr.  Whitefield  into  his 
Pulpit ;  addressed  to  the  Rev.  Stephen  Chase,  of  Lynnfield. 
Boston,  1744,  8vo. 

2.  A  Letter  to  Rev.  William  Hobby  of  Reading,  in  Reply  to 
his  Vindication  of  Mr.  Whitefield.     Boston,  1745,  4to. 

The  following  epitaph  was  written  for  Mr.  Henchman. 

Three  times  aloud  the  summons  hath  been  blown, 
To  call  Lynn's  watchmen  to  the  highest  throne. 
First  Whiting  left  the  church  her  loss  to  weep ; 
Then  Shepard  next  resigned  his  peaceful  sheep ; 
Our  other  shepherd  now  gives  up  the  trust, 
And  leaves  his  charge  to  slumber  in  the  dust. 
A  few  fleet  years,  and  the  last  trump  will  sound, 
To  call  our  Henchman  from  the  silent  ground.* 
Then  we  who  wake,  and  they  who  sleep  must  come, 
To  hear  the  Judge  pronounce  the  righteous  doom. 

Mr.  Henchman  had  two  wives;  1.  Deborah  Walker,  in  1727, 
and,  2.  Lydia  Lewis,  in  1734.  He  had  five  children.  1.  Dr. 
Nathaniel,  born  April  1,  1728,  graduated  at  Harvard  University 
in  1747,  was  town  clerk  of  Lynn  for  two  years,  and  died  May 
30,  1767,  aged  39.     2.  Daniel.     3.  Anna.     4.  Lydia.     5.  Anna. 

On  the  12th  of  March,  at  twenty  minutes  after  two,  in  the 
morning,  there  was  an  earthquake ;  and  on  the  first  of  Novem- 
ber, between  eight  and  nine  in  the  evening,  another.     (Collins.) 

On  the  20th  of  April,  John  Stavers  commenced  running  a 
stage  from  Portsmouth  to  Boston.  It  was  a  curricle,  drawn  by 
two  horses,  and  had  seats  for  three  persons.  It  left  Portsmouth 
on  Monday  morning,  stopped  the  first  night  at  Ipswich,  and 
reached  the  ferry  the  next  afternoon.  It  returned  on  Thursday 
morning,  and  reached  Portsmouth  on  Friday.  The  fare  was 
thirteen  shillings  and  six  pence.  This  was  the  first  stage  in 
New  England. 

[Hon.  Ebenezer  Burrill  died,  6  September,  aged  82.  He  was 
a  conspicuous  and  useful  man  in  the  province.  A  brief  bio- 
graphical sketch  of  him  may  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  volume.] 

1763. 

Mr.  John  Treadwell  was  ordained  minister  of  the  first  parish, 
on  the  2d  of  March. 

There  was  at  this  time  in  the  town  a  man  named  Robert 
Bates,  who  had  such  a  facility  for  rhyming  that  he  usually  made 
his  answers  in  that  manner.  Many  of  these  have  been  related, 
but  I  only  notice  one.  The  tax  gatherer  called  on  him  one  day, 
and  addressed  him  thus  :  "  Mr.  Bates,  can  you  pay  your  rates?  " 
to  which  he  replied :  '^  My  dear  honey,  I  have  no   money ;  I 

*  The  word  "  henchman  "  signifies  a  warder  or  watchman.  [It  now  signi- 
fies rather  a  page,  an  attendant,  one  who  waits  on  the  person.] 


334  AiJNALs  OF  LYNN  — 1764,  1765,  1766. 

can't  pay  you  now,  unless  I  sell  my  cow :  I  will  pay  you  half, 
wlien  I  kill  my  calf;  but  if  you'll  wait  till  fall,  I'll  pay  you  all." 

1764. 

The  Boston  Gazette,  of  October  21,  says:  "It  is  certain  that 
women's  shoes,  made  at  Lynn,  do  now  exceed  those  usually 
imported,  in  strength  and  beauty,  but  not  in  price.  Surely 
then,  it  is  expected,  the  public  spirited  ladies  of  the  town  and 
province  will  turn  their  immediate  attention  to  this  branch  of 
manufacture." 

[The  bridge  over  Saugus  river  was  rebuilt  this  year,  the 
county  bearing  two  thirds  of  the  expense.] 

December  28.  Mr.  Robert  Wait  was  found  dead  on  the 
marsh,  near  Saugus  river. 

1765. 

Among  the  encroachments  of  the  arbitrary  power  of  the 
mother  country,  was  the  attempt  to  impose  taxes  upon  the 
colonies  without  their  consent.  Those  taxes  were  at  first 
levied  in  the  form  of  duties;  but  the  people  objected  to  this 
incipient  plan  of  raising  a  revenue  for  the  support  of  a  govern- 
ment in  which  they  had  no  action,  and  their  opposition  eventu- 
ated in  the  establishment  of  their  independence. 

This  year  an  act  was  passed  by  the  Parliament  of  England, 
called  the  Stamp  Act,  requiring  the  people  of  the  American 
colonies  to  employ  papers  stamped  with  the  royal  seal,  in  all 
mercantile  and  legal  transactions.  This  act  called  forth  a  gen- 
eral spirit  of  opposition,  particularly  in  Boston,  where,  on  the 
night  of  the  26th  of  August,  a  party  of  the  people  collected, 
and  nearly  demolished  the  house  of  Lieutenant  Governor  Hutch- 
inson, and  several  others.  In  many  other  places  the  people 
manifested  their  displeasure,  by  tolling  bells,  and  burning  the 
effigies  of  the  stamp  officers. 

1766. 

This  year  the  stamp  act  was  repealed.  The  people  of  Lynn 
manifested  their  joy  by  ringing  the  bell  and  making  bonfires. 
On  the  first  of  December,  they  directed  their  representative, 
Ebenezer  Burrill,  Esquire,  to  use  his  endeavors  to  procure  an 
act  to  compensate  Mr.  Hutchinson,  and  others,  for  their  losses  in 
the  riot  of  the  preceding  year. 

[Ebenezer  Mansfield,  of  Lynnfield,  aged  18,  dropped  down 
dead  in  the  street,  on  the  10th  of  January.  And  Ensign  Ebe- 
nezer Newhall,  of  the  same  place,  died  on  the  22d  of  June,  aged 
73,  "  of  something  supposed  to  breed  within  him."] 

On  Saturda}^,  the  8th  of  February,  an  English  brig,  from  Hull, 
was  cast  away  on  Pond  Beach,  on  the  south  side  of  Nahant 


ANNALS  ov   LYNN  — 1768,  1769,  1770.       335 


1768. 

[There  were  made  in  Lynn,  during  the  year  ending  1  January, 
80.000  pairs  of  shoes,  as  appears  by  a  statement  in  the  Boston 
Palladium,  of  the  6th  of  February,  1827. 

[At  half  past  nine,  on  the  evening  of  the  6th  of  August,  the 
aurora  borealis  appeared  in  a  complete  arch,  extending  from 
the  northwest  to  the  southeast,  and  "  almost  as  bright  as  a 
rainbow."  This  must  have  been  similar  to  the  remarkable 
appearance  on  the  night  of  28  August,  1827.] 

On  the  7th  of  November,  John  Wellman  and  Young  Flint 
were  drowned  in  the  Pines  river,  and  their  bodies  taken  up 
the  next  day. 

A  catamount  was  killed  by  Joseph  Williams,  in  Lynn  woods. 

1769. 

A  snow  storm  on  the  11th  of  May,  continued  twelve  hours. 

On  Wednesday  evening,  July  19,  a  beautiful  night  arch  ap- 
peared. It  was  widest  in  the  zenith,  and  terminated  in  a  point 
at  each  horizon.  The  color  was  a  brilliant  white,  and  it  con- 
tinued most  of  the  evening. 

On  the  8th  of  August,  as  a  party  were  going  on  board  a 
schooner,  in  the  harbor,  for  a  sail  of  pleasure,  the  canoe,  in 
which  were  six  women  and  two  men,  was  overset,  and  two  of 
the  party  drowned.  These  were  Anna  Hood,  aged  23,  daughter 
of  Benjamin  Hood,  and  Alice  Bassett,  aged  17,  daughter  of 
Daniel  Bassett. 

In  a  very  great  storm,  on  the  8th  of  September,  several 
buildings  were  blown  down,  and  a  sloop  driven  ashore  at 
Nahant. 

1770. 

After  the  repeal  of  the  stamp  act,  the  English  Parliament,  in 
1767,  passed  an  act  imposing  duties  on  imported  paper,  glass, 
paints  and  tea.  This  again  awakened  the  opposition  of  the 
colonies.  The  General  Court  of  Massachusetts,  in  1768,  pub- 
lished a  letter,  expressing  their  firm  loyalty  to  the  king,  yet 
their  unwillingness  to  submit  to  any  acts  of  legislative  op- 
pression. This  letter  displeased  the  English  government,  the 
General  Court  was  dissolved,  and  seven  armed  vessels,  with 
soldiers,  were  sent  from  Halifax  to  Boston,  to  ensure  tranquil- 
lity. On  the  5th  of  March,  1770,  a  part  of  these  troops,  being 
assaulted  by  some  of  the  people  of  Boston,  fired  upon  them, 
and  killed  four  men.  The  soldiers  were  imprisoned,  tried,  and 
acquitted. 

On  the  12th  of  April,  the  duties  on  paper,  glass,  and  paints, 
were  repealed ;  but  the  duty  on  tea,  which  was  three  pence  on 


336  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1772. 

a  pound,  remained.  On  the  24th  of  May,  the  inhabitants  of 
Lynn  held  a  meeting,  in  which  they  passed  the  following  reso- 
lutions. 

1.  Voted,  We  will  do  our  endeavor  to  discountenance  the  use  of  foreign 
tea. 

2.  Voted,  No  person  to  sustain  any  office  of  profit,  that  will  not  comply 
with  the  above  vote. 

3.  Voted,  No  taverner  or  retailer  shall  be  returned  to  sessions,  that  will 
not  assist  in  discountenancing  the  use  of  said  tea ;  and  the  selectmen  to  give 
it  as  a  reason  to  the  sessions. 

4.  Voted,  unanimously,  That  we  will  use  our  endeavors  to  promote  our 
own  manufactures  amongst  us. 

The  disaffection  against  the  English  government,  appears  to 
have  been  occasioned,  not  so  much  by  the  amount  of  the  duty 
on  the  tea,  as  by  the  right  which  it  implied  in  that  government 
to  tax  the  people  of  America  without  their  consent.  The 
colonies  had  always  admitted  their  allegiance  to  the  English 
crown ;  but  as  they  had  no  voice  in  parliament,  it  was  ungen- 
erous, if  not  unjust,  in  that  parliament,  to  impose  any  taxes 
which  were  not  necessary  for  their  immediate  benefit. 

[Canker  worms  committed  great  ravages  this  year.] 

A  great  storm,  on  the  19th  of  October,  raised  the  tide  higher 
than  had  been  known  for  many  years. 

[A  disease  among  potatoes  prevailed  extensively  this  year. 
It  appears  to  have  been  similar  to  that  which  began  to  prevail 
in  this  vicinity  about  the  year  1850,  and  has  shown  itself  in  a 
greater  or  less  degree  every  year  since — called  the  potato  rot.] 

1772. 

Mr.  Sparhawk,  of  Lynnfield,  in  his  diary,  thus  remarks :  ''  An 
amazing  quantity  of  snow  fell  in  the  month  of  March,  such  as  I 
never  knew  in  the  time  that  I  have  lived."  On  the  5th  of 
March,  the  amount  of  snow  which  fell,  was  sixteen  inches ;  on 
the  9th,  nine  inches;  on  the  11th,  eight  inches;  on  the  13th, 
seven  inches  ;  on  the  16th,  four  inches  ;  and  on  the  20th,  fifteen 
inches.  Thus  the  whole  amount  of  snow,  in  sixteen  days,  was 
nearly  five  feet  on  a  level.  [On  the  second  Friday  of  April,  a 
violent  snow  storm  occurred.  In  some  places  the  snow  drifted 
to  the  depth  of  twelve  feet.] 

A  fishing  schooner  was  wrecked  on  Long  Beach,  on  the  21st 
of  March,  and  Jonathan  Collins  and  William  Boynton,  the  only 
two  men  on  board,  were  drowned. 

On  the  15th  of  May,  Abigail  Rhodes,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Eleazer 
Rhodes,  was  lost.  On  the  24th,  a  great  number  of  people  went 
in  search  of  her,  in  vain.  On  the  second  of  June,  another  gen- 
eral search  was  made;  and  on  the  21st  of  July,  her  bones  were 
found  in  a  swamp  near  the  Pirates'  Glen.     There  were  strong 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1773.  337 

suspicions  of  unfairness  in  regard  to  her  death.  She  left  a 
house  in  Boston  street,  in  the  evening,  to  return  to  a  cottage 
in  the  forest,  where  she  had  been  living,  and  was  seen  no  more 
alive.  Several  persons  were  apprehened  on  suspicion,  but  as 
only  circumstantial  evidence  was  elicited,  they  were  discharged. 

1773. 

The  opposition  to  the  duty  on  tea  continued  unremitted. 
The  East  India  Company  sent  many  cargoes  to  America,  offering 
to  sell  it  at  a  reduced  price ;  but  the  people  resolved  that  it 
should  not  be  landed.  Seventeen  men,  dressed  like  Indians, 
went  on  board  the  vessels  in  Boston  harbor,  broke  open  three 
hundred  and  forty  two  chests  of  tea,  and  poured  their  conteats 
into  the  water. 

A  town  meeting  was  held  at  Lynn,  on  the  16th  of  December, 
in  which  the  following  resolutions  were  passed. 

1.  That  the  people  of  the  British  American  Colonies,  by  their  constitution 
of  government,  have  a  right  to  freedom,  and  an  exemption  from  every  degree 
of  oppression  and  slavery. 

2.  That  it  is  an  essential  right  of  freemen  to  have  the  disposal  of  their 
own  property,  and  not  to  be  taxed  by  any  power  over  which  they  have  no 
control. 

3.  That  the  parliamentary  duty  laid  upon  tea  landed  in  America,  is,  in  fact, 
a  tax  upon  Americans,  without  their  consent. 

4.  That  the  late  act  of  parliament,  allowing  the  East  India  Company  to 
send  their  tea  to  America,  on  their  own  account,  was  artfully  framed,  for  the 
purpose  of  enforcing  and  cariying  into  effect  the  oppressive  act  of  parlia- 
ment imposing  a  duty  upon  teas  imported  into  America ;  and  is  a  fresh  proof 
of  the  settled  and  determined  designs  of  the  ministers  to  deprive  us  of  liberty, 
and  reduce  us  to  slavery. 

5.  That  we  highly  disapprove  of  the  landing  and  selling  of  such  teas  in 
America,  and  will  not  suffer  any  teas,  subjected  to  a  parliamentary  duty,  to  be 
landed  or  sold  in  this  town :  and  that  we  stand  ready  to  assist  our  brethren 
of  Boston,  or  elsewhere,  whenever  our  aid  shall  be  required,  in  repelling  all 
attempts  to  land  or  sell  any  teas  poisoned  with  a  duty. 

The  tea  fever  raged  very  high  at  this  time,  especially  among 
the  ladies.  A  report  having  been  put  in  circulation  through  the 
town,  that  Mr.  James  Bowler,  who  had  a  bake-house  and  a 
little  shop,  on  Water  Hill,  had  a  quantity  of  tea  in  store,  a  com- 
pany of  women  went  to  his  house,  demanded  the  tea,  and 
destroyed  it.  This  exploit  was  certainly  as  great  a  piece  of 
patriotism  on  their  part,  as  that  performed  in  Boston  harbor  the 
same  year,  and  deserves  to  be  sung  in  strains  of  immortality. 
Slander,  however,  who  is  always  busy  in  detracting  from  real 
merit,  asserted  that  the  women  put  on  extra  pockets  on  that 
memorable  night,  which  they  filled  with  the  fragrant  leaf,  for 
their  own  private  consumption. 

A  deer  was  this  year  started  in  the  Maiden  woods,  and  chased 
bv  some  hunters,  through  Chelsea,  to  the  Lynn  marsh.  He 
C2  22 


338  ANNALS   OP  LYNN— 1774,   1775. 


pluDged  into  the  Sangus  river,  anrl  attempted  to  gain  the  oppo- 
site shore ;  but  some  Lymi  people,  coming  down  the  river  in  a 
boat,  approached  and  throwing  a  rope  over  his  horns,  brought 
him  ashore  at  High  Point. 

1774. 

The  destruction  of  the  tea  at  Boston,  gave  great  offence  to  the 
English  government,  and  an  act  was  passed,  by  which  the  harbor 
of  Boston  was  closed  against  the  entrance  or  departure  of  any 
vessels.  The  inhabitants  of  Lynn  held  several  meetings,  in 
which  they  expressed  their  disapprobation  of  the  shutting  of 
the  port  of  Boston,  and  their  abhorrence  of  every  species  of 
tyranny  and  oppression. 

On  the  7th  of  October,  a  congress  of  delegates  from  the 
several  towns  of  Massachusetts,  assembled  at  Salem,  to  consider 
the  state  of  affairs.  The  delegates  from  Lynn  were  Ebenezer 
Burrill,  Esq.,  and  Capt.  John  Mansfield.  They  made  addresses 
to  Governor  G-age,  and  to  the  clergy  of  the  province,  chose  a 
committee  of  safety,  and  recommended  measures  for  the  regula- 
tion of  the  public  conduct.  [Governor  Gage,  in  fact,  called 
this  assembly,  as  a  regular  General  Court,  though  he  afterward 
rescinded  his  call.  But  they  convened,  and  presently  resolved 
themselves  into  what  was  essentially  a  provincial  congress.] 

The  night  of  October  25th  was  one  of  surpassing  splendor. 
The  northern  lights  cast  a  luminous  night  arch  across  the  hea- 
vens, from  the  eastern  to  the  western  horizon. 

1775. 

On  the  morning  of  Wednesday,  the  19th  of  April,  the  inhabit- 
ants of  Lynn  were  awakened,  by  the  information  that  a  detach- 
ment of  about  eight  hundred  troops,  had  left  Boston,  in  the 
night,  and  were  proceeding  toward  Concord.  On  receiving 
the  intelligence  that  the  troops  had  left  Boston,  many  of  the 
inhabtants  of  Lynn  immediately  set  out,  without  waiting  to 
be  organized,  and  with  such  weapons  as  they  could  most  readily 
procure.  One  man,  with  whom  I  was  acquainted,  had  no  other 
equipments  than  a  long  fowling-piece,  without  a  bayonet,  a 
horn  of  powder,  and  a  seal-skin  pouch,  filled  with  bullets  and 
buck  shot.  The  English  troops  arrived  at  Lexington,  a  little 
before  five  in  the  morning,  where  they  fired  upon  the  inhabitants, 
assembled  in  arms  before  the  meeting-house,  and  killed  eight 
men.  They  then  proceeded  to  Concord,  where  they  destroyed 
some  military  stores;  but  being  opposed  by  the  militia,  they 
soon  began  to  retreat.  The  people  from  Lynn  met  them  at 
Lexington,  on  their  return,  and  joined  in  firing  at  them  from  the 
walls  and  fences.  In  one  instance,  says  my  informant,  an  Eng- 
lish soldier  coming   out  of  a  house,  was   met  by  the   owner. 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1775.  339 

They  leveled  their  pieces  at  each  other,  and  firing  at  the  same 
instant,  both  fell  dead.  The  English  had  sixty-five  men  killed, 
the  Americans  fifty.  Among  these  were  four  men  from  Lynn^ 
who  fell  in  Lexington. 

1.  Mr.  Abednego  Ramsdell.  He  was  a  son  of  Noah  Ramsdell, 
and  was  born  11  September,  1750.  He  had  two  brothers,  older 
than  himself,  whose  names  were  Shadrach  and  Meshech.  He 
married  Hannah  Woodbury,  11  March,  1774,  and  resided  in  the 
eastern  part  of  Essex  street.  He  had  gone  out  early  on  that 
morning  to  the  sea  shore,  with  his  gun,  and  had  killed  a  couple 
of  black  ducks,  and  was  returning  with  them,  when  he  heard 
the  alarm.  He  immediately  threw  down  the  birds,  and  set  off. 
He  was  seen  passing  through  the  town,  running  in  haste,  with 
his  stockings  fallen  over  his  shoes.  He  arrived  at  Lexington 
about  the  middle  of  the  day,  and  fell  immediately. 

2.  Mr.  William  Flint.  He  married  Sarah  Larrabee,  5  June, 
1770. 

3.  Mr.  Thomas  Hadley.  His  wife,  Rebecca,  was  drowned,  at 
Lynnfield,  in  the  stream  above  the  mill  pond,  into  which  she 
probably  fell,  in  attempting  to  cross  it,  on  the  9th  of  January, 
1771.  She  had  left  her  house  to  visit  an  acquaintance,  and 
not  returning,  was  searched  for.  On  the  26th  her  body  was 
found. 

4.  Mr.  Daniel  Townsend.  He  was  born  26  December,  1738. 
A  stone  has  been  erected  to  his  memory,  at  Lynnfield,  with  the 
following  inscription. 

Lie,  valiant  Townsend,  in  the  peaceful  shades ;  we  trust, 

Immortal  honors  mingle  with  tliy  dust. 

What  though  thy  body  struggled  in  its  gore  ? 

So  did  thy  Saviour's  body,  long  before ; 

And  as  he  raised  his  own,  by  power  divine, 

So  the  same  power  shall  also  quicken  thine, 

And  in  elernal  glory  mayst  thou  shine. 

[He  left  a  wife  and  five  young  children.  The  Essex  Gazette, 
of  2  May,  in  a  brief  obituary,  speaks  of  him  as  having  been  a 
constant  and  ready  friend  to  the  poor  and  afilicted ;  a  good 
adviser  in  cases  of  difficulty ;  a  mild,  sincere,  and  able  reprover. 
In  short,  it  adds,  ''  he  was  a  friend  to  hi^  country,  a  blessing  to 
society,  and  an  ornament  to  the  church  of  which  he  was  a 
member."  And  then  are  added,  as  original,  the  lines  given 
above.  The  obituary  notice  and  lines  were  probably  written 
by  some  patriotic  friend,  the  latter  being  transferred  to  the 
stone,  when  it  was  erected.] 

In  the  number  of  the  wounded,  was  Timothy  Munroe,  of  Lynn. 
He  was  standing  behind  a  house,  with  Danid  Townsend,  firing 
at  the  British  troops,  as  they  were  coming  down  the  road,  in 
th(iir  retreat  toward   Boston.     Townsend  had  just  fired,   and 


340  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1775. 

exclaimed,  "There  is  another  redcoat  down,"  when  Munroe, 
looking  round,  saw,  to  his  astonishment,  that  they  were  com- 
pletely hemmed  in  by  the  flank  guard  of  the  British  army,  who 
were  coming  down  through  the  fields  behind  them.  They 
immediately  ran  into  the  house,  and  sought  for  the  cellar ;  but 
no  cellar  was  there.  They  looked  for  a  closet,  but  there  was 
none.  All  this  time,  which  was  indeed  but  a  moment,  the  balls 
were  pouring  through  the  back  windows,  making  havoc  of  the 
glass.  Townsend  leaped  through  the  end  window,  carrying  the 
sash  and  all  with  him,  and  instantly  fell  dead.  Munroe  followed, 
and  ran  for  his  life.  He  passed  for  a  long  distance  between 
both  parties,  many  of  whom  discharged  their  guns  at  him.  As 
he  passed  the  last  soldier,  who  stopped  to  fire,  he  heard  the 
redcoat  exclaim,  '^  Damn  the  Yankee  !  he  is  bullet  proof — let 
him  go  ! "  Mr.  Munroe  had  one  ball  through  his  leg,  and  thirty- 
two  bullet  holes  through  his  clothes  and  hat.  Even  the  metal 
buttons  of  his  waistcoat  were  shot  off.  He  kept  his  clothes 
until  he  was  tired  of  showing  them,  and  died  in  1808,  aged  72 
years.  Mr.  Joshua  Felt  was  also  wounded,  and  Josiah  Breed 
was  taken  prisoner,  but  afterward  released. 

[The  battle  of  Lexington  appears  to  4iave  been  sometimes 
called  the  battle  of  Menotomy,  probably  from  the  fact  that  the 
portion  of  Cambridge  lying  contiguous  to  Lexington,  and  in 
which  a  part  of  the  battle  was  fought,  was  at  that  time  called 
Menotomy  —  the  same  territory  now  constituting  West  Cam- 
bridge. Thus,  in  the  Essex  Gazette,  of  8  June,  appears  the 
following  advertisement:  "Lost,  in  the  battle  of  Menotomy,  by 
Nathan  Putnam,  of  Capt.  Hutchinson's  company,  who  was  then 
badly  wounded,  a  French  firelock,  marked  D.  No.  6,  with  a 
marking  iron  on  the  breech.  Said  Putnam  carried  it  to  a  cross 
road  near  a  mill.  Whoever  has  said  gun  in  possession,  is  de- 
sired to  return  it  to  Col.  Mansfield,  of  Lynn,  or  to  the  selectmen 
of  Danvers,  and  they  shall  be  rewarded  for  their  trouble."] 

The  war  was  now  begun  in  earnest.  On  the  23d  of  April, 
the  people  of  Lynn  chose  a  committee  of  safety,  to  consult 
measures  of  defense.  This  committee  consisted  of  Rev.  John 
Treadwell,  minister  of  the  first  parish,  Rev.  Joseph  Roby, 
minister  of  the  third  parish,  and  Deacon  Daniel  Mansfield.  A 
company  of  alarm  men  was  organized,  under  the  command  of 
Lieutenant  Harris  Chadwell.  Three  watches  were  stationed 
each  night;  one  at  Sagamore  Hill,  one  at  the  south  end  of 
Shepard  street,  and  one  at  Newhall's  Landing,  on  Saugus  river. 
No  person  was  allowed  to  go  out  of  the  town  without  permission, 
and  the  people  carried  their  arms  to  the  place  of  public  worship. 
Mr.  Treadwell,  always  foremost  in  patriotic  proceedings,  ap- 
peared, on  the  Sabbath,  with  his  cartridge  box  under  one  arm, 
and  his  sermon  under  the  other,  and  went  into  the  pulpit  with 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1776.  341 

liis  musket  loaded.  [The  Provincial  Congress,  in  June,  recom- 
mended the  carrying  of  arms  to  meeting,  on  Sunda3^s  and  other 
days  when  worship  was  held,  by  the  men  who  lived  within 
twenty  miles  of  the  sea  coast.] 

On  the  17th  of  June,  was  fought  the  memorable  battle  of 
Bunker  Hill.  The  Lynn  regiment  was  commanded  by  Colonel 
John  Mansfield.  The  English,  in  the  battle,  lost  two  hundred 
and  twenty-six  men  killed,  and  the  Americans  one  hundred  and 
thirtj^-nine. 

For  many  years  the  tavern  in  Saugus  was  kept  by  Zaccheus 
Norwood,  and  after  his  death,  by  his  widow,  who  married  Josiah 
Martin,  who  then  became  landlord,  as  tavern  keepers  were  then 
called.  In  1775,  he  enlisted  in  the  war,  and  Mr.  Jacob  Newhall 
then  took  the  tavern,  which  he  kept  through  the  Revolution, 
and  until  the  year  1807. 

1776. 

In  January,  the  English  troops  were  quartered  at  Boston, 
and  the  American  at  Cambridge,  separated  by  Charles  river. 
It  was  the  intention  of  General  Putnam  to  cross  over  to  Boston, 
as  soon  as  the  river  should  become  sufficiently  frozen.  Three 
of  his  soldiers,  one  of  whom  was  Henry  Hallowell,  of  Lynn, 
hearing  of  this  design,  set  out  to  try  the  strength  of  the  ice,  by 
throwing  a  large  stone  before  them.  A  party  of  about  fifty  of 
the  English  soldiers,  on  the  opposite  shore,  commenced  firing 
at  them ;  which  they  only  regarded  by  mocking  with  their 
voices  the  noise  of  the  bullets.  They  continued  on  the  ice  till 
the  English  party  retired ;  when,  thinking  they  had  gone  to 
procure  a  cannon,  they  returned,  after  picking  up  more  than 
seventy  balls  on  the  ice,  which  they  presented  to  General  Put- 
nam, as  trophies  of  their  venturesome  exploit.  The  soldiers 
from  Lfcynn  were  under  command  of  Capt.  Ezra  NewhalL 

On  the  21st  of  May,  the  people  of  Lynn  voted,  that  the  min- 
isters should  be  invited  to  attend  the  annual  town  meetings,  to 
begin  them  with  prayer.  I  was  once  at  the  meeting  of  a  town 
in  New  Hampshire,  in  which  this  practice  prevails,  and  was 
convinced  of  its  propriety.  There  are  occasions  on  which 
prayer  is  made,  which  are  of  less  apparent  importance  than  the 
choice  of  men,  to  govern  the  town  or  commonwealth,  and  to 
make  laws  on  which  the  welfare  and  perhaps  the  lives  of  the 
people  may  depend. 

A  company  of  soldiers  was  furnished  for  an  expedition  to 
Canada.  On  the  2d  of  August,  the  town  allowed  them  fifteen 
pounds  each,  and  voted  that  ten  pounds  should  be  given  to  any 
person  who  would  voluntarily  enlist. 

An  alarm  was  made,  at  midnight,  that  some  of  the  English 
troops  had  landed  on  King's  beach.  In  a  short  time  the  town 
C2* 


342  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1777. 

was  all  in  commotion.  Many  persons  left  their  houses  and  fled 
into  the  woods.  Some  families  threw  their  plate  into  the  wells, 
and  several  sick  persons  were  removed.  Some  self-possession, 
however,  was  manifested.  Mr.  Frederick  Breed,  for  his  exer- 
tions in  rallying  the  soldiers  and  marching  them  to  Woodend, 
where  he  found  the  alarm  to  be  false,  received  a  commission  in 
the  army,  and  afterward  rose  to  the  rank  of  colonel.  [There 
was  a  tavern  kept  in  the  old  house  now  standing  on  Federal 
street,  corner  of  Marion,  by  Increase  Newhall.  It  was  an  alarm 
station ;  that  is,  a  place  to  which,  when  an  alarm  occurred,  the 
enrolled  men  in  the  district  instantly  repaired  for  duty.  At 
this  King's  beach  alarm,  it  is  said  that  the  officer  whose  duty 
it  was  to  take  command,  did  not  appear,  and  after  the  soldiers 
returned,  all  safe,  he  emerged  from  an  oven,  in  which,  panic- 
stricken,  he  had  concealed  himself.] 

1777. 

Rev.  Benjamin  Adams  was  born  at  Newbury,  in  the  year  1719, 
and  graduated  at  Harvard  University,  in  1738.  He  was  ordained 
minister  of  the  second  parish,  now  Lynnfield,  November  5,  1755, 
and  died  May  4,  1777,  aged  58,  having  preached  twenty-one 
years.  He  married  Rebecca  Nichols,  and  had  seven  children ; 
Rebecca,  Dr.  Benjamin,  Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Ann,  Joseph  and  Na- 
than ;  the  two  latter  being  twins. 

[The  Friends  established  a  school  in  Lynn,  this  year.  John 
Pope  was  master. 

[Vaccination  was  not  practised  at  this  time,  and  great  fears 
were  excited  whenever  the  small  pox  made  its  appearance.  It 
was  customary  for  companies  to  retire  to  convenient  places, 
provide  themselves  with  nurses  and  all  things  necessar}^,  and 
then  be  inoculated  with  small  pox.  Taken  in  this  way,  the 
disease  was  thought  to  be  milder.  At  all  events,  it  ^yas  less 
likely  to  prove  fatal,  because  of  the  more  favorable  circum- 
stances under  which  it  might  be  had.  The  following  memoran- 
dum relates  to  a  Lynn  company:  "Lynn,  May  14,  1777.  There 
was  a  company  of  us  went  to  Marblehead  to  have  the  small  pox. 
We  had  for  our  doctors,  Benjamin  B.  Burchstead  and  Robert 
Deaverix,  and  for  our  nurse,  Amos  Breed.  Hired  a  house 
of  Gideon  Phillips  —  viz.  Abraham  Breed,  Jonathan  Phillips, 
William  Breed,  Simeon  Breed,  Richard  Pratt,  jr.,  Nathan  Breed, 
jr.,  Rafus  Newhall,  James  Breed,  jr.,  John  Curtin,  jr.,  James 
Fairne,  jr.,  William  Newhall,  jr.,  David  Lewis,  Micajah  Alloy, 
Jabez  Breed,  jr.,  Micajah  Newhall,  Paul  Farrington,  Ebonezer 
Porter,  William  Johnson,  Amos  Newhall  —  making  nineteen  in 
the  whole ;  and  all  came  home  well."  The  above  was  copied 
from  the  original,  which  was  handed  to  me,  some  thirty  years 
^gO;   ^y  the   Richai^d  Pratt,  jr.,   whose  name   appears  as  one 


ANNALS   OF    LYNN  —  1780.  34.^ 

of  the  company;  and  he  assured  me  that  he  had  carried  the 
same  in  his  pocket,  from  the  day  of  its  date  —  more  than  fifty- 
five  years.  It  was  accompanied  by  this  certificate:  "  M'head, 
June  4th,  1777.  By  virtue  of  this  certificate  permitt  y^  within 
mention' d  person,  after  being  smok'd,  to  pass  y*^  guards.  John 
Gerr3^"] 

In  the  winter  of  this  year,  John  Lewis,  aged  26,  and  Benja- 
min, aged  15,  brothers,  of  Lynn,  died  on  board  the  Jersey  prison 
ship,  in  the  harbor  of  New  York.  Their  deaths  were  principally 
occasioned  by  severe  treatment,  and  by  unwholesome  food  pre- 
pared in  copper  vessels. 

1780. 

The  town  of  Lynn  granted  as  much  money  as  would  purchase 
twenty-seven  hundred  silver  dollars,  to  pay  the  soldiers.  Within 
two  years,  the  town  granted  seventy  thousand  pounds,  old  tenor, 
to  defray  their  expenses.  The  principal  money  in  circulation 
w^as  the  paper  money  issued  by  Congress,  which  had  greatly 
depreciated.  A  soldier  of  the  Revolution  says,  that  in  1781,  he 
sold  seventeen  hundred  and  eighty  dollars  of  paper  money,  for 
thirty  dollars  in  silver. 

The  continental  currency,  as  it  was  called,  consisted  of  small 
pieces  of  paper,  about  two  inches  square.  The  one  dollar  bills 
had  an  altar,  with  the  w^ords,  depressa  resurgit,  the  oppressed 
rises.  The  two  dollar  bills  bore  a  hand,  making  a  circle  with 
compasses,  with  the  motto,  trihulatio  dltal^  trouble  enriches. 
The  device  of  the  three  dollar  bills  was  an  eagle  pouncing  upon 
a  crane,  who  was  biting  the  eagle's  neck,  with  the  motto,  exitus 
in  duhio,  the  event  is  doubtful.  On  the  five  dollar  bills  was  a 
hand  grasping  a  thorn  bush  with  the  inscription,  sustine  vel  ab- 
stine,  hold  fast  or  touch  not.  The  six  dollar  bills  represented  a 
beaver  felling  a  tree,  with  the  word  persevei^ando ,  by  perseve- 
rance we  prosper.  Another  emission  bore  an  anchor,  with  the 
words.  In  te  Domine  speramus,  In  thee,  Lord,  have  I  trusted. 
The  eight  dollar  bills,  displayed  a  harp,  with  the  motto,  majora 
minoribus  consonant,  the  great  harmonize  with  the  little.  The 
thirty  dollar  bills  exhibited  a  wreath  on  an  altar,  with  the  legend, 
si  recte,  fades,  if  you  do  right  you  will  succeed.  When  I  was 
a  child,  I  had  thousands  of  dollars  of  this  uncurrent  money 
given  me  to  play  with. 

The  19th  of  May  was  remarkable  throughout  New  England 
for  its  uncommon  darkness.  It  began  about  the  hour  of  ten  in 
the  morning.  At  eleven,  the  darkness  was  so  great,  that  the 
fowls  retired  to  their  roosts,  and  the  cattle  collected  around  the 
barns,  as  at  night.  Before  twelve,  candles  became  requisite, 
and  many  of  the  people  of  Lynn  omitted  their  dinners,  thinking 
that  the  day  of  judgment  had  come.     The  darkness  increased 


344  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1780. 

through  the  evening,  and  continued  till  midnight.  It  was  sup- 
posed by  some,  to  have  been  occasioned  by  a  smoke,  arising 
from  extensive  fires  in  the  western  woods,  and  combining  with 
a  thick  fog  from  the  sea.  The  Kev.  Mather  Byles,  of  Boston, 
of  punning  memory,  made  a  happy  remark  on  this  occasion.  A 
lady  sent  her  servant,  in  great  alarm,  to  know  if  he  could  tell 
the  cause  of  this  great  darkness.  "  Tell  your  mistress,"  replied 
he,  "  that  I  am  as  much  in  the  dark  as  she  is."  [A  writer  of  the 
time  says  of  the  darkness  of  the  succeeding  night,  it  ''  was  prob- 
ably as  gross  as  has  ever  been  observed  since  the  almighty  fiat 
gave  birth  to  light.  It  wanted  only  palpability  to  render  it  as 
extraordinary  as  that  which  overspread  the  land  of  Egypt  in  the 
da3's  of  Moses.  ...  A  sheet  of  white  paper  held  within  a  few 
inches  of  the  eyes,  was  equally  invisible  with  the  blackest 
velvet."] 

The  winter  of  1780  was  the  coldest  since  1741.  [From  about 
the  15th  of  February  to  the  15th  of  March,  the  snow  and  ice  did 
not  melt,  even  on  the  southerly  sides  of  buildings,  and  teams 
could  pass  over  walls  and  fences,  so  deep  and  hard  was  the 
snow.] 

At  the  commencement  of  the  war,  there  were  twenty-six 
slaves  in  Lynn;  all  of  whom  were  made  free  this  year.  In 
1675,  there  was  a  slave  in  Lynn,  named  Domingo  Wight,  who 
had  a  wife  and  two  children.  Another  slave,  in  1714,  named 
Simon  Africanus,  had  a  wife  and  six  children.  Zaccheus  Collins 
had  four  slaves,  whose  names  were  Pharaoh,  Essex,  Prince,  and 
Cato.  Prince  was  purchased  at  Boston,  in  1746,  for  seventy-five 
dollars.  In  1757,  he  married  Venus,  a  slave  to  Zaccheus  Gould. 
Joshua  Cheever  had  a  slave  named  Gift,  whom  he  freed  in  1756, 
at  the  solicitation  of  Hannah  Perkins,  who  became  his  wife  in 
1745,  on  condition  that  he  should  free  his  slave  at  the  age  of 
twenty -five  years.  John  Bassett  had  a  slave,  named  Samson, 
whom  he  liberated  in  1776,  because  "  all  nations  were  made  of 
one  blood."  Thomas  Cheever  had  two  slaves.  Beading  and 
Jane,  who  were  married  in  1760.  Samuel  Johnson  had  two 
slaves,  Adam,  who  married  Dinah,  in  1766.  Thomas  Mansfield 
had  two  slaves,  one  of  whom,  named  Pompey,  had  been  a  prince 
in  Africa ;  and,  after  his  liberation,  lived  in  the  forest  on  the 
east  of  Saugus  river.  For  many  years,  the  slaves  in  all  the 
neighboring  towns  used  to  have  a  holiday  allowed  them  once  a 
year,  to  visit  King  Pompey ;  and  doubtless  this  was  to  them  a 
day  of  real  happiness.  On  the  little  glade  by  the  river  side,  the 
maidens  gathered  flowers  to  crown  their  old  king,  and  the  men 
talked  of  the  happy  hours  they  had  known  on  the  banks  of  the 
Gambia.  Hannibal,  a  slave  of  John  Lewis,  was  an  example  of 
the  good  efi'ects  which  education  and  good  treatment  may  pro- 
duce in  the  colored  people.     He  was  brought  from  Africa  when 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1781.  345 

a  boy,  and  was  treated  rather  as  a  servant  than  a  slave.  He 
married  Phebe,  a  slave  of  Ebenezer  Hawkes.  By  the  indulgence 
of  his  master,  and  by  working  extra  hours,  he  earned  enough  to 
purchase  the  freedom  of  three  children,  at  fort}^  dollars  each  : 
but  Phebe  being  a  faithful  slave,  her  master  would  not  part  with 
her  short  of  forty  pounds ;  yet,  with  a  motive  of  hope  before 
him,  Hannibal  was  not  to  be  discouraged,  and  in  a  few  years 
her  purchase  was  accomplished,  and  his  own  freedom  was  given 
to  him.  He  married  in  1762,  and  had  three  sons  and  six  daugh- 
ters. I  have  seldom  known  a  more  worthy  family.  Ebenezer 
Burrill  had  two  slaves;  Jedediah  Collins,  two ;  Joseph  Gould, 
two ;  and  James  Phillips,  Samuel  Burrill,  Theophilus  Burrill, 
Joseph  Gaskins,  Daniel  Bassett,  James  Purinton,  Ralph  Lindsey, 
and  Dr.  Henry  Burchsted,  one  slave  each;  being  in  all,  with 
their  children,  about  forty  slaves. 

Rev.  Joseph  Mottey  was  ordained  minister  of  the  Lynnfield 
parish  on  the  24th  of  September. 

On  the  29th  of  November  there  was  an  earthquake. 

Dr.  John  Perkins,  of  Lynnfield,  died  this  year  aged  85.  His 
wife  Clarissa  died  in  1749,  and  he  wrote  a  poem  on  her  death. 
He  was  a  very  eminent  physician  in  his  time,  had  studied  two 
years  in  London,  and  practised  physic  forty  years  in  Boston. 
In  1755,  he  published  a  tract  on  earthquakes ;  and  also  an  essay 
on  the  small  pox,  in  the  London  Magazine.  He  left  a  man- 
uscript of  368  pages,  containing  an  account  of  his  life  and 
experience,  which  is  preserved  in  the  library  of  the  American 
Antiquarian  Society. 

1781. 

[Abner  Cheever,  Dr.  John  Flagg,  and  James  Newhall,  of  Lynn, 
were  commissioned  as  Justices  of  the  Peace,  on  the  20th  of 
September.  This  was  the  earliest  date  of  any  commission  issued 
by  Hancock,  the  first  governor  under  the  republican  dispensa- 
tion, to  any  justice  in  this  county.  Mr.  Newhall  having  been  my 
grandfather,  his  commission  fell  into  my  hands,  and  has  been  pre- 
served with  some  care  on  account  of  the  interesting  autograph 
of  Hancock  which  stands  out  with  its  usual  boldness,  indicative 
of  the  character  so  undismayed  amid  the  prevailing  convulsions. 
And  it  is  rather  a  curious  fact  that  in  that  very  commission, 
the  surname  of  the  appointee  is  spelled  in  different  ways,  show- 
ing that  even  then  people  had  not  ceased  to  delight  in  a  diver- 
sified orthography.  And  their  style  was  certainly,  in  several 
respects,  more  convenient  than  ours.  Dictionaries  were  scarce, 
and  it  was  useful  in  concealing  ignorance.  It  also  made  the 
language  more  picturesque,  in  appearance  at  least.  And  it  does 
not  seem  established  that  more  exactness  in  understanding  is 
attained  by  our  formal  mode.     Mr.  Newhall  lived  in  the  house 


346  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1782. 

that  yet  stands  on  the  northerly  side  of  Boston  street,  opposite 
the  termination  of  Summer.  To  the  end  of  his  life  he  was  pop- 
ularly known  as  'Squire  Jim ;  the  appellation  having  been 
bestowed  on  account  of  his  commission,  and  to  distinguish 
him  from  six  others  of  the  same  name  who  then  lived  in  Lynn. 
The  nicknames  of  those  days  were  in  some  sense  necessities, 
as  middle  names  were  not  in  use ;  and  the  choice  of  them  gen- 
erally had  some  reference  to  personal  peculiarities,  though  they 
were  often  far  from  being  dignified  or  select.  But  a  word  fur- 
ther on  this  point  may  appear  in  another  connection.] 

1782. 

Ilev.  John  Treadwell  relinquished  the  care  of  the  first  parish 
this  year.  He  was  born  at  Ipswich,  September  20,  1738 ;  and 
was  ordained  at  Lynn,  March  2,  1763,  where  he  preached  nine- 
teen years.  He  returned  to  Ipswich,  and  in  1787,  removed  to 
Salem.  [He  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  in  1758.  After 
returning  to  Ipswich,  he  taught  the  grammar  school  there,  for 
two  years,  before  going  to  Salem.]  He  was  representative 
of  Ipswich  and  Salem,  a  senator  of  Essex  county,  and  judge 
of  the  court  of  common  pleas.  In  1763,  he  married  Mehetabel 
Dexter,  a  descendant  of  Thomas  Dexter,  who  bought  Nahant. 
He  had  a  son,  John  Dexter  Treadwell,  born  in  Lynn,  May  29, 
1768,  who  became  a  highly  respected  physician  at  Salem.  [Mr. 
Tread  well's  daughter  Mehetabel  married  Mr.  Cleveland,  city 
missionary  of  Boston;  and  professor  C.  D.  Cleveland,  the  com- 
piler of  numerous  useful  school  books,  was  their  son.] 

Mr.  Treadwell  was  a  great  patriot,  a  member  of  the  committee 
of  safety,  and  foremost  in  all  the  proceedings  of  the  town  during 
the  Revolution.  It  is  perhaps  somewhat-of  an  anomaly  in  ethics, 
to  find  a  minister  of  the  gospel  of  peace  bearing  arms ;  but  the 
British  were  obnoxious  to  dissenters,  from  an  opinion  that  they 
wished  to  establish  the  church  in  America.  There  has  always 
been  a  prejudice  in  New  England  against  the  Episcopal  Church, 
but  there  is  abundant  evidence  that  a  man  may  be  a  good 
churchman  and  yet  a  true  patriot.  Washington  and  several 
other  Presidents  were  members  of  the  church  and  some  of  our 
most  distinguished  military  and  naval  heroes  have  been  church- 
men. 

Mr.  Treadwell  was  very  fond  of  indulging  in  sallies  of  wit: 
and  like  his  namesake  in  Shakspeare,  he  was  not  only  witty  in 
himself,  but  the  cause  of  wit  in  other  men.  One  Sunda}^,  ob- 
serving that  many  of  his  audience  had  their  heads  in  a  reclining 
posture,  he  paused  in  his  sermon,  and  exclaimed,  ^'  I  should 
guess  that  as  many  as  two  thirds  of  you  are  asleep  ! "  Mr.  Jo- 
siah  Martin,  raising  his  head,  looked  round  and  replied,  ''  If  I 
were  to  guess,  I  should  guess  there  are  not  more  than  one  half!  " 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1783.  ,  347 

The  next  day  Mr.  Martin  was  brought  up  for  disturbing  divine 
service :  but  he  contended  **  it  was  not  the  time  of  divine  ser- 
vice ;  the  minister  had  ceased  to  preach,  and  it  was  guessing 
time."  He  was  accordingly  discharged.  [This  Josiah  Martin 
who  had  the  temerity  to  measure  wit  with  Mr.  Treadwell,  was 
an  eccentric  and  in  some  respects  unworthy  man.  He  was 
the  immediate  predecessor  of  Landlord  Newhall  in  the  old  Sau- 
gus  tavern,  having  married  the  widow  of  Zaccheus  Norwood. 
He  appeared  in  town  about  the  year  1760,  and  is  supposed  to 
have  been  an  English  adventurer.  At  times  he  assumed  great 
polish  of  manner,  and  made  pretension  to  extraordinary  piety ; 
and  at  other  times  he  exhibited  the  characteristics  and  breeding 
of  a  gross  villain.  He  was  famous  for  indulging  in  practical 
jokes  as  well  as  witticisms,  and  in  whimsical  displays  of  every 
kind,  with  the  only  apparent  object  of  eliciting  the  gaze  of  his 
neighbors.  He  is  said,  among  other  feats,  to  have  ridden  two 
miles,  to  attend  meeting  at  the  Old  Tunnel,  on  a  warm  June 
day,  in  a  double  sleigh,  with  a  span  of  horses,  the  dust  flying 
and  the  runners  grating  horribly,  and  striking  fire  at  every 
step.  And  his  wife  was  a  forced  passenger  at  his  side.  He 
enlisted  in  the  war,  and  never  returned  to  Lynn.] 

On  the  night  of  the  18th  of  March,  Dr.  Jonathan  Norwood 
fell  from  his  horse,  injuring  himself  so  much  as  to  cause  his 
death.  He  was  a  son  of  Zaccheus  Norwood,  born  September 
19,  1751,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  University,  in  1771.  He 
lived  on  the  north  side  of  the  Common. 

[There  was  scarcely  any  corn  or  second  crop  of  hay  this  year, 
on  account  of  the  drought.] 

1783. 

This  year,  the  war,  which  had  spread  its  gloom  through  the 
colonies  for  seven  years,  was  terminated  by  a  treaty  of  peace, 
signed  on  the  third  of  September ;  and  the  then  thirteen  United 
States  took  their  rank  as  an  independent  nation.  The  red 
cross  banner  of  England  was  exchanged  for  a  flag  with  thirteen 
stripes  and  thirteen  stars ;  and  Americans  now  regard  the  people 
of  England,  like  the  rest  of  mankind — in  war,  enemies ;  in  peace, 
friends. 

With  a  few  remarks  respecting  men  and  manners  before  the 
Revolution,  we  will  take  our  leave  of  the  olden  time.  People 
were  then  generally  a  plain,  plodding,  go-a-foot,  matter-of-fact 
sort  of  people.  Rail  roads  and  steam  boats  had  not  even  been 
thought  of;  the  stage-coach  and  the  omnibus  were  unknown; 
and  when  something  which  was  intended  to  answer  the  purpose 
of  a  coach  at  last  appeared,  it  was  a  lumbering  vehicle,  drawn 
by  two  horses,  passing  through  the  town  twice  a  week,  in  going 
to  and  returning  from  Boston.     A  few  of  the  more  wealthy 


348  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1783. 

farmers  kept  a  chaise,  or  a  chair,  which  was  only  "  tackled " 
on  Sundays,  or  perhaps  once  a  month  for  a  journey  to  a  neigh- 
boring town.  People  walked,  without  thinking  it  a  trouble, 
from  three  to  six  miles  on  Sunday  to  meeting ;  the  farmer  rode 
on  horseback,  taking  his  wife  beliind  him ;  and  two  or  three 
spinsters  of  the  family,  or  perhaps  a  young  wife,  followed  in 
chairs  placed  in  a  horse-cart  —  for  a  four-wheeled  wagon  was 
unknown  in  the  town  for  more  than  one  hundred  and  forty 
years  after  its  settlement;  and  when  Mr.  Benjamin  Newhall, 
about  the  year  1770,  introduced  the  first  ox  wagon,  it  was 
humorously  said,  that  his  hired  man  had  to  drive  down  to  the 
Common  to  turn  it.  The  physician  made  his  visits  on  horse- 
back, with  his  big  saddle-bags  on  each  side,  stuffed  with  medi- 
caments—  for  an  apothecary's  shop  was  as  rare  as  an  opera 
house.  There  were  no  lectures,  or  lyceums,  or  libraries,  or 
concerts  in  those  days ;  there  were  few  excitements,  for  people 
had  not  leisure  to  promote  them ;  a  reputation  could  not  then 
be  destroyed,  as  now,  in  a  day,  for  they  lived  too  remote  for 
common  slander  —  but  when  the  spirit  of  invective  and  evil, 
which  had  been  confined  for  sixty  years,  did  at  length  break 
forth,  as  in  the  time  of  witchcraft,  it  was  as  if  a  mountain  lake 
should  suddenly  burst  its  cerements  of  porphyry,  uprooting  the 
finest  trees,  and  bearing  boulders  of  granite  through  the  culti- 
vated valleys. 

Gentlemen,  in  those  days,  wore  hats  with  broad  brims,  turned 
up  into  three  corners,  with  loops  at  the  sides  ;  long  coats,  with 
large  pocket-folds  and  cuffs,  and  without  collars.  The  buttons 
were  commonly  plated,  but  sometimes  of  silver,  often  as  large 
as  half  a  dollar.  Shirts  had  bosoms  and  wrist-ruffles ;  and  all 
wore  gold  or  silver  shirt-buttons  at  the  wrist,  united  by  a  link. 
The  waistcoat  was  long,  with  large  pockets ;  and  the  neck-cloth 
or  scarf,  of  fine  white  linen,  or  figured  stuff,  broidered,  and  the 
ends  hanging  loosely  on  the  breast.  The  breeches  were  usually 
close,  with  silver  buckles  at  the  knees.  The  legs  were  covered 
with  long  gray  stockings,  which  on  holidays  were  exchanged 
for  black  or  white  silk.  Boots,  with  broad  white  tops  ;  or  shoes, 
with  straps  and  large  silver  buckles,  completed  the  equipment. 

Ladies  wore  caps,  long  stifi*  stays,  and  high  heeled  shoes. 
Their  bonnets  were  of  silk  or  satin,  and  usually  black.  Gowns 
were  extremely  long-waisted,  with  tight  sleeves.  Another  fash- 
ion was,  very  short  sleeves,  with  an  immense  frill  at  the  elbow, 
leaving  the  rest  of  the  arm  naked.  A  large  flexible  hoop,  three 
or  four  feet  in  diameter,  was  for  some  time  quilted  into  the  hem 
of  the  gown,  making  an  immense  display  of  the  lower  person. 
A  long,  round  cushion,  stuffed  with  cotton  or  hair,  and  covered 
with  black  crape,  was  laid  across  the  head,  over  which  the  hair 
was  combed  back  and  fastened.     It  was  almost  the  universal 


ANNALS    OP    LYNN — 1784.  349 

custom,  also,  for  women  to  wear  gold  beads  —  thirty-nine  little 
hollow  globes,  about  the  size  of  a  pea,  strung  on  a  thread,  and 
tied  round  the  neck.  Sometimes  this  string  would  prove  false 
to  its  trust  —  at  an  assembly,  perhaps  —  and  then,  oh!  such  a 
time  to  gather  them  up,  before  they  should  be  trampled  on  and 
ruined !  Working  women  wore  petticoats  and  half  gowns, 
drawn  with  a  cord  round  the  waist,  and  neats'  leather  shoes ; 
though  they  generally,  throughout  the  country,  had  a  pair  of 
"Lynn  shoes"  for  Sunday.  Women  did  not  "  go  a  shopping" 
every  day  then;  there  were  few  shops  to  go  to,  and  those  con- 
tained only  such  articles  as  were  indispensable,  and  in  very 
limited  variety. 

Those  times  had  their  benefits,  but  we  would  not  wish  their 
return.  Nature  brings  not  back  the  mastodon;  why,  then, 
should  we  wish  a  recurrence  of  those  gigantic  days,  which  pro- 
duced great  men  in  proportion  to  great  evils.  That  the  men 
were  more  honest  and  generous,  or  the  women  more  amiable 
and  virtuous  then,  is  not  to  be  contended.  The  charm  about 
them  consists  chiefly  in  this,  that  they  lived  in  the  early  period 
of  our  history  —  a  period  which  will  always  be  interesting  — 
the  records  of  which  will  be  read  with  as  much  avidity  a  thou- 
sand years  hence,  as  they  are  to-day. 

Lynn  had  168  men  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  of  whom  fifty- 
two  were  lost,  besides  the  four  men  killed  at  Lexington. 

1784. 

The  whole  political  course  of  our  country  has  been  changed 
by  one  great  event.  We  are  no  longer  the  subjects  of  a  foreign 
power.  A  new  era  has  dawned  upon  us.  The  days  of  three- 
cornered  hats  and  three-cornered  swords  are  gone.  Our  govern- 
ors are  no  longer  appointed  in  England ;  our  civil  policy  is  no 
longer  regulated  by  her  laws.  We  stand  alone,  a  nation  among 
nations.  Our  thousands  of  little  democracies,  scattered  through- 
out the  wide  extent  of  our  almost  boundless  country,  constitute 
one  grand  Republic,  which  is  now  trying,  before  the  world,  the 
great  problem,  whether  a  free  people  can  govern  themselves. 

For  more  than  twenty  years  from  the  adoption  of  the  state 
/  constitution,  in  1780,  the  people  of  Lynn  do  not  appear  to  have 
been  much  agitated  by  any  conflict  of  political  opinions.  The 
insurrection  in  the  central  counties  of  Massachusetts,  in  1786, 
was  the  first  event  which  disturbed  the  public  peace  ;  and  in  the 
following  year,  a  company  of  twenty-three  men  from  Lynn,  went 
voluntarily  to  suppress  the  rebellion.  The  administration  of  the 
national  government,  from  its  commencement,  in  1789,  seems  to 
have  been  generally  approved,  until  the  year  1794,  when  a  treaty 
of  amity  was  concluded  with  England,  by  John  Jay,  chief  justice 
of  the  United  States,  with  the  sanction  of  President  Washington. 
D2 


350  ANNALS    OF    LYNN —  1784. 

This  treaty  served  to  evince  the  existence  throughout  the  Union 
of  two  great  parties,  who  were  separated  by  their  different 
views  of  the  nature  and  extent  of  republican  government.  One 
of  these  parties,  denominated  Federalists,  contended  that  the 
President,  with  the  consent  of  two  thirds  of  the  Senate,  had 
the  constitutional  right,  in  the  most  extended  sense,  to  make 
foreign  alliances,  on  terms  the  most  favorable  to  the  public 
welfare.  The  other  party,  styled  Democrats,  considered  this 
power  to  be  so  restricted,  as  not  to  infringe  the  particular 
rights  of  any  State.  The  principle  of  one  party  had  for  its 
object,  the  greatest  good  of  the  greatest  number  —  of  the  other, 
the  greatest  good  of  each  individual.  Both  these  parties  were 
republican  in  their  views ;  and  were  undoubtedly  influenced  by 
a  pure  regard  to  the  general  good ;  though  they  were  recipro- 
cally regarded  as  being  hostile  to  it. 

In  1781,  all  the  votes  in  the  town,  which  were  forty-four, 
were  given  for  John  Hancock,  the  first  governor  under  the  new 
constitution.  The  smallest  number  was  in  1784;  when  there 
were  only  twenty-seven  votes  for  governor,  and  six  for  senators. 
There  were,  indeed,  many  more  voters  in  the  town,  but  they 
were  so  well  satisfied  with  the  wisdom  of  their  rulers,  that  they 
gave  themselves  no  anxiety  on  the  subject.  But  causes  of 
dissatisfaction  gradually  arose ;  and  the  spirit  of  party  began  to 
be  more  plainly  manifested  in  1800,  when  there  were  one  hun- 
dred and  thirteen  votes  for  Caleb  Strong,  the  federal  governor, 
and  sixty-eight  for  Elbridge  Gerry,  the  democratic  candidate. 
The  political  excitement,  however,  appears  to  have  been  very 
small,  and  conducted  altogether  without  animosity.  There  was 
but  one  list  of  senators  brought  forward  till  1801,  and  the  fed- 
eralists retained  the  ascendancy  until  1804.  After  the  death  of 
Washington,  and  the  elevation  of  Mr.  Jeff"erson  to  the  presiden- 
tial chair,  the  democrats  in  this  town  began  more  ostensibly  to 
increase,  and  in  1804  manifested  a  decided  superiority.  At  the 
choice  of  governor,  145  votes  were  given  for  Caleb  Strong,  and 
272  for  James  Sullivan ;  and  this  year,  for  the  first  time,  a  dem- 
ocratic representative  was  chosen.  The  parties  now  began  to 
regard  each  other  with  manifestations  of  decided  hostility,  and 
the  political  arena  presented  a  field  of  civil  warfare  without 
bloodshed.  The  most  strenuous  exertions  were  made  by  one 
party  to  maintain  the  ascendancy,  and  by  the  other  to  regain  it. 
No  man  was  permitted  to  remain  neutral ;  and  if  any  one,  pre- 
suming on  his  independence,  ventured  to  form  an  opinion  of  his 
own,  and  to  regard  both  parties  as  passing  the  bounds  of  mod- 
eration, he  was  regarded  as  an  enemy  by  both.  This  rage  of 
party  continued  several  years,  and  was  sometimes  so  violent  as 
to  be  in  danger  of  degenerating  into  animosity  and  personal 
hatred. 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1786.  351 

[The  mode  of  reckoning  the  currency  at  this  period  is  illus- 
trated by  a  memorandum  of  Mr.  Sparhawk,  of  Lynnfield,  in  an 
interleaved  almanac  ^' January  y«  30th.  Bought  two  piggs  by 
y*'  hand  of  Mr.  Reed,  the  barrow  weighing  62  pounds,  att  five 
pence  per  pound  .  .  .  the  other  weighing  54  pounds  att  five 
pence  per  pound ; "  the  whole  amounting  to  "  two  pound, 
eight  shillings  and  two  pence  —  which  is  eight  dollars  and  two 
pence."] 

Rev.  Obadiah  Parsons  was  installed  pastor  of  the  first  parish, 
on  the  4th  of  February.  [The  following  is  another  almanac 
memorandum  of  Mr.  Sparhawk:  ''Feb.  y*'  4th.  Then  was  In- 
stalled, att  y^  Old  Parish,  in  Lynn,  Mr.  Obadiah  Parsons.  Y« 
Revnd  mr.  Cleaveland  of  Ipswich  began  with  prayer,  y*'  Revnd 
mr.  Forbes  of  Capan  preachd  the  sermon,  y^  Revnd  mr  Roby, 
of  Lynn  3d  parish,  gave  the  charge,  y*"  Revnd  mr.  Payson,  of 
Chelsea,  made  the  concluding  prayer,  and  the  Revnd  mr.  Smith, 
of  Middleton,  gave  the  right  hand  of  fellowship.  The  gentleman 
above  mentioned  was  settled  in  peace,  harmony,  and  concord." 

[Still  another  memorandum  of  Mr.  Sparhawk  says :  ''  From 
y«  14th  of  June  untill  the  13th  of  July,  a  very  dry  time.  And 
upon  y®  14th  of  July,  early  in  the  morning,  Jove  thundered  to 
the  left  and  all  Olympus  trembled  att  his  nod.  The  sun  about 
an  hour  high;  a  beautiful  refreshing  shower.  Again,  July  y®  15th, 
the  latter  part  of  y^  night,  Jove  thmidered  to  the  left,  three  times, 
and  Olympus  trembled.     A  shower  followed."] 

On  the  28th  of  October,  General  Lafayette  passed  through 
the  town,  on  a  visit  to  the  eastward. 

[The  Friends,  who  had  been  annually  paying  for  the  support 
of  public  schools,  this  year  made  request  to  have  a  portion 
refunded  for  the  use  of  their  own  school.  After  considerable 
opposition  the  request  was  granted  and  an  allowance  annually 
made,  for  some  years. 

[On  the  26th  of  June,  there  was  a  remarkably  high  tide.] 

1786. 

In  April,  Benjamin  Ingalls,  in  throwing  an  anchor  from  a  boat 
in  the  harbor,  was  drawn  overboard  and  drowned. 

[A  town  meeting  was  held  on  the  8th  of  May,  at  which  John 
Carnes  was  chosen  representative.  And  the  matter  of  giving 
him  special  instructions  was  considered.  It  will  be  observed 
that  the  political  elements  were  at  this  time  in  an  active  state, 
and  the  most  patriotic  hearts,  the  wisest  heads,  and  firmest 
hands  were  required  in  moulding  them  for  the  noblest  purposes. 
A  committee,  consisting  of  Sylvanus  Hussey,  Col.  John  Mans- 
field, and  Deacon  Nathaniel  Bancroft,  was  selected  to  draw  up 
instructions.  They  produced  the  following,  which  were  at  once 
voted  to  be  given : 


352  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1787. 


To  Mr.  John  Carnes,  chosen  to  represent  the  town  of  Lynn  and  the  district 
of'Ljiinfield  in  General  Court,  the  ensuing  year: 

Sir:  Our  choice  of  you  as  Representative  shews  that  we  have  put  great 
confidence  in  you.  But  to  join  our  voice  with  that  of  many  others,  in  order 
to  save  the  public,  we  would  enjoin  two  things  in  particular  upon  you.  The 
first  is.  That  you  would  look  into  the  grants  of  public  salaries  and  other 
monies,  and  endeavor  to  prevent  the  laying  of  unnecessary  burdens  in  this 
way.  But  at  the  sam«  time  let  every  one  have  an  adequate  reward  for  their 
services.  The  other  injif.iction  is  this.  That  you  would  endeavor  to  prevent 
the  ruin  of  individuals  and  the  public  by  endeavoring  to  bring  about  another 
mode  of  proceeding  in  our  law  matters  and  to  put  it  out  of  the  power  of  the 
gentlemen  of  the  law  to  take  such  advantage  of  their  clients  as  they  have 
often  done,  and  to  put  them  to  so  much  needless  trouble  and  expense.  And 
if  it  cannot  be  done  in  any  other  way,  that  you  endeavor  to  bring  about  an 
annihilation  of  the  office.  But  we  would  have  you  in  this  and  every  thing 
else  to  adhere  strictly  to  the  Constitution." 

[The  first  matter  in  these  instructions  was  certainly  important 
and  well  put.  But  the  last  savors  of  an  unworthy  antipathy  to 
a  class  who  probably  did  more  than  almost  any  other,  to  confirm 
our  liberties  and  establish  our  institutions  on  a  true  and  abiding 
foundation.] 

The  first  rock  was  split  in  Lynn,  this  3^ear,  by^  John  Gore. 
Before  this,  the  people  had  used  rough  rock  for  building.  [Mr. 
Lewis  must  certainly  be  mistaken  in  this.  Do  not  numerous 
old  cellars  and  the  underpinning  of  many  ancient  houses  prove 
the  contrary  ?  In  1854,  some  workmen  near  Sadler's  rock, 
exhumed  a  deposit  of  quarried  granite,  which,  from  the  appear- 
ance of  the  trees  above  it,  must  have  lain  there  a  hundred  years, 
if,  indeed,  it  did  not  belong  to  Mr.  Sadler's  habitation,  which 
stood  in  the  immediate  vicinity  more  than  two  hundred  years 
before.  It  would  be  astonishing  if  the  old  Iron  Works  did  not 
turn  out  drills  and  wedges  innumerable,  for  use  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. The  art  of  working  stone  is  a  rudimental  art,  practiced 
every  where,  even  among  the  rudest  people,  and  was  known  in 
ages  long  before  the  foundation  stones  of  Egyptian  grandeur 
were  laid.  And  there  must  have  been  a  clear  necessity  for  its 
practice  in  early  New  England  times.  How  could  they  have 
built  roads  or  cleared  lands  without  blasting?  And  how  easy 
it  was  to  split  up  the  granite  boulders  for  building  purposes.] 

On  the  9th  of  December,  there  was  a  very  great  snow  ;  nearly 
seven  feet  deep  on  a  level.     (Sparhawk.) 

1787. 

[The  formidable  insurrection  alluded  to  by  Mr.  Lewis,  a  few 
paragraphs  back,  and  known  as  Shays'  Rebellion,  commenced 
in  1786.  A  town  meeting  was  held  in  Lynn  17  January,  of  this 
year,  at  which  it  was  voted  "  to  raise  the  men  called  for  by 
Gen.  Titcomb."  The  town  also  voted  that  one  pound  be  ad- 
vanced to  each  soldier  who  went  from  here,  in  addition  to  the 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1788,   1790.  353 

"  wages  given  by  the  Court."  It  was  likewise  voted  that  the 
town  pa}^  each  man  ''  his  wages  in  specie,  that  goes  for  the 
town,  when  they  know  what  wages  the  Court  allows  to  each 
man  and  will  take  the  wages  of  the  Court  themselves."  And 
a  further  vote  was  passed  requiring  the  selectmen  to  call  upon 
the  collectors  for  money  to  furnish  the  soldiers  with  camp  uten- 
sils and  provisions.  And  if  they  could  not  get  sufficient  from 
the  collectors,  they  were  authorized  to  hire  money,  giving 
their  notes  in  behalf  of  the  town.  These  votes  show  the  same 
commendable  promptness  and  determination  in  the  performance 
of  public  duties  that  have  always  characterized  the  people  of 
Lynn. 

[The  first  parish  parsonage  was  built  this  year.  It  stood  on 
the  south  side  of  the  Common,  corner  of  Commercial  street. 
In  1832  it  was  sold  and  moved  down  the  street,  where  it  still 
stands,  at  the  corner  of  Neptune  street..  There  were  what  were 
called  parsonage  lands  before  this  date.] 

1788. 

[A  sloop,  commanded  by  Captain  Pendleton,  was  Avrecked  on 
Lynn  Beach,  26  January.  The  vessel  was  lost.  Only  thirty- 
five  cords  of  wood  were  saved.] 

General  Washington  passed  through  Lynn  in  October.  The 
inhabitants  were  greatly  delighted  to  see  him ;  and  the  old 
Boston  road  was  thronged  with  people,  who  came  forth  to 
salute  him  as  he  proceeded  to  Salem. 

1790. 

[The  following  amusing  epistle,  relating  to  a  disaster  that 
appears  to  have  taken  place  near  the  old  sluice,  in  what  is  now 
the  Dye  Factory  village,  is  found  among  the  historical  collec- 
tions of  the  Essex  Institute,  and  is  dated  18  February: 

Brother  N.  —  I  arrived  at  my  house  about  2  o'clock,  but  met  with  a  dis- 
aster upon  the  road  which  has  lamed  me  a  little.  Passing  the  Sluice,  the  ice 
lay  so  sidling  I  was  afraid  to  ride  over  least  the  slay  should  run  over  the 
Bridge.  Peggy  got  out  to  walk  over,  and  I  set  on  the  side  of  the  slay  to  drive 
over,  and  got  over  safe.  Peggy,  in  passing,  was  taken  by  the  wind,  and  must 
have  gone  over  the  Bridge,  if  she  had  not  set  herself  down.  Seeing  that,  I 
went  to  help  her,  and  left  my  horse.  He  set  out  after  I  had  assisted  Peggy. 
I  pursued  after  the  horse  and  ran  till  I  was  very  much  spent,  and  finally  got 
hold  of  the  slay,  but  my  strength  was  spent  and  I  was  not  able  to  get  forward 
to  get  hold  of  the  bridle.  I  slipped  and  fell,  but  was  loth  to  lose  my  hold  of 
the  slay,  and  suffered  myself  to  be  drawn  upon  the  ice,  I  suppose,  twenty 
rods.  At  length  I  worked  myself  forward,  got  the  bridle,  and  stopped  the 
horse,  but  found  myself  extremely  spent,  and  much  bruised  and  faint  with  my 
exertions.     I  feel  pretty  comfortable  now.     One  of  my  ankles  is  very  much 

swelled,  but  I  hope  it  will  go  off  soon.     I  now  send  by  B Mrs. -'a 

mogisons  and  the  green  cloth  —  am  obliged  to  her  for  them  —  all  my  family 
are  well  —  my  regards  to  your  family. 

From  your  affectionate  Brother. 

D2*  23 


354  ANNALS    OF   LYNN — 1791 


1791. 

Until  this  year,  there  were  but  two  religious  denominations 
in  Lynn  —  the  First  Congregational  Church  and  the  Society  of 
Friends.  This  year  the  First  Methodist  Society  was  organized. 
The  Rev.  Jesse  Lee,  a  preacher  of  that  persuasion,  came  to 
Lynn  on  the  14th  of  December  previous,  and  was  so  successful 
in  preaching  at  private  houses,  that  on  the  20th  of  February  a 
society  was  formed  ;  and  on  the  21st  of  June  a  house  of  worship 
was  raised,  which  was  dedicated  on  the  26th  of  the  same  month. 
This  was  the  first  Methodist  meeting-house  in  Massachusetts. 
Several  members  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  united 
with  this  society ;  among  whom  were  the  two  deacons,  who 
took  with  them  the  vessels  of  the  communion  service.  These 
vessels  consist  of  four  large  silver  tankards,  eleven  silver  cups, 
and  one  silver  font  for  baptism ;  presented  to  the  church  by 
John  Burrill,  Theophilus  Burrill,  and  John  Breed.  The  removal 
of  this  plate  occasioned  a  difference  between  the  societies,  and 
the  Congregational  Church  was  compelled  to  borrow  vessels, 
for  the  communion,  from  the  church  at  Saugus.  The  deacons 
afterward  offered  to  return  one  half;  and  in  prospect  of  a  pros- 
ecution they  relinquished  the  whole.  It  is  a  fact  worthy  of 
notice,  that  the  First  Congregational  Church,  which  had  opposed 
and  persecuted  the  Quakers  and  the  Baptists,  was  at  one  time 
so  reduced,  that  only  three  male  members  remained.  In  1794, 
this  church  invited  those  of  its  members  who  had  seceded  to 
the  Methodist  Society,  to  be  reunited ;  and  within  a  few  years, 
one  of  the  deacons  and  several  of  the  members  returned.  The 
first  stationed  minister  of  the  Methodists  was  Rev.'  Amos  G. 
Thomson.  The  frequent  changes  of  the  ministers  of  the  persua- 
sion, render  it  inconvenient  to  keep  an  account  of  them.  They 
are  regarded  as  belonging  to  the  Conference,  or  society  at  large  ; 
and,  like  the  apostles,  they  ''  have  no  certain  dwelling  place." 
May  their  rest  be  in  heaven ! 

[It  is  proper  to  add  in  this  connection,  that  the  Methodists 
have  taken  a  very  different  view  of  the  facts  regarding  their 
possession  and  detention  of  the  church  plate,  from  that  taken 
by  the  Congregationalists,  maintaining  that  there  was  nothing 
illegal  or  unfair  in  what  they  did  —  that  they  were  in  a  majority 
before  withdrawing  from  the  old  society,  but  were  held  as  legal 
members  and  taxed  for  its  support  —  that  the  deacons  were  the 
rightful  custodians  of  the  sacred  vessels  and  had  not  been 
displaced  —  that  they  generously  abstained  from  any  attempt  to 
possess  themselves  of  the  house  of  worship,  and  withdrew  and 
erected  an  edifice  for  themselves.  They  further  assert  that 
an  eminent  counsellor  was  consulted,  who  assured  them  they 
were  in   the  right.     But  does  all  this  make  out  a  case?     With- 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN  —  1791.  355 

out  pausing  to  consider  what  attitude  the  affair  might  have 
assumed  had  the  Methodists  remained  and  outvoted  the  Con- 
gregationalists,  let  us  look  at  the  facts  just  as  they  were.  The 
Methodists  withdrew  — '' seceded."  to  use  Mr.  Lewis's  term. 
The  plate  was  given  to  '^  The  First  Church  of  Christ  in  Lynn  " — 
as  the  inscriptions  on  the  different  articles  prove.  Now  did 
the  seceders  claim  to  be  that  First  Church  ?  Why,  no ;  they 
claimed  to  be  Methodists  —  a  new  denomination,  and  one  un- 
known in  the  world  at  the  time  the  pious  donors  gave  the 
vessels.  They  did  not  revolutionize  the  old  society,  but  sece- 
ded from  it.  And  in  the  great  political  secession  of  1861,  when 
the  seceders  appropriated  all  the  property  of  the  United  States 
on  which  they  could  lay  hands,  what  did  we  call  them  ?  If  the 
communion  vessels  of  a  church  are  rightfully  in  possession  of 
the  deacons,  they  are  there  in  trust  and  are  not  such  property 
as  attaches  to  the  person.  Could  erroneous  legal  advice  have 
been  received?  Implicit  faith  in  the  instructions  of  his  coun- 
sel may  be  admired  in  any  party.  But  notwithstanding  the 
proveri3ial  discernment  and  integrit}'-  of  lawyers,  it  nevertheless 
has  been  known  that  while  advocating  the  interests  of  opposing 
parties  they  have  slightly  differed ;  sometimes,  perhaps,  leaning 
most  strongly  toward  the  side  from  which  they  received  their 
fees.  Something  like  this  happened  here ;  for  it  seems  that  the 
Congregationalists  as  well  as  the  Methodists  consulted  most 
able  counsel,  and  that  each  party  received  assurance  that  they 
were  in  the  right. 

[It  is  not  at  all  necessary  for  a  moment  to  impute  any  evil 
intent  to  the  Methodists ;  for  there  was  opportunity  enough 
for  honest  mistake,  in  the  outset ;  and  as  the  contest  increased 
in  warmth  it  was  not  natural  that  their  perception  of  the  rights 
of  the  other  side  should  become  more  clear.  The  deacons  who 
had  charge  of  the  plate,  appear  to  have  been  men  of  excellent 
character.  And  it  is  evident,  too,  that  the  old  church  did  not 
conceive  the  conduct  of  the  seceders  to  be  such  as  to  preclude 
them  from  a  cordial  invitation  to  return.  And  Deacon  Farring- 
ton  did,  among  others,  return. 

[This  was  a  period  when  church  diflSculties  were  beginning 
to  occur  on  every  hand.  Worse  experiences  than  those  which 
overtook  the  Old  Tunnel  befell  some  others  of  the  societies 
which  had  been  planted  and  nurtured  amid  the  privations  of  the 
first  settlements.  Lawsuits,  with  their  long  trains  of  evils,  in- 
tervened. And  the  decisions  of  the  supreme  court,  in  certain 
instances,  fail  to  increase  our  respect  for  that  august  tribunal. 
It  is  a  singular  fict  that  the  First  Church  of  Lynn  is  almost 
the  only  one  of  the  early  Massschusetts  churches  that  has  main- 
tained her  integrity  in  doctrine  —  that  has  adhered  to  the  Calvin- 
istic*faith.     And  perhaps  her  early  experience  with  the  Quakers 


356  ANNALS    OP   LYNN — 1792. 

md  subsequent  conflicts  with  the  Methodists,  saved  her  from 
vvhat  in  the  view  of  some  of  her  devoted  children  would  have 
Deen  the  greatest  of  all  calamities,  to  wit,  the  instating  of 
[Jnitarianism.] 

The  eighteenth  of  December  was  the  coldest  day  known  for 
oaany  years.     The  thermometer  was  twenty  degrees  below  zero. 

1792. 

Rev.  Obadiah  Parsons  relinquished  his  connection  with  the 
first  parish  on  the  16th  of  July.  He  was  born  at  Gloucester, 
graduated  at  Cambridge  in  1768,  and  was  installed  at  Lynn, 
February  4, 1784,  where  he  preached  eight  years.  He  returned 
to  Gloucester,  where  he  died  in  December,  1801.  His  first  wife 
was  Elizabeth  Wigglesworth  ;  his  second,  Sally  Coffin.  He  had 
nine  children ;  EHzabeth  W.,  William,  Sally  C,  William  and  Sally 
C.  again,  Obadiah,  Polly,  Harriet,  Sally.  "^[Mr.  Parsons  likewise 
taught  the  school  near  the  east  end  of  the  Common.  After  his 
return  to  his  native  place,  he  there  taught  for  several  years, 
and  performed  the  duties  of  justice  of  the  peace.  His  first  wife 
belonged  to  one  of  the  most  eminent  families  in  the  colon3\ 
And  it  is  enough  to  say  of  his  own  family,  that  it  gave  to  the 
commonwealth  the  most  able  chief  justice  who  ever  graced  her 
bench.  His  son  William  studied  medicine,  and  was  surgeon's 
mate  on  board  the  frigate  Constitution  while  quite  a  young 
man.  His  son  Obadiah  was  remarkable  for  early  mental  devel- 
opment, but  received  injury  from  intense  application,  and  died  a 
little  before  he  would  have  attained  his  majority.  Elizabeth, 
the  eldest  daughter,  born  in  1770,  was  married  to  Amos  Rhodes, 
who  lived  on  the  east  side  of  Federal  street,  and  was  a  man  of 
property  and  standing.  Polly,  who  was  born  in  1784,  was 
married  to  Jabez  Hitchings,  a  citizen  long  well  known. 

[Before  Mr.  Parsons  came  to  Lynn  he  was  settled  over  the 
Squam  parish,  in  Gloucester,  which  he  left,  in  consequence  of 
charges  of  a  gross  nature  made  against  him  by  a  female  member. 
A  council  was  held  to  examine  into  the  allegations,  and  before 
it  he  made  a  strong  defense.  The  result  of  the  examination 
appears  in  the  following  votes :  ^'  1.  That  the  charge  or  com- 
plaint made  against  the  Rev.  Mr.  Obadiah  Parsons  was  not  sup- 
ported. 2.  That,  nevertheless,  considering  the  great  alienation 
of  affection,  especially  on  the  part  of  his  people,  (nearly  one 
half  having  left  his  ministry,)  and  the  little  prospect  there  is  of 
further  usefulness  among  them,  we  think  it  expedient,  and  advise 
as  prudent,  that  the  pastoral  relation  be  dissolved."  The  coun- 
cil also  made  a  report  which  was  accepted  by  church  and  pastor. 
And  Mr.  Babson,  in  his  valuable  History  of  Gloucester  says  the 
church  made  application  for  a  parish  meeting  to  be  called  to 
act  upon  the  doings  of  the  council;  which  meeting  was* held 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1793.  357 

on  the  15tli  of  November,  and  resulted  in  the  refusal  of  tbo 
parish  to  accept  the  decision  of  the  council.  And  they  further 
voted,  unanimously,  under  an  article  in  the  warrant  for  a  pre- 
vious meeting  adjourned  to  the  same  day,  that  Mr.  Parsons  be 
dismissed  from  the  work  of  the  gospel  ministry.  One  would 
think  that  this  action  clearly  enough  indicated  the  prevalent 
opinion  regarding  the  guilt  of  Mr.  Parsons.  Nevertheless,  the 
Lynn  church  gave  him  a  call.  And,  under  all  the  circumstances, 
one  may  almost  be  pardoned  for  the  suggestion  that  some  evil 
spirit  governed  their  course,  in  the  hope  that  thereby  the  church 
would  be  broken  up. 

[As  might  have  been  expected,  the  society  was  not  prosper- 
ous under  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Parsons.  And  there  were  not 
wanting  stories  of  his  moral  delinquencies  while  in  our  midst. 
If  he  were  innocent,  he  was  greatly  sinned  against,  and  very 
unfortunate  in  being  involved  in  suspicious  circumstances.  He 
was  unquestionably  a  man  of  talents,  learning,  and  pleasing 
manners,  and  under  other  circumstances  might  have  been  an 
instrument  of  much  good.  I  have  been  informed  by  one  of  our 
most  aged  and  intelligent  citizens,  who  was  a  pupil  at  his  school, 
that  he  would  frequently  send  by  the  scholars  his  compliments 
to  their  mothers  with  the  message  that  he  would  call  and 
take  tea  with  them.  But  his  reputation  was  such  that  notwith- 
standing the  sacred  relation  he  sustained,  the  return  message 
that  it  would  not  be  convenient  to  entertain  him  would  occa- 
sionally come.  He  lived  in  the  Lindsay  house,  as  it  is  now 
called,  on  South  Common  street,  the  second  west  from  the 
corner  of  Pleasant.] 

The  ship  Commerce,  of  Boston,  was  wrecked  on  the  coast  of 
Arabia,  on  the  10th  of  July.  One  of  the  crew  was  James  Lar- 
rabee,  of  Lynn,  who  suffered  almost  incredible  hardships,  being 
robbed  by  the  Bedouins,  and  compelled  to  travel  hundreds  of 
miles  over  the  burning  sands,  where  he  saw  his  companions 
daily  perishing  by  hunger,  thirst,  and  heat.  He  finally  arrived 
at  Muscat,  where  he  was  relieved  and  sent  home  by  the  Enghsh 
consul.     Of  thirty-four  men,  only  eight  survived. 

On  the  10th  of  August  Joshua  Howard,  aged  twenty-nine, 
went  into  the  water,  after  laboring  hard  upon  the  salt  marsh, 
and  was  immediately  chilled  and  drowned. 

[Widow  Elizabeth  Phillips  died  on  the  11th  of  December, 
aged  a  hundred  years.] 

1793. 

This  year  the  post  oflSce  was  established  at  Lynn,  at  the  corner 
of  Boston  and  Federal  streets.  Col.  James  Robinson  was  the 
first  postmaster.  [He  died  in  1832 ;  and  a  brief  notice  of  him 
will  appear  under  that  date.] 


358  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 179J:. 

A  boat,  contaioiiig  five  persons,  was  overset,  near  the  mouth 
of  Saugus  river,  on  the  14th  of  December,  and  three  persons 
drowned.  These  were  John  Burrill,  aged  67,  Wilham  Whitte- 
more,  aged  27,  and  William  Crow,  aged  15  years.  They  had 
been  on  an  excursion  of  pleasure  to  the  Pines ;  the  afternoon 
was  pleasant,  and  as  they  were  returning,  the  boat  was  struck 
by  a  squall,  which  frightened  them,  and  caused  them  to  seek 
the  shore,  which  they  probably  would  have  gained,  had  not  one 
of  them  jumped  upon  the  side  of  the  boat,  which  caused  it  to 
be  overset.  Two  of  them  swam  to  the  shore  in  safety.  Mr. 
Burrill  and  the  boy  also  gained  the  beach,  but  died  in  a  few 
minutes. 

Dr.  John  Flagg  died  on  the  27th  of  May.  He  was  a  son  of 
Rev.  Ebenezer  Flagg,  of  Chester,  N.  H.,  born  in  1743,  and 
graduated  at  Cambridge,  in  1761.  In  1769,  he  came  to  Lynn, 
where  his  prudence  and  skill  soon  secured  him  the  confidence 
of  the  people.  He  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety,  in  1775,  and  received  a  commission  as  Colonel.  His 
wife  was  Susanna  Fowle,  and  he  had  one  daughter,  Susatina, 
who  married  Dr.  James  Gardner. 

[Ebenezer  Burrill  discovered  an  old  tan  vat,  at  Swampscot, 
which  evidently  belonged  to  the  tannery  on  King's  brook, 
which  was  in  operation  in  1743,  and  took  from  it  a  side  of 
leather  which  had  doubtless  lain  there  forty  years.  Near  a 
branch  of  the  same  brook  Mr.  Burrill  also  found  relics  of  an 
ancient  brick  kiln.] 

1794. 

On  the  17th  of  May,  there  was  a  great  frost. 

Rev.  Thomas  Cushing  That/cher  was  ordained  minister  of  the 
First  Parish,  on  the  13th  of  August. 

A  new  school-house  was  this  year  built  by  a  few  individuals 
and  purchased  by  the  town.  Six  hundred  and  sixty-six  dollars 
were  granted  for  the  support  of  schools. 

In  the  prospect  of  a  war  with  France,  the  government  of  the 
United  States  required  an  army  of  eighty  thousand  men  to  be 
in  preparation.  Seventy-five  men  were  detached  from  Lynn. 
The  town  gave  each  of  them  twenty-three  shillings,  and  voted 
to  increase  their  wages  to  ten  dollars  a  month. 

[The  manufacture  of  snufF  was  commenced  at  Makepeace's 
mill,  on  Saugus  river,  b}^  Samuel  Fales.  Two  mortars,  formed 
by  nmming  out  a  couple  of  rough  buttonwood  logs,  were  set 
up.  And  this  was  the  beginning  of  a  business  which  became 
profitable. 

[Christmas  day  was  so  warm  that  at  noon  the  thermometer 
stood  at  eighty,  and  boys  went  in  to  swim.  Such  a  thing  was 
probably  never  known  here,  before  or  since.] 


ANNALS  OP  LYNN— 1795,  1796.  359 


17  9  5. 

In  a  great  storm,  on  the  night  of  the  9th  of  December,  the 
Scottish  brig  Peggy,  Captain  John  WilHamson,  from  Cape  Bre- 
ton, was  wrecked  near  the  southern  end  of  Lynn  Beach.  She 
was  laden  with  dried  fish,  consigned  to  Thomas  Amory,  of  Bos- 
ton. There  were  twelve  men  on  board,  only  one  of  whom, 
Hugh  Cameron,  of  Greenock,  in  Scotland  escaped.  He  was 
ordered  into  the  long-boat,  to  make  fast  the  tackle,  when  the 
same  wave  separated  it  from  the  vessel,  and  swept  his  unfor- 
tunate comrades  from  their  last  hold  of  life.  The  vessel  was 
completely  wrecked,  being  dashed  to  pieces  upon  the  hard  sand, 
and  the  fragments  of  the  vessel,  the  cargo,  and  the  crew,  were 
scattered  in  melancholy  ruin  along  the  beach.  The  bodies  of 
eight  of  the  drowned  men  were  recovered,  and  on  the  11th, 
they  were  buried  from  the  First  Parish  meeting-house,  where 
an  affecting  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Mr.  Thatcher,  from 
Job  1  :  19,  "And  I  only  am  escaped  alone!"  During  the  dis- 
course, Hugh  Cameron  stood  in  the  centre  aisle. 

[In  Dwight's  Travels  it  is  stated  that  during  no  summer  for 
eighty  years  was  there  so  much  rain  as  during  that  of  1795. 
For  ten  weeks,  commencing  in  the  middle  of  June,  it  rained 
at  least  a  part  of  half  the  days. 

[Massey's  Hall,  so  called,  was  built  this  year.  It  was  on 
Boston  street,  a  few  rods  west  of  Federal,  and  is  believed  to 
have  been  the  first  public  hall  in  Lynn.  Here  the  Republican 
and  Democratic  caucuses  were  held.  The  first  dancing  school 
was  opened  in  this  hall,  in  1800. 

[The  schooner  Dove,  of  about  twenty  tons,  was  this  year 
purchased  by  James  Phillips,  Jonathan  Blaney,  and  pthers,  and 
was  the  first  of  the  little  schooners  owned  in  Swampscot.  In 
1797  she  went  ashore  in  a  storm,  between  Black  Rock  and  New 
Cove,  and  became  a  total  wreck.  The  same  year,  James  Phillips, 
Beniah  Phillips,  Joseph  Fuller,  and  others,  bought  the  schooner 
Lark,  of  sixteen  tons.  In  October,  1799,  during  a  gale,  she 
sank  at  her  moorings,  being  a  leaky  old  boat.  But  the  Swamp- 
scot people  were  not  to  be  driven  from  their  purpose  by  these 
disasters,  and  in  the  same  year  bought  another  schooner  of  the 
name  of  the  first  —  the  Dove.  Such  was  the  beginning  of  that 
class  of  Swampscot  marine,  which  now  makes  such  a  picturesque 
appearance  in  her  little  bay.] 

1796. 

[The  first  fire  engine  purchased  for  public  use  in  Lynn,  was 
bought  this  year.  It  is  still  [1864]  in  existence,  and  occasion- 
ally makes  its  appearance,  on  an  alarm,  attracting  much  more 
attention  by  its  antique  appearance  than  by  its  usefulness.] 


860  ANNALS  OF  LYNN— 1797,  1798. 


1797. 

[Jonathan  Makepeace  commenced  the  manufacture  of  choco- 
late at  the  mill  on  Saugus  river.  And  this  may  be  set  down  as 
the  beginning  of  the  production  of  that  excellent  article  which, 
under  Mr.  Childs,  attained  a  world-wide  celebrity.  It  is  not 
improbable,  however,  that  before  this,  Benjamin  Sweetser  had 
made  a  little  chocolate,  by  horse  power.] 

1798. 

[At  a  legal  town  meeting,  the  people  of  Lynn  adopted  an 
address  to  the  President  and  Congress,  touching  our  troubles 
with  France.  The  address,  which  seems  in  the  st3^1e  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Thacher,  well  exhibits  the  loyalty  and  spirit  of  the  people,  and, 
together  with  the  President's  reply,  is  here  given : 

To  John  Adams,  President,  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the 

United  States  of  America : 

At  a  period  which  so  seriously  arrests  the  attention  of  every  American, 
and  true  friend  of  his  counti-y,  as  the  present,  the  inhabitants  of  Lynn,  in  the 
State  of  Massachusetts,  feelmg  it  to  be  their  duty,  and  impressed  with  the  just, 
wise  and  prudent  administration  of  the  Executive  and  tlie  rulers  in  general  of 
the  American  republic,  ardently  embrace  an  opportunity  to  announce  their  de- 
termined resolution  to  support  their  constitution  and  government,  with  all  they 
hold  most  sacred  and  dear.  Convinced  as  we  are,  that  the  President  has,  by 
fair,  unequivocal,  and  full  instructions,  which  he  has  given  to  our  envoys,  to 
adjust  and  amicably  accommodate  all  existing  difficulties  between  the  United 
States  and  the  French  republic,  done  all  consistent  with  the  honor,  dignity,  and 
freedom  of  his  country,  to  presei*ve  peace  and  good  understanding  with  that 
nation.  Notwithstanding  our  envoys  are  commissioned  with  full  power  to 
settle  all  animosities  with  the  French  agents,  upon  the  broadest  basis  of  equity, 
they  are  treated  with  neglect — refused  an  audience,  lest  their  reasonings  should 
show  to  the  world  the  integrity  of  our  government  and  disclose  their  iniquity. 

Legislators,  Guardians !  The  most  nefarious  designs  have  been  plotted  to 
subvert  our  government,  subjugate  the  country,  and  lay  us  under  contribution ; 
but  thanks  be  to  the  Sovereign  of  tlie  universe,  that  we  do  not  experience  the 
fate  of  Venice,  nor  groan  under  the  oppression  of  subdued  nations.  We  are 
a  free  people,  have  a  sense  of  the  blessings  which  we  enjoy  under  that  liberty 
and  independence,  which  we  have  wrested  from  the  hand  of  one  king,  and 
will  not  supinely  submit  to  any  nation. 

We  wish  not  again  to  behold  our  fields  crimsoned  with  human  blood,  and 
fei^vently  pray  God  to  avert  the  calamities  of  war.  Nevertheless,  should  our 
magistrates,  in  whom  we  place  entire  confidence,  find  it  expedient  to  take 
energetic  measures  to  defend  our  liberties,  we  will  readily  cooperate  with  them 
in  every  such  measure;  nor  do  we  hesitate,  at  this  interesting  crisis,  to  echo 
the  declaration  of  our  illustrious  chief,  that  "  we  are  not  humiliated  under  a 
colonial  sense  of  fear  ;  we  are  not  a  divided  people."  Our  arms  are  strong  in 
defense  of  our  rights,  and  we  are  determined  to  repel  om-  foe. 

[Reply.  ] 
To  the  Inhabitants  of  Lynn,  in  the  State  of  Massachusetts : 

Gentlemen :  Your  address  to  the  President,  Senate  and  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives, adopted  at  a  legal  town  meeting,  has  been  presented  to  me  by  your 
Re])resentative  hi  Congress,  Mr.  Sewall. 

When  the  inhabitants  of  one  of  our  towns,  assembled  in  legal  form,  solemnly 


ANNAIS  OF  LYNN  — 1799,  1800.  361 

declare  themselves  impressed  with  the  wise,  just,  and  prudent  administration 
of  their  rulers  in  general ;  and  that  they  will  support  their  constitution  and 
government,  with  all  they  hold  most  sacred  and  dear,  no  man  who  knows 
them,  will  question  their  si'icerity. 

The  conviction  you  avow  that  the  President  has  done  all,  consistent  with 
the  honor,  dignity,  and  freedom  of  his  country,  to  preserve  peace  and  good 
understanding  with  the  French,  is  a  gratification  to  me  which  I  receive  with 
esteem. 

As  the  treatment  of  your  envoys  is  without  a  possibility  of  justification, 
excuse,  or  apology,  I  leave  it  to  your  just  resentment.  Your  acknowledgment 
of  the  blessings  you  enjoy,  under  your  liberty  and  independence,  and  deter- 
mination never  supinely  to  surrender  them,  prove  you  to  deserve  them. 

John  Adams.] 

1799. 

[A  resolve  passed  the  General  Court,  7  Judo,  establishing 
a  Notary  Public  at  Lynn.  And  this  being  the  first  officer  of 
the  kind  here,  it  may  be  well  to  say  a  word  respecting  the 
history  of  the  office  in  Massachusetts.  Hutchinson,  under  date 
1720,  says,  "  There  had  been  no  public  notaries  in  the  Province, 
except  such  as  derived  their  authority  from  the  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury.  The  House  now  first  observed  that  a  Notary 
Public  was  a  civil  officer,  which  by  the  charter  was  to  be  chosen 
by  the  General  Court,  and  sent  a  message  desiring  the  council 
to  join  with  the  house  in  the  choice  of  such  an  officer  in  each 
port  of  the  province."  The  custom  under  the  second  charter 
must  be  referred  to ;  and  we  may  conclude  that  the  colonists 
under  the  first  charter  operated  with  a  high  hand  in  this  as 
well  as  in  many  other  things ;  for  the  Court  appointed,  in  1644, 
William  Aspinwall,  of  Boston,  Notary  for  Massachusetts.  And 
in  1697,  Stephen  Sewall  was  a  "  notary  publique."] 

A  barn,  belonging  to  Mr.  Micajah  Newhall  on  the  south  side 
of  the  Common,  was  struck  by  lightning,  about  noon,  on  the 
2d  of  August,  and  burned,  with  a  quantity  of  hay  and  grain,  and 
one  of  his  oxen. 

1800. 

TJie  memory  of  Washington  was  honored  by  a  procession  and 
eulogy,  on  the  13th  of  January.  He  died  on  the  14th  of  De- 
cember previous.  The  people  assembled  at  the  school-house ; 
the  scholars  walked  first,  with  crape  on  their  arms,  followed  by 
a  company  of  militia,  with  muffled  drums,  the  municipal  officers 
and  citizens.  The  eulogy  was  pronounced  by  Rev.  Thomas  C. 
Tbacher,  at  the  First  Congregational  meeting-house.  A  fune- 
ral sermon,  on  the  same  occasion,  was  preached  by  Rev.  William 
Guirey,  at  the  First  Methodist  meeting-house. 

[The  Legislature  passed,  20  February,  an  act  to  encourage 
the  manufacture  of  shoes,  boots,  and  goloshes.] 

On  the  afternoon  of  Sunday,  March  1st,  there  was  an  earth- 
quake. 

E2 


362  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1800. 

On  the  lltb  of  June,  Mr.  Samuel  D3^er,  a  gentleman  from 
Boston,  was  drowned  in  Humfrey's  Pond,  at  Lynnfield. 

[On  Friday,  18  July,  the  first  regular  New  England  Methodist 
Conference  commenced  at  the  meeting-house  on  the  Common. 
Among  those  present  were  Jesse  Lee,  George  Pickering,  Joshua 
Wells,  Joshua  Taylor.  Joshua  Hall,  Andrew  Nichols,  William 
Beauchamp,  Thomas  F.  Sargent,  Daniel  Fidler,  Ralph  Williston, 
Timothy  Merritt,  and  John  Finnegan,  elders,  and  fathers  of 
American  Methodism,  though  some  of  them  were  then  young 
in  years.  The  Conference  continued  in  session  two  days.  The 
preachers,  however,  remained  over  Sunday,  when  ordination 
services  were  held.  Bishop  Asbury  delivered  an  address,  from 
the  text,  Matthew  ix  :  36-38.  While  the  congregation  were 
still  assembled,  the  clouds  gathered  and  a  copious  rain  descend- 
ed. This  was  deemed  a  ^'  signal  instance  of  divine  goodness  ;  " 
for  a  severe  drought  had  prevailed,  and  the  preachers  had  been 
zealously  praying  for  rain.] 

On  the  26th  of  July,  Mr.  Nathaniel  Fuller,  aged  38  years,  was 
drowned  from  a  fishino;  boat,  near  Nahant. 

The  ship  William  Henry,  of  Salem,  owned  by  Hon.  William 
Gray,  was  wrecked  on  an  island  of  ice,  on  the  1st  of  May. 
Three  of  the  crew  were  John  Newhall,  James  Parrott,  and  Bas- 
sett  Breed,  of  Lynn.  They  launched  the  long-boat ;  and  the 
whole  crew,  consisting  of  fifteen  persons,  leaped  into  it.  They 
saved  nothing  but  the  compass,  the  captain's  trunk,  an  axe,  and 
a  fishing  line.  For  six  days  they  had  no  water  but  a  small 
quantity  which  had  fallen  from  the  clouds,  and  laid  in  the  hol- 
low of  an  island  of  salt  water  ice.  On  the  fourth  day,  they 
caught  a  fish,  which  some  of  them  devoured  raw,  but  others 
were  too  faint  with  their  long  fast  to  swallow  any.  When  the 
storm  and  fog  cleared  up,  they  went  ashore  at  Newfoundland, 
and  the  next  morning  found  their  boat  stove  and  filled  with 
water.  They  subsisted  three  days  on  sea  peas,  thistles,  and 
cranberries.  Several  of  the  crew  were  unable  to  walk;  but 
having  repaired  their  boat,  they  put  to  sea,  and  were  discovered 
by  a  vessel  containing  four  men,  who  at  first  would  afford  them 
no  relief,  but  after  much  entreaty  threw  them  a  rope,  and  they 
arrived  at  St.  John,  where  the  American  consul  furnished  them 
with  a  passage  home. 

[An  elephant  was  exhibited  in  Lynn,  for  the  first  time,  this 
year.  He  was  shown  in  the  chaise  house  of  Col.  Robinson,  on 
Boston  street,  corner  of  Federal. 

[On  the  24th  of  December  there  was  no  frost  in  the  ground. 

Previous  to  the  year  1800,  there  were  only  three  houses  on 
Nahant,  owned  by  Breed,  Hood,  and  Johnson.  This  year  a 
large  house  was  erected  on  the  western  part  of  Nahant,  as  a 
hotel,  by  Capt.  Joseph  Johnson. 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN— 1801,  1802,  1803.         363 

[The  manufacture  of  morocco  leather  was  introduced  into 
Lynn,  this  year.  William  Rose  established  a  factory  on  the 
south  side  of  the  Common,  opposite  where  the  pond  now  is. 
A  small  brook  ran  across  at  that  place.] 

1801. 

A  very  brilliant  meteor,  half  the  size  of  the  full  moon,  ap- 
peared in  the  northwest,  on  the  evening  of  Friday,  16  October. 

[^^In  all  my  school  days,  which  ended  in  1801,"  says  Benja- 
min Mudge,  in  a  memorandum,  *'  I  never  saw  but  three  females 
in  public  schools,  and  they  were  there  only  in  the  afternoon,  to 
learn  to  write."  In  the  Lynn  school  reports,  female  pupils  are 
not  spoken  of  till  1817.] 

1802. 

Rev.  John  Carnes  died  on  the  26th  of  October,  aged  78.  He 
was  born  at  Boston  in  1724,  graduated  in  1742,  was  minister  at 
Stoneham  and  Rehoboth,  and  chaplain  in  the  army  of  the  Revo- 
lution. At  the  close  of  the  war  he  came  to  Lynn,  received  a 
commission  as  justice  of  the  peace,  was  nine  times  elected  as  a 
representative,  and  in  1788  was  a  member  of  the  Convention 
to  ratify  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  He  was  an 
active  and  useful  citizen.  Ho  married  Mary,  daughter  of  John 
Lewis,  resided  on  Boston  street,  and  had  two  children,  John 
and  Mary. 

1803. 

Rev.  Joseph  Roby,  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  in 
Saugus,  died  on  the  last  day  of  January,  aged  79.  He  was  born 
at  Boston,  in  1724,  graduated  in  1742,  and  was  ordained  minister 
of  the  third  parish  of  Lynn,  now  the  first  parish  of  Saugus,  1752. 
He  preached  fifty-one  years.  He  was  an  excellent  scholar,  a 
pious  and  venerable  man,  and  was  highly  esteemed  for  his  social 
virtues.  He  published  two  Fast  Sermons,  one  in  1781,  the  other 
in  1794.  He  married  Rachel  Proctor,  of  Boston,  and  had  seven 
children ;  Joseph,  Rachel,  Mary,  Henry,  Thomas,  Elizabeth  and 
Sarah.  [Mr.  Roby  belonged  to  an  excellent  family.  Dr.  Thomas 
Roby,  of  Cambridge,  and  Dr.  Ebenezer  Roby,  of  East  Sudbury, 
both  highly  distinguished  men,  were  his  uncles.  Some  of  the 
family  spelled  the  name  Robie.  His  son  Thomas,  who  was 
born  2  March,  1759,  graduated  at  Cambridge  in  1779;  settled 
at  Chatham  in  1783,  and  remained  there  till  1795.  He  died  in 
1836.] 

The  ship  Federal  George,  of  Duxbury,  sailed  from  Boston  in 
February,  bound  to  Madeira,  with  a  cargo  of  flour  and  corn.  In 
the  number  of  the  crew  were  three  men  from  Lynn,  whose 
names  were  Bassett  Breed  Parker  Mudge,  and  Jonathan  Ward. 


364  ANNALS  OF  LYNN— 1803. 

lu  the  midst  of  the  Atlantic  they  were  overtaken  by  a  great 
storm,  which,  on  the  22d,  capsized  the  vessel,  carried  away  her 
masts,  and  bowsprit,  and  when  it  subsided,  left  the  deck  two 
feet  beneath  the  water.  The  crew,  which  consisted  of  seven 
men,  remained  lashed  upon  the  windlass  for  twenty-four  days. 
Their  sustenance,  for  the  first  part  of  the  time,  was  a  small  piece 
of  meat,  and  a  box  of  candles,  which  floated  up  from  the  hold. 
They  afterward  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  bag  of  corn,  and  some 
flour  soaked  with  salt  water.  Their  allowance  of  drink,  at  first, 
was  a  coff'ee-pot  cover  full  of  water  twice  a  day.  This  was 
afterward  reduced  to  one  half,  and  then  to  one  third.  On  the 
18th  of  March,  they  were  relieved  by  the  Duke  of  Kent,  an 
English  merchant  ship,  returning  from  the  South  Sea.  When 
they  were  taken  from  the  wreck,  they  had  but  one  quart  of  wa- 
ter left.  [The  Bassett  Breed  mentioned  as  one  of  the  sufi'erers, 
survived  for  many  years,  and  died  at  Lynn,  on  the  22d  of  De- 
cember, 1862,  at  the  advanced  age  of  87.  He  had  accumulated 
considerable  property,  and  was  a  worthy  citizen.] 

On  Sunda}^,  the  8th  of  May,  a  snow  storm  commenced,  and 
continued  about  seven  hours.  The  snow  was  left  upon  the 
ground  to  the  depth  of  one  inch.  The  apple  trees  were  in  blos- 
som at  the  time. 

On  the  8th  of  July,  Mr.  William  Cushman,  aged  23,  a  work- 
man on  the  Lynn  Hotel,  was  drowned  from  a  raft  of  timber,  in 
Saugus  river. 

On  Sunday,  the  10th  of  July,  about  three  of  the  clock  in  the 
afternoon,  a  house  on  Boston  street,  nearly  opposite  the  foot 
of  Cottage,  was  struck  by  lightning,  and  Mr.  Miles  Shore}^  and 
his  wife  were  instantly  killed.  The  bolt  appeared  like  a  large 
ball  of  fire.  It  struck  the  western  chimney,  and  then,  after 
descending  several  feet,  separated.  One  branch  melted  a  watch 
which  hung  over  the  chamber  mantel,  passed  over  the  cradle 
of  a  sleeping  infant,  covering  it  with  cinders,  and  went  out  at 
the  north  chamber  window.  The  other  branch  descended  with 
the  chimney,  and  when  it  reached  the  chamber  floor,  separated 
into  two  branches,  above  the  heads  of  the  wife  and  husband, 
who  were  passing  at  that  instant  from  the  parlor  to  the  kitchen. 
One  part  struck  Mrs.  Shorey  on  the  side  of  her  head,  left  her 
stocking  on  fire,  and  passed  into  the  ground.  The  other  part 
entered  Mr.  Shorey's  bosom,  passed  down  his  side,  melted  the 
buckle  of  his  shoe,  and  went  out  at  one  of  the  front  windows. 
There  were  four  families  in  the  house,  which  contained,  at  the 
time,  nineteen  persons,  several  of  whom  were  much  stunned. 
One  man,  who  stood  at  the  eastern  door,  was  crushed  to  the 
floor  by  the  pressure  of  the  atmosphere.  When  the  people 
entered  the  room  in  which  Mr.  Shorey  and  his  wife  lay,  they 
found  two  small  children  endeavoring  to  awaken  their  parents. 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1803.  365 

An  infant,  wliicb  Mrs.  Sborcy  held  in  lier  arms,  when  she  was 
struck,  was  found  with  its  hair  scorched,  and  its  little  finger  nails 
slightly  burned.  She  lived,  and  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Samuel 
Farrington.  Mr.  Shorey  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  29 
years  of  age.  Mrs.  Love  Shorey,  aged  28  years,  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Mr.  Allen  Breed,  of  Lynn.  On  the  next  day  they  were 
buried.  The  coffins  were  carried  side  by  side,  and  a  double 
procession  of  mourners,  of  a  great  length,  followed  the  bodies  to 
their  burial  in  one  grave. 

On  the  next  Sunday,  a  funeral  sermon  was  preached  by  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Cushing  Thacher,  at  the  First  Congregational 
meeting-house,  from  Job  xxxvii  :  2,  3,  4.  At  the  close  of  the 
service,  a  house  in  Market  street,  owned  by  Mr.  Richard  Pratt, 
was  struck  by  lightning.  It  descended  the  chimney,  separated 
into  three  branches,  did  considerable  damage  to  the  house,  and 
left  Mr.  Pratt  senseless  on  the  floor  for  several  minutes. 

On  Sunday,  the  28th  of  August,  at  one  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
the  hotel  on  the  western  part  of  Nahant,  owned  by  Captain 
Joseph  Johnson,  took  fire  and  was  coiisumed,  with  all  its  con- 
tents. The  family  were  awakened  by  the  crying  of  a  child, 
which  was  stifling  with  the  smoke,  and  had  just  time  to  escape 
with  their  lives.  A  black  man,  who  slept  in  the  upper  story, 
saved  himself  by  throwing  a  feather  bed  from  the  window,  and 
jumping  upon  it. 

On  the  8th  of  September,  John  Ballard,  John  Pennerson,  and 
his  son,  went  out  on  a  fishing  excursion.  On  the  next  day,  the 
boat  came  ashore  at  Nahant,  with  her  sails  set,  the  lines  out  for 
fishing,  and  food  ready  cooked.  Nothing  more  was  ever  heard 
of  the  crew ;  but  as  Mr.  Pennerson  was  a  Frenchman,  and  as  a 
French  vessel  had  been  seen  that  day  in  the  ba}^,  it  was  con- 
jectured that  they  were  taken  on  board  and  carried  to  France. 

On  Thursday,  the  22d  of  September,  the  Salem  Turnpike  was 
opened  and  began  to  receive  tofl.  The  Lynn  Hotel  was  built 
this  year.  The  number  of  shares  in  this  tuTnpike  was  twelve 
hundred,  and  the  original  cost  was  $189,000.  This  road  will 
become  the  property  of  the  Commonwealth,  when  the  proprie- 
tors shall  have  received  the  whole  cost,  with  twelve  per  cent, 
interest ;  and  the  bridge  over  Mystic  river,  when  seventy  years 
shall  be  accomplished.  This  turnpike,  for  nearl}^  four  miles, 
passes  over  a  tract  of  salt  marsh,  which  is  frequently  covered 
by  the  tide.  When  it  was  first  projected,  many  persons  es- 
teemed it  impracticable  to  build  a  good  road  on  such  a  founda- 
tion. One  person  testified  that  he  had  run  a  pole  down  to  the 
depth  of  twenty-five  feet.  Yet  this  turnpike  proves  to  be  one 
of  the  most  excellent  roads  in  America. 

The  post  office  was  removed  from  Boston  street  to  the  south 
end  of  Federal  street. 
E2* 


36G  ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1804. 


1804. 

This  year  a  powder  house  was  built,  near  Hipjh  Rock,  at  an 
expense  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  dollars.  [This  remained  a 
curious  and  conspicuous  little  mark  for  about  fifty  years,  when 
on  a  certain  night  some  rogue  set  it  on  fire  and  it  was  consumed. 
It  had  ceased  to  be  used  for  the  storing  of  powder,  many  years 
before. 

[The  first  celebration  of  Independence,  in  Lynn,  took  place 
this  year.  There  was  a  procession,  and  an  oration  was  deliv- 
ered by  Rev.  Peter  Janes,  the  Methodist  minister.  A  patriotic 
ode,  written  by  Enoch  Mudge,  was  sung.  A  large  company 
partook  of  a  dinner  in  the  hall  in  the  west  wing  of  the  Hotel, 
which  was  built  the  preceding  year. 

[Snow  fell  in  this  vicinity,  in  July  ;  yet  the  month  proved,  on 
the  average,  to  be  the  warmest  of  the  year.] 

On  the  4th  of  August,  the  body  of  a  woman  was  found  in  the 
canal,  on  the  north  side  of  the  turnpike,  a  short  distance  west 
of  Saugus  bridge.  She  was  ascertained  to  have  been  a  widow 
Currel,  who  was  traveling  from  Boston  to  Marblehead.  The 
manner  of  her  death  was  unknown. 

Rev.  William  Frothingham  was  ordained  minister  of  the  Sau- 
gus parish,  on  the  26th  of  September.  He  continued  to  perform 
the  duties  of  that  office  till  the  year  1817,  when  he  was  dismissed, 
on  his  own  request. 

One  of  the  greatest  storms  ever  known  in  New  England  com- 
menced on  Tuesday  morning,  the  9th  of  October.  The  rain  fell 
fast,  accompanied  by  thunder.  At  four  in  the  afternoon  the 
wind  became  furious,  and  continued  with  unabated  energy  till 
the  next  morning.  This  was  probably  the  severest  storm  after 
that  of  August,  1635.  The  damage  occasioned  by  it  was  very 
great.  Buildings  were  unroofed,  barns,  chimneys,  and  fences 
were  blown  down,  and  orchards  greatly  injured.  The  chimney 
of  the  schoOi-hou5e  on  the  western  part  of  the  Common,  fell 
through  the  roof,  in  the  night,  carrying  the  bench,  at  which  I 
bad  been  sitting  a  few  hours  before,  into  the  cellar.  Many 
vessels  were  wrecked,  and  in  several  towns  the  steeples  of 
meeting-houses  were  broken  off,  and  carried  to  a  great  distance. 
The  number  of  trees  uprooted  in  the  woodlands  was  beyond 
calculation.  Thousands  of  the  oldest  and  hardiest  sons  of  the 
forest,  which  had  braved  the  storms  of  centuries,  were  pros- 
trated before  it,  and  the  woods  throughout  were  strewed  with 
the  trunks  of  fallen  trees,  which  were  not  gathered  up  for  many 
years.  Some  have  supposed  that  a  great  storm,  at  an  early 
period,  may  have  blown  down  the  trees  on  the  marshes ;  but  it 
could  not  have  buried  them  several  feet  deep ;  and  trees  have 
been  found  thus  buried. 


ANNALS  OP  LYNN— 1805,  1806.  367 


1805. 

For  a  hundred  and  seventy-three  years,  from  the  building  of 
the  first  parish  meeting-house,  the  people  had  annually  assembled 
in  it,  for  the  transaction  of  their  municipal  concerns.  But  this 
year,  the  members  of  that  parish  observing  the  damage  which 
such  meetings  occasioned  to  the  house,  and  believing  that, 
since  the  incorporation  of  other  parishes,  the  town  had  no  title 
in  it,  refused  to  have  it  occupied  as  a  town-house.  This  refusal 
occasioned  much  controversy  between  the  town  and  parish,  and 
committees  were  appointed  by  both  parties  to  accomplish  an 
adjustment.  An  engagement  was  partially  made  for  the  occu- 
pation of  the  house,  on  the  payment  of  twenty-eight  dollars 
annually ;  but  the  town  refused  to  sanction  the  agreement,  and 
the  meetings  were  removed  to  the  Methodist  meeting-house,  on 
the  eastern  part  of  the  Common,  in  1806. 

The  Lynn  Academy  was  opened  on  the  5th  of  April,  under 
the  care  of  Mr.  William  Ballard.  A  bell  was  presented  to  this 
institution  by  Col.  James  Robinson. 

An  earthquake  happened  on  the  6th  of  April,  at  fifteen  min- 
utes after  two  in  the  afternoon. 

On  the  11th  of  May,  Mr.  John  Legree  Johnson's  house,  on 
the  east  end  of  the  Common,  was  struck  by  lightning. 

A  society  of  Free  Masons  was  constituted  on  the  10th  of 
June,  by  the  name  of  Mount  Carmel  Lodge.  [For  further  no- 
tices of  this  institution,  see  under  dates  1834  and  1845.] 

On  the  24th  of  July,  Mr.  Charles  Adams  fell  from  the  rocks 
at  Nipper  Stage,  on  Nahant,  and  was  drowned. 

[On  Sunday,  11  October,  Benjamin  Phillips's  house,  on  Water 
Hill,  was  struck  by  lightning.] 

1806. 

A  total  eclipse  of  the  sun  happened  on  Monday,  the  16th  of 
June.  It  commenced  a  few  minutes  after  ten  in  the  forenoon, 
and  continued  about  two  hours  and  a  half.  The  sun  rose  clear, 
and  the  morning  was  uncommonly  pleasant.  As  the  eclipse 
advanced,  the  air  became  damp  and  cool,  like  the  approach  of 
evening.  The  birds  at  first  flew  about  in  astonishment,  and 
then  retired  to  their  roosts,  and  the  stars  appeared.  The  shad- 
ow of  the  moon  was  seen  traveling  across  the  earth  from  west 
to  east ;  and  at  the  moment  when  the  last  direct  ray  of  the  sun 
was  intercepted,  all  things  around  appeared  to  waver,  as  if  the 
earth  was  falling  from  its  orbit.  Several  persons  fainted,  and 
many  were  observed  to  take  hold  of  the  objects  near  them  for 
support.  The  motion  of  the  spheres  was  distinctly  perceptible, 
and  the  whole  system  appeared  to  be  disordered.  It  seemed  as 
if  the  central  orb  of  light  and  animation  was  about  to  be  forever 


368  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1807. 

extinguished,  and  creation  was  returning  to  its  original  nonen- 
tity. The  most  unreflecting  mind  was  made  sensible  of  its 
dependence,  and  the  soul  involuntarily  sought  the  protection 
of  its  Maker.  The  total  darkness  endured  at^Dut  three  minutes. 
When  the  sun  came  forth  from  his  obscurity,  it  was  with  over- 
whelming lustre ;  the  dreadful  silence  which  had  spread  its 
dominion  over  the  universe,  was  broken ;  the  cocks  began  to 
crow,  the  birds  renewed  their  songs,  and. man  and  nature  seemed 
to  rejoice,  as  if  returning  to  existence,  from  which  they  had  been 
shut  out  by  the  unwonted  darkness. 

The  anniversary  of  American  Independence  was  this  year 
publicly  celebrated  in  Lynn,  for  the  first  time.  [Mr.  Lewis  is 
mistaken  here.  See  under  date  1804.]  As  the  spirit  of  party 
was  exercising  its,  unabated  influence,  the  inhabitants  could  not 
unite  in  performing  the  honors  of  the  day,  and  made  two  pro- 
cessions. The  Federalists  assembled  at  the  First  Congregational 
meeting-house,  where  an  oration  was  delivered  by  Mr.  Hosea 
Hildreth,  preceptor  of  the  Academy;  and  the  Democrats  met  at 
the  First  Methodist  meeting-house,  where  an  oration  was  pro- 
nounced by  Dr.  Peter  G.  Robbins.  The  Democrats  dined  at 
the  Hotel,  and  the  Federalists  in  the  hall  of  the  Academy. 

And  such  regard  for  freedom  there  was  shown, 
That  either  party  wished  her  all  then*  own  ! 

[The  town  meetings  began  to  be  held,  this  year,  in  the  First 
Methodist  meeting-house;  and  they  were  held  there  till  1814.] 

1807. 

The  town  having  determined  that  no  person  who  was  not  an 
inhabitant  should  have  the  privilege  of  taking  any  sand,  shells, 
or  sea  manure  from  the  Lynn  beaches,  this  year  prosecuted 
several  of  the  inhabitants  of  Danvers,  for  trespassing  against 
this  order.  The  decision  of  the  court  established  the  right  of 
the  town  to  pass  such  a  vote  and  left  it  in  legal  possession  of  all 
the  natural  treasures  which  the  sea  might  cast  upon  its  shores. 

[A  rock  on  the  east  side  of  Oak  street,  was  struck  by  light- 
ning, this  year,  and  a  portion  weighing  some  twelve  tons  thrown 
two  hundred  feet. 
.    [Theophilus  Bacheller's  house  was  burned  in  October.] 

The  depression  of  commerce  and  manufactures,  at  the  close 
of  this  year,  was  very  great.  This  was  principally  occasioned 
by  the  state  of  affairs  in  Europe,  and  the  spoliation  of  property 
in  American  vessels,  by  the  governments  of  France  and  Eng- 
land, which,  in  the  prosecution  of  their  hostilities,  had  made 
decrees  affecting  neutral  powers.  On  the  twenty-second  of 
December,  congress  passed  an  act  of  embargo,  by  which  all  the 
ports  of  the  United  States  were  closed  against  the  clearance 
of  all  vessels. 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1808.  369 


1808. 

The  enforcement  of  the  epabargo  law  occasioned  great  suffer- 
ing throughout  the  Union,  particularly  in  commercial  places. 
The  harbors  were  filled  with  dismantled"  vessels,  which  lay 
rotting  at  the  wharves.  Thousands  of  seamen  were  thrown 
out  of  employment,  tho  price  of  provisions  was  enhanced,  and 
the  spirit  of  desolation  seemed  to  be  spreading  her  dark  wings 
over  the  land.  While  the  democrats  were  disposed  to  regard 
this  state  of  things  as  requisite  to  preserve  the  dignity  of  the 
nation  and  the  energy  of  government,  the  federalists  viewed 
it  as  an  impolitic,  unjust,  and  arbitrary  measure,  by  which  the 
interests  of  commerce  were  sacrificed  to  the  will  of  party.  The 
spirit  of  opposition,  in  this  difference  of  opinion,  was  put  forth 
in  its  utmost  strength.  At  the  election  in  April,  the  greatest 
number  of  votes  was  produced  which  had  at  this  time  been 
given  in  the  town ;  of  which  418  were  for  James  Sullivan,  and 
273  for  Christopher  Gore.  On  the  second  of  May,  the  people 
assembled  for  the  choice  of  representatives.  The  democratic 
party  voted  to  choose  three,  and  the  federalists  were  inclined 
to  send  none.  As  there  was  some  difficulty  in  ascertaining  the 
vote,  it  was  determined  that  the  people  should  go  out  of  tho 
bouse,  and  arrange  themselves  on  different  sides  of  the  Common, 
to  be  counted.  The  democrats  went  out,  but  a  part  of  the 
federalists  remained,  and  took  possession  of  the  house.  They 
chose  a  town  clerk,  to  whom  the  oath  of  office  was  administered, 
voted  to  send  no  representative,  and  made  a  record  of  their 
p\oceeding  in  tho  town  book.  The  other  party  then  returned, 
and  chose  three  representatives.  Several  of  the  principal  fed- 
eralists were  afterward  prosecuted  for  their  infringement  of  a 
legal  town  meeting;  but  as  it  appeared  on  examinatioa,  tliat 
none  of  the  town  meetings  had  been  legal  for  many  years, 
because  not  called  by  warrant,  they  were  exonerated.  On  the 
29th  of  August,  a  meeting  was  held  to  petition  the  President  to 
remove  the  embargo ;  but  the  town  voted  that  such  a  proceed- 
ing would  be  highly  improper,  and  passed  several  resolutions, 
approving  the  measures  of  the  administration.  On  the  following 
diy,  the  federalists  prepared  a  memorial,  expressing  their  dis^- 
approbatioB  of  the  embargo,  and  requesting  its  repeal,  which 
was  transmitted  to  the  President.  The  feelings  of  both  parties 
weie  raised  to  a  degree  of  excitement,  which  could  only  be 
sus-tained  by  political  events  of  unusual  occurrence. 

[A  great  buJl  fight  took  place  at  the  half  way  house,  on  the 
turnpike,  in  the  summer.  Bulls  and  bull  dogs  were  engaged  in 
the  cruel  and  vulgar  sport.  It  was  got  up  by  a  Mr.  Gray,  of 
Salem,  and  great  numbers  attended.  Raised  seats  were  arranged 
for  the  spectators  to  conveniently  watch  the  ferocious  conflict. 
'  24 


370  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1808. 

This  was  the  first  bull  fight  in  New  England,  and   certainly 
should  have  been,  as  it  probably  was,  the  last.] 

On  the  20th  of  September,  the  house  of  widow  Jerusha  Wil- 
liams, in  Market  street,  was  struck  by  lightning.  On  the  same 
afternoon,  the  lightning  fell  on  a  flock  of  sheep,  at  Nahant, 
which  were  gathered  beside  a  stone  wall  for  shelter,  and  killed 
eighteen  of  them. 

On  the  night  of  Monday,  October  31,  Mr.  Theophilus  Breed's 
barn,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Common,  was  burned  ;  and  on 
the  night  of  the  following  Thursday,  a  barn  belonging  to  Mr. 
Jacob  Chase,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Common,  was  con- 
sumed; both  of  them  having  been  set  on  fire  by  a  mischievous 
boy. 

A  company  of  Artillery  was  incorporated  by  the  General 
Court,  on  the  18th  of  November,  and  two  brass  field  pieces 
allowed  them.  [Aaron  Newhall  was  the  first  captain,  and  Ezra 
Mudge  and  Benjamin  Mudge  were  lieutenants.] 

This  3^ear  Benjamin  Merrill,  Esq.,  came  into  town.  He  was 
ihe  first  lawyer  at  Lynn.  [Mr.  Merrill's  office  was  in  the  south- 
west chamber  of  the  dwelling  house  that  still  stands  on  North 
Common  street,  the  next  west  from  Park.  He  died  at  Salem, 
30  July,  1847,  aged  63.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  talents,  excellent 
education,  and  kind  feelings.  He  remained  in  Lynn  but  a  few 
months  and  then  removed  to  Salem,  where  he  became  quite 
eminent  in  the  profession ;  rather,  however,  as  a  counsellor  and 
conveyancer  than  as  a  pleader.  He  received  the  degree  of 
LL.  D.  at  Cambridge,  in  1845.  The  occasion  of  his  removal 
from  Lynn  as  he  informed  me,  a  few  years  before  his  death,  was 
somewhat  singular.  A  deputation  of  the  citizens  called  on  him 
with  the  request  that  he  would  leave  the  place,  it  being  appre- 
hended that  evil  and  strife  would  abound  wherever  a  lawyer's 
tent  was  pitched.  He  took  the  matter  in  good  part  and  soon 
departed.  The  people  of  Lynn  afterward  made  some  amends 
for  their  uncivil  proceeding,  by  entrusting  a  large  share  of  their 
best  legal  business  to  his  hands.  He  served  them  faithfully, 
and  never  seemed  to  entertain  the  least  ill  feeling  toward  any 
here.  He  died  lamented  by  a  large  circle  who  had  received 
benefits  at  his  hand,  and  left  a  considerable  estate.  He  was 
pever  married,  which  seemed  the  more  singular,  as  he  was  emi- 
nently social  in  his  habits.' 

[Samuel  Newell  —  as  he  spelled  his  surname,  though  Mr. 
Lewis  makes  it  Newhall  —  was  this  year  preceptor  of  Lynn 
Academy.  He  was  feeble,  and  unable  to  keep  up  a  rigid  disci- 
pline. He  remained  but  a  short  time,  and  was  afterward  a 
missionary  in  India.  The  celebrated  Harriet  Newell  was  his 
wife. 

[A  white  faced  cow,  while  grazing  in  the  old  burying  ground 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN— 1809,  1810,  1811.  371 

broke  through  a  tomb.  Some  persons  in  the  vicinity,  at  night, 
observing  her  head  raised  and  struggling,  were  much  alarmed, 
and  horrifying  ghost  stories  immediately  prevailed. 

[The  trapping  of  lobsters  was  first  practiced  at  Swampscot, 
this  year,  by  Ebenezer  Thorndike.     He  had  twelve  pots. 

[The  manufacture  of  chewing  and  smoking  tobacco  was  be- 
gun this  year,  in  that  part  of  Lynn  now  known  as  Cliftondale, 
Saugus,  by  Samuel  Copp.  By  degrees  it  grew  to  be  a  large 
and  lucrative  business.] 

1809. 

The  inhabitants  petitioned  the  General  Court  for  an  act  to 
establish  the  proceedings  of  the  town  in  their  previous  meet- 
ings, which  had  been  illegal,  in  consequence  of  the  meetings 
having  been  called  by  notice  from  the  selectmen,  instead  of  a 
warrant  to  a  constable.  A  resolve  confirming  the  proceedings 
of  the  town  was  passed  by  the  Court  on  the  18th  of  February. 

The  embargo  law  was  repealed  by  Congress,  on  the  12th  of 
April,  and  an  act  of  non-intercourse  with  France  and  England, 
substituted  in  its  place. 

1810. 

Independence  was  celebrated  by  both  political  parties,  who 
very  patriotically  and  cordially  united  for  thai  purpose.  They 
formed  a  procession  at  the  Lynn  Hotel,  which  was  then  kept  by 
Mr.  Ebenezer  Lewis,  and  proceeded  to  the  First  Congregational 
meeting-house,  where  an  oration  was  delivered  by  Dr.  Peter  G. 
Robbins. 

This  year  the  Lynn  Mineral  Spring  Hotel  was  built. 

On  Friday  evening,  November  9,  there  was  an  earthquake. 

[It  appeared,  by  careful  estimation,  that  there  were  made  in 
Lynn,  this  year,  1.000.000  pairs  of  shoes,  valued  at  about 
$800,000.     The  females  earned  some  $50,000  by  binding.] 

1811. 

On  the  8th  of  January,  Ayer  Williams  Marsh,  aged  five  years, 
was  killed  by  the  falling  of  an  anvil,  from  a  cheese-press. 

A  great  snow  storm  commenced  on  the  2d  of  February,  and 
continued  three  days.  It  was  piled  up  in  reefs,  in  some  places, 
more  than  fifteen  feet.  In  Market  street,  arches  were  dug  be- 
neath it,  high  enough  for  carriages  to  pass  through. 

On  the  4th  of  July,  the  officers  of  Lynn,  Marblehead,  and 
Danvers,  had  a  military  celebration  at  Lynn.  The  young  fed- 
eralists also  partook  of  a  dinner  in  the  hall  of  Lewis's  hotel, 
which  was  tastefully  decorated  for  the  occasion,  by  the  young 
ladies. 

The  7th  of  July  was  excessively  hot.     The  thermometer  rose 


572  ANNALS    OF    LYNN —  1812. 

to  a  hundred  and  one  degrees  in  the  shade.  Mr.  John  Jacobs, 
aged  70,  while  laboring  on  the  salt  marsh  fell  dead  in  conse- 
quence of  the  heat. 

A  splendid  comet  was  visible  on  the  11th  of  October,  between 
Arcturus  and  Lyra.  Its  train  was  estimated  to  be  forty  mil- 
lions of  miles  in  length.  It  remained  visible  for  a  number  of 
months. 

[The  "  Lynn  Wire  and  Screw  Manufacturing  Compan}^"  was 
incorporated  this  year.  They  built  a  dam  and  factory  on  Sau- 
gus  river.  There  was  a  fair  prospect  of  success  ;  but  the  peace 
of  1815,  by  restoring  the  means  for  cheap  importations,  ruined 
their  prospects,  and  the  business  was  abandoned.  A  number 
of  substantial  individuals  were  engaged  in  the  promising  enter- 
prise. 

[The  first  meeting  for  the  preaching  of  Universalism,  in  Lynn, 
was  held  in  the  Academy,  on  the  Common,  this  year.  Rev. 
Joshua  Flagg,  of  Salem,  preached.  He  also  lectured  at  Graves- 
end.] 

The  Second  Methodist  Society  was  formed  in  the  eastern  part 
of  the  town,  by  separation  from  the  First  Society.  A  meeting- 
house was  built,  which  was  dedicated  on  the  27th  of  November. 
Their  first  minister  was  Rev.  Epaphras  Kibbey. 

1812. 

On  the  4th  of  May  there  was  a  snow  storm,  all  day  and  night. 
The  snow  was  about  eight  inches  deep. 

War  was  declared  by  Congress  against  England,  on  the  18th 
of  June.  This  was  called  the  War  of  Impressments,  because 
England  claimed  the  right  to  search  American  vessels  for  her 
sailors.  The  conflict  was  chiefly  conducted  by  battle  ships  on 
the  water,  but  people  were  much  aff'ected  by  it  in  the  depression 
of  commerce.  The  Federalists  disapproved  of  the  war  —  the 
Democrats  exulted  in  it. 

A  new  meeting-house  was  built  by  the  First  Methodist  Soci- 
ety, at  the  east  end  of  the  Common. 

The  burial  ground  in  Union  street  was  opened. 

[A  pottery  was  commenced  in  what  is  now  Cliftondale,  Saugus, 
by  William  Jackson.  A  fine  kind  of  earthen  ware  was  made 
from  cla}"  found  in  the  vicinity.  It  was  continued  about  four 
years.  Mr.  Jackson  was  an  Englishman  and  occupied  a  respect- 
able pcTsition.  He  twice  represented  the  town  in  the  General 
Court. 

[The  old  Lynn  Light  Infantry  was  organized  this  year. 

[Reuben  P.  Washburn,  a  native  of  Leicester,  Mass.,  commenced 
the  practice  of  law,  at  Lynn.  His  office  was  in  the  building 
so  long  occupied  by  Caleb  Wiley  for  a  West  India  goods  store, 
at  the  corner  of  Federal  street  and  the  Turnpike.     He  graduated 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1813.  373 

at  Dartmouth  College,  with  the  class  of  1808,  and  studied  law 
under  Judge  Jackson,  at  Boston.  He  procured  his  education 
and  made  his  way  in  the  world  by  his  own  exertions.  While  at 
Lynn  he  married  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Mr.  Thacher.  He  was  a  per- 
sonal friend  of  Judge  Story  and  other  eminent  men  both  in  law 
and  letters.  Considering  the  business  of  the  place,  his  practice 
could  not  have  been  large,  here,  and  he  removed  to  Vermont, 
in  1817.  There  he  became  a  judge,  and  to  the  end  of  his  life 
maintained  a  high  position,  and  preserved  an  unsullied  reputa- 
tion.    He  died  in  1860,  at  the  age  of  79.] 

1813. 
Rev.  Thomas  Cushing  Thacher  discontinued  his  connection 
with  the  First  Parish.  The  people  gave  him  a  recommendation 
and  made  him  a  present  of  eight  hundred  dollars.  He  was  a 
son  of  Rev.  Peter  Thacher,  minister  of  Brattle  Street  Church, 
in  Boston.  He  graduated  in  1790,  was  ordained  in  1794, 
preached  nineteen  years,  and  removed  to  Cambridge.  He 
wrote  many  good  sermons,  six  of  which,  on  interesting  occa- 
sions, he  published. 

1.  A  Sermon  on  the  Annual  Thanksgiving,  1794. 

2.  A  Sermon  on  the  Interment  of  Eight  Seamen,  1795. 

3.  A  Eulogy  on  the  Death  of  Washington,  1800. 

4.  A  Sermon  on  the  Death  of  Mrs.  Ann  Carnes,  1800. 

5.  A  Masonic  Address,  delivered  at  Cambridge. 

6.  A  Sermon  on  the  Death  of  Mr.  Shorey  and  Wife,  1803. 
[Mr.  Thacher  died  at  Cambridge,  24  September,  1849.     He 

was  born  at  Maiden,  11  October,  1771.  His  wife  was  Elizabeth 
Blaney ;  and  she  survived  him,  living  till  September,  1858, 
when  she  died  at  South  Reading,  aged  88.] 

At  a  town  meeting  in  March,  thirty-nine  tithing-men  were 
chosen.  This  was  for  the  purpose  of  enforcing  the  Sunday  law, 
that  no  person  should  journey  on  the  Sabbath. 

The  schooner  Industry  was  fitted  out  as  a  privateer,  under 
the  command  of  Capt.  Joseph  Mudge,  and  sent  in  three  prizes  — 
two  brigs  and  one  ship. 

On  the  first  of  June,  the  people  of  Lynn  were  called  forth  by 
an  occasion  of  unusual  interest.  The  English  frigate  Shannon, 
Capt.  Brock,  being  expressly  fitted  for  the  purpose,  approached 
the  harbor  of  Boston,  and  challenged  the  American  frigate 
Chesapeake,  to  battle.  The  hills  and  the  house  tops  were 
crowded  with  spectators,  who  looked  on  with  intense  solicitude. 
The  Chesapeake,  commanded  by  Capt.  James  Lawrence,  sailed 
out  beyond  Nahant,  and  engaged  with  her  adversary.  After  a 
short  and  spirited  conflict,  Capt.  Lawrence  fell,  the  colors  of 
the  Chesapeake  were  lowered,  and  the  Shannon,  with  her  prize, 
departed  for  Halifax. 
F2 


374  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1813. 

The  new  Methodist  meeting-house  was  dedicated  on  the  3d 
of  June. 

Rev.  Isaac  Hurd  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  First  Parish,  on 
the  15th  of  September. 

This  year,  many  racoons,  driven  by  the  war  from  the  north, 
were  shot  at  Swampscot ;  and  a  wild  cat,  after  a  deperate  resist- 
ance, was  killed  at  Red  Rock.  [It  can  easily  be  imagined  that 
wild  animals  have  no  partiality  for  gunpowder.  But  it  seems 
hardly  reasonable  to.  suppose  that  the  war  could  have  had  much 
influence  in  driving  the  racoons  hither,  inasmuch  as  there  were 
military  movements  here  as  well  as  at  the  north.  Such  animals 
abounded  a  short  distance  back,  and  some  necessities  touching 
their  food  may  have  induced  their  descent.  They  had  always 
been  found  hereabout;  occasionally  in  considerable  numbers. 
As  late  as  November,  1829,  four  were  killed  in  the  barn  on  the 
Carnes  place,  Boston  street,  two  of  them  weighing  fifteen  pounds 
each.] 

The  celebrated  Mary  Pitcher,  a  professed  fortune-teller,  died 
April  9,  1813,  aged  75  years.  Her  grandfather,  John  Dimond, 
lived  at  Marblehead,  and  for  many  years  exercised  the  same 
pretensions.  Her  father,  Capt.  John  Dimond,  was  master  of  a 
vessel  from  that  place,  and  was  living  in  1770.  Mary  Dimond 
was  born  in  the  year  1738.  She  was  connected  with  some  of 
the  best  families  in  Essex  county,  and,  with  the  exception  of 
her  extraordinary^  pretensions,  there  was  nothing  disreputable  in 
her  life  or  character.  She  was  of  the  medium  height  and  size 
for  a  woman,  with  a  good  form  and  agreeable  manners.  Her 
head,  phrenologically  considered,  was  somewhat  capacious ;  her 
forehead  broad  and  full,  her  hair  dark  brown,  her  nose  inclining 
to  long,  and  her  face  pale  and  thin.  There  was  nothing  gross 
or  sensual  in  her  appearance  —  her  countenance  was  rather 
intellectual ;  and  she  had  that  contour  of  face  and  expression 
which,  without  being  positively  beautiful,  is,  nevertheless,  deci- 
dedly interesting  —  a  thoughtful,  pensive,  and  sometimes  down- 
cast look,  almost  approaching  to  melancholy  —  an  eye,  when  it 
looked  at  you,  of  calm  and  keen  penetration  —  and  an  expres- 
sion of  intelligent  discernment,  half  mingled  with  a  glance  of 
shrewdness.  She  took  a  poor  man  for  a  husband,  and  then 
adopted  what  she  doubtless  thought  the  harmless  employment 
of  fortune-telling,  in  order  to  support  her  children.  In  this  she 
was  probably  more  successful  than  she  herself  had  anticipated ; 
and  she  became  celebrated,  not  only  throughout  America,  but 
throughout  the  world,  for  her  skill.  There  was  no  port  on 
either  continent,  where  floated  the  flag  of  an  American  ship, 
that  had  not  heard  the  fame  of  Moll  Pitcher.  To  her  came  the 
rich  and  the  poor  —  the  wise  and  the  ignorant  —  the  accom- 
plished and  the  vulgar  —  the  timid  and  the  brave.     The  ignorant 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1813.  375 

sailor,  who  believed  in  the  omens  and  dreams  of  superstition,  and 
the  intelligent  merchant,  whose  ships  were  freighted  for  distant 
lands,  alike  sought  her  dwelling ;  and  many  a  vessel  has  been 
deserted  by  its  crew,  and  waited  idly  at  the  wharves,  for  weeks, 
in  consequence  of  her  unlucky  predictions.  Many  persons  came 
from  places  far  remote,  to  consult  her  on  affairs  of  love,  or  loss 
of  property ;  or  to  obtain  her  surmises  respecting  the  vicissi- 
tudes of  their  future  fortune.  Every  youth,  who  was  not 
assured  of  the  reciprocal  affection  of  his  fair  one,  and  every 
maid  who  was  desirous  of  anticipating  the  hour  of  her  highest 
felicity,  repaired  at  evening  to  her  humble  dwelling,  which. stood 
on  what  was  then  a  lonely  road,  near  the  foot  of  High  Rock, 
with  the  single  dwelling  of  Dr.  Henry  Burchsted  nearly  oppo- 
site ;  over  whose  gateway  were  the  two  bones  of  a  great  whale, 
disposed  in  the  form  of  a  gothic  arch.  There,  in  her  unpretend- 
ing mansion,  for  more  than  fifty  years,  did  she  answer  the 
inquiries  of  the  simple  rustic  from  the  wilds  of  New  Hampshire, 
and  the  wealthy  noble  from  Europe  ;  and,  doubtless,  her  predic- 
tions have  had  an  influence  in  shaping  the  fortunes  of  thou- 
sands. 

Mrs.  Pitcher  was,  indeed,  one  of  the  most  wonderful  women 
of  any  age  ;  and  had  she  lived  in  the  days  of  alleged  witchcraft, 
would  doubtless  have  been  the  first  to  suffer.  That  she  ac- 
quired her  intelligence  by  intercourse  with  evil  spirits,  it  would 
now  be  preposterous  to  assert —  and  it  requires  a  very  great 
stretch  of  credulity  to  believe  that  she  arrived  at  so  many 
correct  conclusions,  merely  by  guess-work.  That  she  made  no 
pretension  to  any  thing  supernatural,  is  evident  from  her  own 
admission,  when  some  one  offered  her  a  large  sum,  if  she  would 
tell  him  what  ticket  in  the  lottery  would  draw  the  highest  prize. 
"Do  you  think,"  said  she,  ^'if  I  knew,  I  would  not  buy  it  my- 
self?" Several  of  the  best  authenticated  anecdotes  which  are 
related  of  her,  seem  to  imply  that  she  possessed,  in  some  degree, 
the  faculty  which  is  now  termed  clairvoyance.  Indeed,  there 
seems  to  be  no  other  conclusion,  unless  we  suppose  that  per- 
sons of  general  veracity  have  told  us  absolute  falsehoods.  The 
possession  of  this  faculty,  with  her  keen  perception  and  shrewd 
judgment,  in  connection  with  the  ordinary  art  which  she  admit- 
ted to  have  used,  to  detect  the  character  and  business  of  her 
visitors,  will  perhaps  account  for  all  that  is  extraordinary  in  her 
intelligence.  In  so  many  thousand  instances  also,  of  the  exer- 
cise of  her  faculty,  there  is  certainly  no  need  of  calling  in  super- 
natural aid  to  account  for  her  sometimes  judging  right ;  and 
these  favorable  instances  were  certain  to  be  related  to  her 
advantage,  and  insured  her  abundance  of  credibility.  She  mar- 
ried Robert  Pitcher,  a  shoemaker,  on  the  2d  of  October,  1760. 
Had  she  married  differently,  as  she  might  have  done,  she  would 


376 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN  —  1 »  I  ^. 


have  adorned  a  brighter  and  a  happier  station  in  life,  and  the 
world  would  never  have  heard  of  her  fame.  [The  period  in 
which  she  lived  was  one  in  which  the  education  of  females  was 
very  little  regarded ;  yet  it  is  evident  that  she  was  by  no  means 
destitute  of  education.     A  fac- 


Ma  rJ-^iGUr 


simile  of  her  signature  is  here 
given.  It  was  engraved,  with 
great  care,  from  her  signature 
on   a  deed  dated   in   1770,  con-  Signature  of  Moll  Pitcher, 

veying  a  piece  of  land  near  her 

habitation.]  She  had  one  son,  John,  and  three  daughters,  Re- 
becca, Ruth,  and  Lydia,  who  married  respectably;  and  some 
of  her  descendants  are  among  the  prettiest  young  ladies  of 
Lynn.  Nor  is  there  any  reason  why  they  should  blush  at  the 
mention  of  their  ancestress.  While  it  is  hoped  that  no  one,  in 
this  enlightened  age,  will  follow  her  profession,  it  must  be 
admitted  that  she  had  virtues  which  many  might  practice  with 
advantage.  She  supported  her  family  by  her  skill,  and  she  was 
benevolent  in  her  disposition.  She  has  been  known  to  rise 
before  sunrise,  walk- two  miles  to  a  mill,  purchase  a  quantity  of 
meal,  and  carry  it  to  a  poor  widow,  who  would  otherwise  have 
had  no  breakfast  for  her  children. 

[The  cottage  in  which  this  remarkable  woman  so  long  dwelt, 
may  still  be  seen.  It  stands  on  the  north  side  of  Essex  street, 
nearly  opposite  Pearl.  But  population  has  so  increased  in  the 
vicinity  that  it  is  now  very  far  from  being  in  a  lonely  place. 
The  hum  of  business  is  heard  around,  and  numerous  pretentious 
edihces  look  down  upon  its  modest  roof.  Within  a  short  time 
it  has  undergone  repairs,  and,  together  with  its  surroundings 
has  been  made  to  assume  more  of  a  modern  appearance.  Its 
essential  features,  however,  remain  unchanged  ;  and  the  follow- 
ing is  a  faithful  representation  of  it  as  it  was.] 


MOLL    PITCHERS    HOUSE. 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN  —  1814.  37' 


1814. 

[Samuel  W.  Coggshall  was  drowned  in  Saugus  river,  1  Ma,y. 
He  was  a  son  of  Capt.  Timothy  Coggshall;  of  Newport,  R.  I., 
and  29  years  of  age.] 

Tlie  district  of  Lynnfield,  which  was  separated  from  Lynn  on 
the  3d  of  July,  1782,  was  this  year  incorporated  as  a  town,  on 
the  28th  of  February. 

On  the  28th  of  February,  also,  the  Lynn  Mechanics  Bank  was 
incorporated,  with  a  capital  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

The  erection  of  the  Town  House,  on  the  Common,  was  begun 
in  February. 

A  company  of  militia,  consisting  of  seventy-eight  men  from 
Essex  county,  was  detached,  in  July,  for  the  defense  of  the 
sea  coast.  Of  this  number,  Lynn  furnished  fifteen,  and  the 
whole  were  placed  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Samuel  Mudge, 
of  Lynn.  On  the  first  of  August,  they  mustered  at  Danvers, 
and  on  the  next  day  marched  to  Salem,  and  encamped  on  Win- 
ter Island.  On  the  27th,  a  violent  storm  blew  down  most  of 
the  tents,  and  on  the  next  day  the  detachment  removed  to  Fort 
Lee.  On  the  night  of  the  28th  of  September,  a  great  alarm 
was  occasioned  by  some  men  who  were  drawing  a  seine  at 
Beverly.  Alarm  guns  were  fired  about  midnight,  and  in  less 
than  thirty  minutes  the  Salem  regiment  was  drawn  up  for  orders. 
Nearly  sixty  old  men  of  that  town  also  took  their  arms,  went 
directly  to  the  fort,  and  patriotically  offered  ther  services  to 
Captain  Mudge.  The  alarm  spread  to  the  neighboring  towns, 
and  within  an  hour  the  Lynn  regiment  was  in  arms,  and  on  its 
march  toward  Salem.  The  promptitude  with  which  these  two 
regiments  were  formed,  the  self-possession  manifested  by  the 
officers  and  soldiers,  and  the  readiness  with  which  they  marched 
toward  what  was  then  confidently  believed  to  be  a  scene  of 
action  and  danger,  is  worthy  of  commendation.  The  company 
was  discharged  on  the  first  of  November.  During  a  considera- 
ble part  of  this  season,  guards  were  stationed  in  Lynn,  on  Long 
Wharf  and  Saugus  Bridge.  The  town,  with  its  accustomed 
liberality,  allowed  to  each  of  its  soldiers,  who  went  into  service, 
thirty  dollars  in  addition  to  the  pay  of  the  government,  which 
was  only  eight  dollars  a  month.  The  town  received  a  hundred 
muskets  from  the  State,  and  a  hundred  old  men  volunteered  to 
use  them. 

In  a  great  sleet  and  rain  storm,  on  the  night  of  November 
19th,  Mr.  Ward  Hartwell,  of  Charlemont,  perished  in  attempting 
to  pass  Lynn  Beach,  to  Nahant.  He  lost  his  way  and  drove 
into  the  water. 

An  earthquake  happened  on  the  28th  of  November,  at  twenty 
minutes  past  seven  in  ttje  evening. 
F2^ 


378  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1815. 

[The  manufacture  of  linen  goods  was  this  year  commenced 
by  the  ''  Lynn  Linen  Spinning  Factory  Company."  They  built 
a  factory  of  wood,  three  stories  high,  on  the  east  side  of  Saugus 
river,  and  commenced  with  the  manufacture  of  sail  duck.  But 
the  termination  of  the  war  with  England  afforded  facilities  for 
procuring  linen  goods  from  abroad  at  such  reduced  prices  that 
the  business  was  soon  abandoned.  Some  linen,  however,  was 
made  in  Lynn  long  before  this ;  but  it  was  probably  more  like 
the  ordinary  tow  cloth.     See  under  date  1726.] 

1815. 

The  Saugus  parish  was  incorporated  as  a  separate  town,  on 
the  17th  of  February. 

A  treaty  of  peace  with  England,  which  was  signed  at  Ghent, 
on  the  24th  of  December,  1814,  was  ratified  by  Congress,  on 
the  17th  of  February. 

This  year  the  First  Baptist  Church  in  Lynn  was  organized, 
on  the  17th  of  March.  In  May,  the  meeting-house  which  the 
Methodist  society  had  vacated,  was  purchased  for  their  use.  It 
is  worthy  of  remark,  that  this  building  was  placed  upon  land 
purchased  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  —  that  very 
church  which  had  persecuted  the  Baptists,  and  delivered  them 
up  to  the  executioner,  a  hundred  and  sixty-four  years  before. 
[No  Baptists  were  executed.  Some  were  banished,  and  others 
fined.  It  is  worthy  of  remark,  also,  that  this  building  was,  last 
of  all,  occupied  by  the  Roman  Catholics,  that  Church  which 
Baptists,  Congregationalists,  and  Methodists,  as  well  as  all  other 
protestant  bodies  delight  to  traduce.  It  was  burned  on  Satur- 
day night,  28  May,  1859.     And  so  closed  its  eventful  history. 

[In  Brooks's  history  of  Medford  it  is  stated  that  at  this  time, 
when  only  a  few  persons  resided  at  Nahant,  it  was  the  custom 
for  families  in  Medford  to  join  in  parties  to  that  beautiful  prom- 
ontor}^  From  ten  to  twenty  chaises  would  start  together,  and, 
reaching  their  destination,  the  ladies  and  gentlemen,  girls  and 
boys,  would  proceed  to  fishing  from  the  rocks  and  boats.  Each 
one  wore  the  commonest  clothes ;  and  the  day  was  passed  in 
all  sorts  of  sports.  A  fish  dinner  was  an  agreed  part  of  the 
fare ;  and  a  supper  at  Lynn  Hotel  closed  the  eating  for  the  day. 
The  party  rode  home  by  moonlight;  and  by  ten  o'clock  were 
sufficiently  fatigued  to  accept  the  bed  as  a  most  agreeable  finale. 
And  such  parties  often  came  from  Maiden,  Reading,  Stoneham, 
and  places  more  remote.  The  dinners  were  generally  cooked 
by  the  parties  themselves,  over  fires  built  among  the  rocks, 
a  sufficient  supply  of  drift  wood  being  gleaned  from  the  shores. 
They  were  right  jolly  times,  and  involved  little  expense.] 

A  very  great  storm,  on  the  23d  of  September,  occasioned 
much  damage.     The  wind  blew  violently  from  the  southeast, 


ANNALS   OF    LYNN — 1816.  379" 

and  buildings,  fences,  and  trees,  fell  before  it.  A  part  of  the 
roof  of  tlie  Academy  was  taken  off,  and  carried  by  the  wind  more 
than  half  way  across  the  Common.  The  spray  of  the  ocean 
was  borne  far  upon  the  land,  and  the  fruit  on  trees  several 
miles  from  the  shore  was  impregnated  with  salt. 

1816. 

[The  first  Methodist  Society  in  Lynnfield,  was  organized  on 
the  2d  of  April.] 

The  Baptist  society  was  incorporated  on  the  15th  of  April ; 
and  on  the  15th  of  September,  Rev.  George  Phippen  was  settled 
as  their  first  minister. 

Rev.  Isaac  Hurd  relinquished  his  pastoral  care  over  the  First 
Congregational  Society,  on  the  22d  of  May.  He  was  born  at 
Charlestown,  [in  December,  1785,  and  graduated  at  Cambridge, 
in  1806.  From  Lynn  he  removed  to  Exeter,  N.  H.,  where  he 
was  installed  over  the  Second  Church  of  that  place,  September 
11,  1817.  There  he  remained  till  his  death,  which  took  place  a 
few  years  since. 

[The  summer  of  this  year  was  very  cool,  and  little  corn 
ripened.  There  was  a  frost  in  every  month ;  and  snow  fell  on 
the  8th  of  June.  The  23d  of  June,  however,  was  excessively 
hot,  the  thermometer  rising  to  101  degrees,  in  the  shade. 

[The  Quaker  meeting-house  was  built  on  Broad  street,  this 
year;  and  it  stood  on  its  original  site  till  1852,  when  it  was 
moved  back  some  rods  and  made  to  face  on  Silsbe  street.  For 
facts  relating  to  the  earlier  Quaker  meeting-houses  see  under 
dates  1678  and  1723. 

[A  great  horse  trot  took  place  on  Friday,  September  6.  The 
course  was  on  the  Turnpike,  and  extended  three  miles  toward 
Boston,  from  Saugus  river  bridge.  This  is  said  to  have  been 
the  first  regular  trot  in  the  country ;  and  it  was  attended  by  a 
great  multitude  of  spectators,  from  far  and  near.  A  horse  called 
Old  Blue,  owned  by  Major  Stackpole,  trotted  three  miles  in 
eight  minutes  and  forty-two  seconds.  The  same  horse,  four 
days  after,  trotted  the  same  distance  in  eight  minutes  and  fifty- 
six  seconds,  and  again,  two  days  after  that,  the  same  distance  in 
eight  minutes  and  eighteen  and  three  quarter  seconds. 

[This  year  another  attempt  was  made  to  establish  the  manu- 
facture of  linen  in  this  vicinity.  Nathaniel  Ferry  built  a  dam 
over  the  brook  in  North  Saugus,  and  erected  a  large  wooden 
building  in  which  he  designed  to  spin  and  weave  a  finer  kind 
of  linen.     He  did  not,  however,  succeed  in  his  enterprise. 

[Isaac  Burrill,  who  lived  near  Saugus  river  bridge,  on  Boston 
street,  while  returning  from  Boston,  on  a  cold,  moonlight  night, 
was  robbed,  on  the  Turnpike,  by  three  highwaymen.  He  was 
a  shoe  manufacturer,  on  a  small  scale,  and  was  walking  home 


380  ANNALS.  OF  LYNN— 1817,  1818. 

from  Boston  with  a  bag  of  articles  which  he  bad  received  in 
exchange  for  shoes  disposed  of  during  the  day.  He  had  also  a 
small  sum  of  money  in  his  pocket.  When  near  a  small  shanty, 
which  stood  on  the  south  of  the  Turnpike,  perhaps  a  mile  west 
of  the  Half-way  House,  and  which  had  been  erected  for  the 
convenience  of  laborers  on  the  marshes,  three  men  rushed  out 
and  forced  him  into  the  building.  There  they  robbed  him  of  all 
he  had  of  value,  and  bound  him,  hand  and  foot,  with  raw  hemp. 
They  then  left  him,  with  the  threat  of  instant  death  if  he  should 
make  any  outcry  before  the  mail  stage  had  passed,  adding  that 
they  intended  to  rob  that.  He  kept  silence  for  the  time  speci- 
fied, but  they  did  not  return.  By  straining  and  kicking  he 
finally  succeeded  in  releasing  his  feet,  and  soon  reached  the 
Half-way  House.  The  robbers  were  never  caught.  He  said 
they  assured  him  that  nothing  but  shear  necessity  impelled 
them  to  the  act.  There  was  no  attempt  to  rob  the  mail,  the 
pretense  about  that  probably  being  for  the  purpose  of  keeping 
him  quiet  while  they  made  good  their  escape.  His  pocketbook 
was  found,  weeks  after,  in  Cambridgeport,  in  a  ditch.] 

In  November,  new  bells  were  placed  on  the  First  Congrega- 
tional and  First  Methodist  meeting-houses. 

1817. 

Friday,  the  14th  of  February,  was  an  exceedingly  cold  day. 
The  thermometer  was  eighteen  degrees  below  zero. 

There  was  an  earthquake  on  Sunday,  7  September,  and  an- 
other on  5  October. 

This  year,  Hon.  Thomas  H.  Perkins  built  the  first  stone  cot- 
tage on  Nahant. 

President  Munroe  passed  through  Lynn. 

[The  prices  of  provisions  were  very  high,  in  Lynn,  at  this 
time.  From  the  old  book  of  a  respectable  shoe  manufacturer 
it  appears  that  flour  was  $16  a  barrel,  Indian  meal  $2  a  bushel, 
molasses  70  cents  a  gallon,  young  hyson  tea  $1.60  a  pound,  and 
brown  sugar  18  cents  a  pound.] 

1818. 

[Herbert  Richardson,  jr.,  aged  24,  and  Charlotte  Palmer,  aged 
20,  were  drowned  in  the  Shawsheen  river,  on  their  way  to  Lynn- 
field,  where  they  were  to  be  married,  the  same  evening,  March  3. 

[There  was  a  very  long  storm  in  April.  A  memorandum 
made  by  Major  Ezra  Hitchings,  who  kept  a  store  on  Boston 
street,  says  it  ''  began  to  snow  the  second  of  April,  at  eleven 
o'clock,  and  continued  to  snow  and  rain  alternately  till  the 
tenth,  at  six  o'clock  in  the  evening."] 

Rev.  Otis  Rockwood  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  First  Congre- 
gational Church,  on  the  1st  of  July. 


ANNALS  OP  LYNN — 1819.  381 

A  stone  building,  for  a  school-house  and  library,  was  built  at 
Nahant,  and  several  hundred  volumes  were  presented  by  gentle- 
men from  Boston. 

The  First  Social  Library  at  Lynn  was  incorporated.  [But  it 
would  be  a  mistake  to  suppose  that  the  first  library  was  formed 
this  year.  There  was  a  good  social  library  here  before  the 
commencement  of  the  present  century,  and  Mr.  Thacher  acted 
as  librarian  during  a  part  of  his  ministry.  The  library  incor- 
porated this  year  became  a  useful  institution,  and  was  continued, 
much  according  to  its  original  organization,  till  it  was  merged 
in  the  Lynn  Library  Association,  incorporated  in  March,  1855. 
And  finally,  in  1862,  the  collection  went  to  form  the  basis  of  the 
adjective-afflicted  "  Lynn  Free  Public  Library."  At  the  last 
mentioned  date  the  number  of  volumes  was  about  4.100.  No 
doubt  care  will  be  exercised  to  increase  the  value  of  this  insti- 
tution. A  free  library,  especially,  should  be  composed  of  only 
such  books  as  will  exert  a  healthful  influence ;  it  should  be  a 
corrector,  not  a  follower,  of  public  taste.  The  books  of  such  a 
library,  whatever  they  are,  will  be  extensively  read ;  and  if  it 
contains  none  but  good  ones,  the  influence  must  be  highly  bene- 
ficial. The  circulating  library,  as  it  is  called,  stands  on  a  very 
diff'erent  footing,  and  is  in  some  sense  beyond  the  control  of 
those  who  may  stand  in  the  attitude  of  conservators  of  the 
pablic  weal.] 

1819. 

The  winter  was  unusually  mild,  with  little  snow,  and  the 
harbor  scarcely  frozen.  Farmers  ploughed  in  every  month ; 
January  was  like  April,  and  the  spring  was  forward  and  warm. 
[The  principal  snow  storm  was  on  the  8th  of  March.] 

The  first  attempt  to  form  an  Episcopal  Church  in  Lynn,  was 
made  this  year.  A  few  persons  were  organized  as  a  Church  on 
the  27th  of  January,  and  continued  to  worship  in  the  Academy 
about  four  years. 

On  the  31st  of  January,  Jonathan  Mansfield  was  drowned  in 
the  Flax  pond.  On  the  6th  of  April,  William  Phillips  was  drown- 
ed in  the  Pines  river.  On  the  4th  of  September,  Asa  Gowdey 
was  drowned  near  the  mouth  of  Saugus  river. 

[The  first  Missionary  Society  of  the  great  Methodist  Church 
was  formed  in  Lynn,  on  the  21st  of  February.  The  General 
Missionary  Society  was  not  organized  till  the  4th  of  April.] 

Tuesday,  July  6,  was  an  exceeding  warm  day.  The  thermom- 
eter rose  to  120  degrees  in  the  sun. 

A  farm  of  about  fifty  acres  was  purchased  by  the  town,  and  a 
new  poor-house  built  on  Willis's  hill.  [I  do  not  understand 
why  Mr.  Lewis,  here  and  in  one  or  two  other  places,  calls  this 
Willis's  hill.     No  one  else  appears  to  have  done  so.     True,  one 


382  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1819. 

of  the  early  settlers,  named  Willis,  owned  lands  hereabout,  but 
tlie  hill  does  not  appear  to  have  been  called  by  his  name. 

[Isaiah  Newhall,  a  shoemaker,  who  lived  on  Federal  street, 
made  in  three  consecutive  days,  fifty  one  pairs  of  ladies'  spring 
heel  shoes.  The  price  of  making,  was  thirty-three  cents  per 
pain] 

This  year  the  Nahant  Hotel  was  built,  by  Hon.  Thomas  H. 
Perkins  and  Hon.  Edward  H.  Robbins,  at  an  expense  of  about 
sixty  thousand  dollars. 

That  singular  marine  animal,  called  the  Sea-serpent,  first  made 
his  appearance  in  the  waters  of  Lynn  this  year.  It  was  alleged 
that  it  had  been  seen  in  August,  1817  and  1818,  in  Gloucester 
harbor.  On  the  13th  and  14th  days  of  xiugust,  this  year,  many 
hundred  persons  were  collected  on  Lynn  Beach,  by  a  report 
that  it  was  to  Ioq  seen.  Many  depositions  have  been  taken  of 
its  subsequent  appearance.  It  was  represented  to  have  been 
from  50  to  70  feet  in  length,  as  large  as  a  barrel,  moving  swiftly, 
sometimes  with  its  head  several  feet  above  the  tide.  I  have  not 
seen  such  an  animal,  but  perhaps  it  exists ;  and  it  ma\'  be  one 
of  the  mighty  existing  rehcs  of  a  buried  world.  In  1638,  Dr. 
John  Josselyn  tells  us  of  "  A  Sea  Serpent  or  Snake,  that  lay 
quoiled  up,  like  a  cable,  upon  a  Rock  at  Cape  Ann.  A  boat 
passing  by,  with  English  aboard  and  two  Indians,  they  would 
have  shot  the  serpent,  but  the  Indians  disswaded  them,  saying 
that  if  he  were  not  killed  outright,  they  would  be  in  danger  of 
their  lives." 

[It  may  be  thought  that  so  celebrated  a  wandei'er  of  the  sea 
is  deserving  of  a  little  more  extended  notice  than  Mr.  Lewis  has 
afi'orded.  The  learned  Agassiz  says,  in  a  lecture  delivered  ^t 
Philadelphia,  20  March,  1849,  '^  I  have  asked  myself  in  connec- 
tion with  this  subject,  whether  there  is  not  such  an  animal  as 
the  Sea-serpent.  There  are  many  who  will  doubt  the  existence 
of  such  a  creature  until  it  can  be  brought  under  the  dissecting 
knife ;  but  it  has  been  seen  by  so  many  on  whom  we  may  rely, 
that  it  is  wrong  to  doubt  any  longer.  The  truth  is,  however, 
that  if  a  naturalist  had  to  sketch  the  outlines  of  an  Ichthyosau- 
rus or  Plesiosaurus  from  the  remains  we  have  of  them,  he  would 
make  a  drawing  very  similar  to  the  Sea-serpent  as  it  has  been 
described.  There  is  reason  to  think  that  the  parts  are  soft  and 
perishable,  but  I  still  consider  it  probable  that  it  will  be  the 
good  fortune  of  some  person  on  the  coast  of  Norway  or  North 
America  to  find  a  living  representative  of  this  type  of  reptile, 
which  is  thought  to  have  died  out," 

[The  late  prominent  Boston  merchant  and  worthy  gentleman, 
Amos  Lawrence,  under  date  26  April  1849,  writes",  '^  I  have 
never  had  any  doubt  of  the  existence  of  the  Sea-serpent  since 
the  morning  he  was  seen  off  Nahant  by  old   Marshal  Prince, 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1819.  383 

through  his  famous  mast-head  sp3^-glass.  For,  within  the  next 
two  hours,  I  conversed  with  Mr.  Samuel  Cabot,  and  Mr.  Daniel 
P.  Parker,  I  think,  and  one  or  more  persons  besides,  who  had 
spent  a  part  of  that  morning  in  witnessing  its  movements.  In 
addition.  Col.  Harris,  the  commander  at  Fort  Independence,  told 
me  that  the  creature  had  been  seen  by  a  number  of  his  soldiers 
while  standing  sentry  in  the  early  dawn,  some  time  before  this 
show  at  Nahant;  and  Col.  Harris  believed  it  as  firmly  as  though 
the  creature  were  drawn  up  before  us  in  State  street,  where  we 
then  were.  I  again  say,  I  have  never,  from  that  day  to  this, 
had  a  doubt  of  the  Sea-serpent's  existence." 

[The  Mr.  Cabot  to  whom  Mr.  Lawrence  refers  gave  a  descrip- 
tion of  the  animal  in  a  letter  to  Col.  T.  H.  Perkins,  dated  19 
August,  1819,  from  which  the  following  is  extracted: 

I  ^ot  into  my  chaise  [at  Nahant]  about  seven  o'clock  in  the  morningr,  to 
come  to  Boston,  and  on  reaching  the  Long  Beach,  observed  a  number  of 
people  collected  there,  and  several  boats  pushing  off  and  in  the  offing.  I  was 
speculating  on  what  sliould  have  occasioned  so  great  an  assemblage  there 
without  any  apparent  object,  and  finally  had  concluded  that  they  were  some 
]^nn  people  who  were  embarking  in  those  boats  on  a  party  of  pleasure  to 
Egg  Rock  or  some  other  point.  I  had  not  heard  of  the  Sea-serpent  as  being 
in  that  neighborhood,  and  I  had  not  lately  paid  much  attention  to  the  evidences 
which  had  been  given  of  its  existence ;  the  idea  of  this  animal  did  not  enter 
my  mind  at  the  moment.  As  my  curiosity  was  directed  toward  the  boats,  to 
ascertain  the  course  they  were  taking,  my  attention  was  suddenly  arrested  by 
an  object  emerging  from  the  water  at  the  distance  of  about  one  hundred  or  one 
hundred  and  fifty  yards,  which  gave  to  my  mind,  at  the  first  glance,  the  idea 
of  a  horse's  head.  As  my  eye  ranged  along,  I  perceived,  at  a  short  distance, 
eight  or  ten  regular  bunclies  or  protuberances,  and,  at  a  short  niterval,  three 
or  four  more.  I  was  now  satisfied  that  the  Sea-sorpcnt  was  before  me,  and, 
after  the  first  moment  of  excitement  produced  by  the  unexpected  sight  of  so 
strange  a  monster,  taxed  myself  to  investigate  his  appearance  as  accurately  as 
I  could.  My  first  object  was  the  head,  wliich  I  satisfied  myself  was  serpent 
shaped.  It  was  elevated  about  two  feet  from  the  water,  and  he  depressed  it 
gradually,  to  within  six  or  eight  inches  as  he  moved  along.  I  could  always 
see  under  his  chin,  which  appeared  to  hollow  underneath,  or  to  curve  down- 
ward. His  motion  was  at  that  time  very  slow  along  the  beach,  inclining 
toward  the  shore.  He  at  first  moved  his  head  from  side  to  side,  as  if  to  look 
about  him.  I  did  not  see  his  eyes,  though  I  have  no  doubt  I  could  have  seen 
them  if  I  had  thought  to  attend  to  this.  His  bunches  appeared  to  me  not  alto- 
gether uniform  in  size  ;  and  as  he  moved  along,  some  appeared  to  be  depressed, 
and  others  brought  above  the  surface,  though  I  could  not  perceive  any  motion 
in  them.  My  next  object  was  to  ascertain  his  length.  For  this  purpose,  I 
directed  my  eye  to  several  whale-boats  at  about  the  same  distance,  one  of 
which  was  beyond  him,  and,  by  comparing  the  relative  length,  I  calculated 
that  the  distance  from  the  animal's  head  to  the  last  protuberance  I  had  noticed 
would  be  equal  to  about  five  of  those  boats.  I  felt  persuaded  by  this  examina- 
tion that  he  could  not  be  less  than  eighty  feet  long.  As  he  approached  the 
shore  and  came  between  me  and  a  point  of  land  which  projects  from  the  end 
of  the  beach,  I  had  another  means  of  satisfying  myself  on  this  point.  After  I 
had  viewed  him  thus  attentively  for  about  four  or  five  minutes,  he  sank  gradu- 
ally into  the  water  and  disappeared.  He  afterward  again  made  his  appear- 
ance for  a  moment  at  a  short  distance.  .  .  .  After  remaining  some  two  or 
three  hours  on  the  beach,  without  again  seeing  him,  I  returned  toward  Nahant, 


384  ANNALS  OF  LYNN —  1819. 


nnd,  in  crossing  the  Small  Beach,  had  another  good  view  of  him  for  a  longei 
time,  but  at  a  greater  distance.  At  this  time  he  moved  more  rapidly,  causing 
a  white  foam  under  the  chin,  and  a  long  wake,  and  his  protuberances  had  a 
more  uniform  appearance.  At  this  time  he  must  have  been  seen  by  two  or 
three  hundred  persons  on  the  beach  and  on  heights  each  side,  some  of  whom 
were  very  favorably  situated  to  observe  him. 

[James  Prince,  Esq.,  Marshal  of  the  District,  to  whom  Mr. 
Lawrence  also  refers,  writes  as  follows  to  Hon.  Judge  Davis, 
under  date  16  August: 

Mt  Dear  Sir:  —  I  presume  1  may  have  seen  what  is  generally  thought  to 
be  the  Sea-serpent.  I  have  also  seen  my  name  inserted  in  the  evening  news- 
paper printed  at  Boston  on  Saturday,  in  a  communication  on  this  subject. 
For  your  gratification,  and  from  a  desire  that  my  name  may  not  sanction  any 
thing  beyond  what  was  actually  presented  and  passed  in  review  before  me,  I 
will  now  state  that  which,  in  the  presence  of  more  than  two  hundred  other 
witnesses,  took  place  near  the  Long  Beach  of  Nahaut,  on  Saturday  morning 
last. 

Intending  to  pass  two  or  three  days  with  my  family  at  Nahant,  we  left  Bos- 
ton early  on  Saturday  morning.  On  passing  the  Half-way  House  on  the  Salem 
turnpike,  Mr.  Smith  informed  us  the  Sea-serpent  had  been  seen  the  evening 
before  at  Nahant  beach,  and  that  a  vast  number  of  people  from  Lynn  had  gone 
to  the  beach  that  morning  in  hopes  of  being  gratified  with  a  sight  of  him ;  this 
was  confirmed  at  the  Hotel.  I  was  glad  to  find  I  had  brought  my  famous 
mast-head  spy-glass  with  me,  as  it  would  enable  me,  from  its  form  and  size, 
to  view  him  to  advantage,  if  I  might  be  so  fortunate  as  to  see  him.  On  our 
arrival  on  the  beach,  we  associated  with  a  considerable  collection  of  persons 
on  foot  and  in  chaises ;  and  very  soon  an  animal  of  the  fish  kind  made  his 
appearance  .  .  . 

His  head  appeared  about  three  feet  out  of  water ;  I  counted  thirteen  bunches 
on  his  back ;  my  family  thought  there  were  fifteen.  He  passed  three  times  at 
a  moderate  rate  across  the  bay,  but  so  fleet  as  to  occasion  a  foam  in  the  water ; 
and  my  family  and  self,  who  were  in  a  carriage,  judged  that  he  was  from  fifty 
to  not  more  than  sixty  feet  in  length.  Whether,  however,  the  wake  might  not 
add  to  the  appearance  of  his  length,  or  whether  the  undulations  of  the  water 
or  his  peculiar  manner  of  propelling  himself  might  not  cause  the  appearances 
of  protuberances,  I  leave  for  your  better  judgment.  The  first  view  of  the 
animal  occasioned  some  agitation,  and  the  novelty  perhaps  prevented  that 
precise  discrimination  which  afterward  took  place.  As  he  swam  up  the  bay, 
we  and  the  other  spectators  moved  on  and  kept  nearly  abreast  of  him.  He 
occasionally  withdrew  himself  under  water,  and  the  iiea  occurred  to  me  that 
his  occasionally  raising  his  head  above  the  level  of  the  water  was  to  take 
breath,  as  the  time  he  kept  under  was,  on  an  average,  about  eight]  minutes. 
.  .  .  Mrs.  Prince  and  the  coachman  having  better  eyes  than  myself,  were  of 
great  assistance  to  me  in  marking  the  progress  of  the  animal ;  they  would  say, 
"He  is  now  turning,"  and  by  the  aid  of  my  glass  I  saw  him  distinctly  in  this 
movement.  He  did  not  turn  without  occupying  some  space,  and,  taking  into 
view  the  time  and  the  space  which  he  found  necessary  for  his  ease  and  accom- 
modation, I  adopted  it  as  a  criterion  to  form  some  judgment  of  his  length.  I 
had  seven  distinct  views  of  him  from  the  Long  Beach,  so  called,  and  at  some 
of  them  the  animal  was  not  more  than  a  hundred  yards  distant.  After 
being  on  the  Long  Beach  with  other  spectators  about  an  hour,  the  animal  dis- 
appeared, and  I  proceeded  on  towards  Nahant ;  but  on  passing  the  second 
beach,  I  met  Mr.  James  Magee,  of  Boston,  with  several  ladies,  in  a  carriage, 
prompted  by  curiosity  to  endeavor  to  see  tlie  animal ;  and  we  were  again 
gratified  beyond  even  what  we  saw  in  the  other  bay,  which  I  concluded  he 
had  left  in  consequence  of  the  number  of  boats  in  the  offing  in  pursuit  of  him, 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1819.  385 

the  noise  of  whose  oars  must  have  disturbed  liiin,  as  he  appeared  to  us  to  be  a 
harmless,  timid  animal.  We  Jiad  here  more  than  a  dozen  different  views  of 
him,  and  eacij  similar  to  the  other;  one,  however,  so  near,  that  the  coachman 
exclaimed,  "  O,  see  his  glistening  eye  ! "  .  .  .  Certain  it  is,  he  is  a  very  strange 
animal. 

[Among  the  papers  left  by  the  late  Benjamin  F.  Newhall,  of 
Saugus  —  than  whom  no  man  in  the  community  stood  higher 
for  truthfulness  —  I  find  an  interesting  account  of  what  he  wit- 
nessed of  the  seeming  gambols  of  the  monster,  who  appeared 
to  him  also  to  be  a  timid  animal.  As  he  approached  the  shore, 
at  about  nine  A.  M.,  says  Mr.  N,,  he  raised  his.  head  apparently 
about  six  feet,  and  moved  very  rapidly  ;  "  I  could  see  the  white 
spray  each  side  of  his  neck,  as  he  ploughed  through  the  water.'' 
He  came  so  near  as  to  startle  many  of  the  spectators,  and  then 
suddenly  retreated.  '^  As  he  turned  short,  the  snake-like  form 
became  apparent,  bending  like  an  eel.  I  could  see  plainly  what 
appeared  to  be  from  fifty  to  seventy  feet  in  length.  Behind  his 
head  appeared  a  succession  of  bunches,  or  humps,  upon  his 
back,  which  the  sun  caused  to  glisten  like  glass." 

[And,  lastly,  the  writer  well  remembers  traveling  down  to  the 
Beach,  with  other  barefoot  urchins,  on  the  memorable  day,  but 
arrived  too  late  —  the  serpent  had  gone  and  the  multitude  were 
dispersing.  Boastful  boys  declared  that  they  could  have  thrown 
stones  beyond  him  as  he  ranged  about  there  in  the  morning. 

[The  following  is  copied  as  a  fair  specimen  of  the  pictorial 
representations  of  the  Sea-serpent  which  were  given  at  the 
time.  I  do  not  find,  however,  in  the  written  descriptions,  that 
he  was  in  the  habit  of  carrying  his  tail  in  that  style.  And  con- 
sidering the  use  that  serpents  in  general  put  that  appendage  to, 
it  would  seem  improbable  that  if  he  belonged  to  the  tribe  he 
would  have  displayed  it  in  that  manner,  which  is  much  like  a 
ship  carrying  her  rudder  above  water. 


THE    SEA-SERPENT. 


[A  small  work,  somewhat  odd  in  style  but  evidently  the  pro- 
duction of  a  person  of  intelligence  and  ingenuity,  was  published 
at  Cambridge,  in  1849,  under  the  title,  "  A  Romance  of  the  Sea- 
serpent,  or  the  Ichthyosaurus."  It  contains,  in  the  Notes  and 
Appendix,  divers  interesting  matters  relating  to  sea  monsters. 
Two  editions  were  readily  disposed  of,  the  author  informs  me. 

[For  several  years  succeeding  this  alleged  visit  of  the  Sea- 
G2  25 


386  ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1820,  1821. 

serpent,  accounts  were  spread  from  time  to  time  of  bis  appearance 
at  different  points  on  the  coast.  And  so  many  false  reports  were 
made  for  the  transparent  purpose  of  attracting  visitors  to  the 
marine  resorts,  that  doubts  increased  as  to  the  existence  of  this 
solitary  rover  of  the  deep.  Little  has  been  heard  of  him  of  late 
years.  In  1849,  however,  John  Marston,  a  respectable  and 
credible  resident  of  Swampscot,  appeared  before  Waldo  Thomp- 
son, a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  made  oath  that  as  he  was  walking 
over  Nahant  Beach,  on  the  3d  of  August,  his  attention  was  sud- 
denly arrested  by  seeing  in  the  water,  within  two  or  three 
hundred  yards  of  the  shore,  a  singular  looking  fish,  in  the  form 
of  a  serpent.  He  had  a  fair  view  of  him,  and  at  once  concluded 
that  he  was  the  veritable  Sea-serpent.  His  head  was  out  of 
water  to  the  extent  of  about  a  foot,  and  he  remained  in  view 
from  fifteen  to  twenty  minutes,  when  he  swam  off  toward  King's 
Beach.  Mr.  Marston  judged  that  the  animal  was  from  eighty 
to  a  hundred  feet  in  length,  at  least,  and  says,  "  I  saw  the 
whole  body  of  the  serpent;  not  his  wake,  but  the  fish  itself.  It 
would  rise  in  the  water  with  an  undulatory  motion,  and  then  all 
his  body  would  sink,  except  his  head.  Then  his  body  w^ould 
rise  again.  His  head  was  above  water  all  the  time.  This  was 
about  eight  o'clock  A.  M.  It  was  quite  calm.  I  have  beea 
constantly  engaged  in  fishing,  since  m}^  youth,  and  I  have  seen 
all  sorts  of  fishes,  and  hundreds  of  horse-mackerel,  but  I  never 
before  saw  any  thing  like  this."] 

1820. 

On  the  14th  of  Februar}^  two  barns,  belonging  to  Mr.  Joseph 
Breed,  in  Summer  street,  were  burnt  by  the  carelessness  of  a 
boy.  The  people  by  a  subscription,  built  him  a  good  barn 
immediately,  which  they  stocked  with  hay. 

[India  rubber  over-shoes  first  made  their  appearance  about 
this  time.  They  were  made  much  thicker  and  heavier  than  at 
present.  Pattens,  clogs,  and  goloeshoes  were  in  use  for  keep- 
ing the  feet  dry,  before  rubbers  were  known ;  but  they  all,  to 
some  extent,  failed  of  their  purpose. 

[There  were  six  tanneries  in  Lynn,  this  year.  But  before 
1833  they  were  all  discontinued,  as  leather  could  be  procured 
from  Philadelphia  and  other  places  at  such  rates  as  rendered 
them  unprofitable.] 

1821. 

On  the  25th  of  January,  the  thermometer  was  17  degrees 
below  zero. 

[There  was  a  violent  northeast  snow  storm,  on  the  17th  of 
April.  It  was  so  severe  as  to  prevent  the  assembling  of  a  quo- 
rum of  the  house  of  representatives,  at  Boston.] 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1822.  387 

Rev.  Joseph  Mottey  died  on  the  9th  of  July.  He  was  born 
at  Salem,  May  14,  1756,  and  graduated  at  Dartmouth,  in  1778. 
He  was  ordained  over  the  Lynnfield  parish,  September  24, 
1780.  He  was  characterized  by  extreme  sensibility,  and  fond- 
ness for  retirement.  His  manners  were  affable,  and  his  mode 
of  preaching  mild  and  persuasive.  He  married  Elizabeth  Moody 
and  had  four  children ;  Charles,  Elias,  Charles  Edward,  and  Eliza. 

1822. 

A  considerable  disturbance  was  this  j^ear  occasioned  in  the 
meetings  of  Friends,  in  consequence  of  a  portion  of  that  society 
having  embraced  different  views.  On  Sunday,  the  17th  of  Feb- 
ruary, one  of  these  essayed  to  go  into  the  ministers'  gallery, 
with  a  sword  by  his  side,  which  he  said  was  an  emblem  of  the 
warlike  disposition  of  those  against  whom  he  wished  to  bear 
testimony ;  but  before  he  had  reached  the  seat,  he  was  stopped, 
and  the  sword  taken  awa3^  In  the  afternoon  the  disturbance 
was  renewed,  by  several  persons  attempting  to  enter  the  high 
seats ;  and  many  people  having  assembled  about  the  house,  the 
deputy  sheriff  was  called  from  the  First  Parish  meeting-house, 
who  read  the  riot  act  in  the  street.  Four  persons  were  appre- 
hended, and  after  an  examination,  the  next  day,  before  a  justice, 
were  committed  to  prison,  at  Salem,  where  they  remained  until 
the  time  of  their  trial,  at  Ipswich,  on  the  16th  of  March.  Two 
of  them  were  then  discharged,  and  the  others  were  fined.  A 
report  of  this  trial  was  published,  with  a  review  in  a  separate 
pamphlet. 

The  first  Circulating  Library  at  Lynn  was  opened  this  year, 
by  the  author  of  this  sketch.  [This  was  a  very  limited  collection, 
and  may  have  formed  the  basis  of  a  small  circulating  library 
kept  by  Charles  F.  Lummus  from  1827  to  1832. 

[A  singular  phenomenon  was  witnessed  at  Saugus  river,  in 
March,  and  is  thus  described  by  the  late  Benjamin  F.  Newhall, 
of  Saugus,  who  was  careful  in  noting  unusual  occurrences : 
*'  The  ice  in  the  river  had  just  broken  up,  and  the  dam  at  the 
bridge  was  overflowed  with  a  large  volume  of  fresh  water.  It 
was  in  the  evening  succeeding  a  very  foggy  day,  and  as  dark 
as  a  foggy  night  with  no  moon  could  possibly  be.  In  looking 
under  the  great  bridge,  where  the  waters  swiftl}^  poured  over 
the  dam,  my  eyes  were  greeted  with  the  appearance  of  balls  of 
fire,  about  the  size  of  a  large  cannon  ball.  They  made  their 
appearance  as  soon  as  the  water  broke  over  the  dam,  and 
seemed  to  dance  and  whirl  about  upon  the  swiftly  rushing  tor- 
rent for  a  moment  or  two,  and  then  disappear,  to  be  succeeded 
by  others.  The  light  of  these  apparent  balls  of  fire  was  so 
great  that  the  whole  space  under  the  bridge  was  illuminated  to 
that  extent  that  all  objects  were  clearly  visible.     So  striking 


388  ANNALS  OF  LYNN— 1823,  1824. 

and  beautiful  was  the  phenomenon,  that  I  summoned  several 
persons  from  the  neighborhood  to  v^ome  and  witness  it.  The 
balls  of  fire  were  continuous  that  niglit  as  long  as  we  had  pa- 
tience to  look  at  them.  There  was  no  cppearance  of  that  phos- 
phorescent sparkling  that  is  often  seen  about  the  bows  of  a 
vessel.  There  was  no  light  but  what  seemed  to  be  balls  of  fire. 
They  were  not  seen  at  all  on  the  succeeding  evening,  and  have 
never  been  seen  since." 

The  Second  Congregational  Society  [Unitarian]  was  incorpo- 
rated on  the  15th  of  June  ;  and  on  the  25th  of  November,  the 
corner  stone  of  the  first  Unitarian  meeting-house  was  laid  with 
an  address  by  Rev.  Joseph  Tuckerman,  of  Chelsea. 

As  some  workmen  Avere  this  year  digging  a  cellar,  in  Liberty 
street,  they  found  the  skeleton  of  an  Indian.  It  was  more  than 
six  feet  in  length,  and  the  skull  was  of  an  uncommon  thickness. 
Two  large  clam  shells  were  found  buried  with  it. 

1823. 

The  coldest  day  this  ^^ear,  was  the  1st  of  March.  The  ther- 
mometer was  seven  degrees  below  zero. 

The  Unitarian  Meeting-house  was  dedicated  on  the  30th  of 
April.     Sermon  by  Rev.  Henry  Colman. 

On  the  5th  of  May,  snow"  fell,  and  the  ice  was  a  quarter  of  an 
inch  thick.     Thermometer  twenty-nine  at  sunrise. 

A  young  woman  named  Sarah  Soames,  aged  19  years,  living  at 
Thomas  Raddin's  went  in  to  bathe  in  Saugus  river,  on  the  even- 
ing of  June  15,  and  was  drowned. 

[The  first  Methodist  meeting-house  in  Lynnfield,  was  dedi- 
cated on  the  14:th  of  October.] 

1824. 

The  tide,  during  great  storms,  had  for  many  years  been 
making  its  encroachments  upon  Lynn  Beach,  washing  its  sands 
over  into  the  harbor,  and  sometimes  making  deep  channels,  as 
it  ran  across  in  rivulets.  In  compliance  with  a  petition  of  the 
town,  the  General  Court,  on  the  18th  of  February,  made  a  grant 
of  $1,500,  to  which  the  town  added  $1,500  more ;  and  by  aid 
of  this  fund,  a  fence  was  constructed,  about  half  the  length  of 
the  beach,  to  prevent  the  encroachments  of  the  tide. 

On  the  6th  of  May,  the  ice  was  a  quarter  of  an  inch  thick. 
Thermometer  twenty-seven  at  sunrise. 

On  the  21st  of  June,  Rev.  Joseph  Searl  was  ordained  pastor 
of  the  Congregational  society  in  Lynnfield.  He  continued  his 
connection  with  that  parish,  till  the  17th  of  September,  1827, 
when  he  removed  to  Stoneham. 

The  French  General  Lafa3"ette,  who  served  in  the  War  of 
Independence,  this  year  came   to   America,  and  was   received 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1825.  389 

with  general  gratulation  and  welcome.  He  passed  through 
Lynn  on  the  31st  of  August.  He  was  received  at  Saugus 
bridge,  on  the  Turnpike,  by  an  escort,  consisting  of  a  battah'on 
of  cavalry,  the  Lynn  Rifle  Company,  Lynn  Light  Infantry,  the 
,3alem  Cadets,  and  a  large  number  of  officers  and  citizens,  by 
whom  he  was  conducted  to  the  Lynn  Hotel,  where  an  address 
was  delivered  to  him  by  Capt.  John  White,  to  which  he  made 
an  affectionate  reply.  After  being  introduced  to  many  gentle- 
men and  ladies,  with  several  revolutionary  soldiers,  he  entered 
an  open  barouche,  ancj  passed  through  two  lines  of  the  children 
of  the  town,  who  threw  flowers  into  his  carriage  as  he  pro- 
ceeded. A 'Salute  of  thirteen  guns  was  fired,  on  his  entrance 
into  the  town ;  and  another  of  twenty-four,  when  he  departed. 
On  his  way  he  passed  through  seven  beautiful  arches,  decorated 
with  evergreens,  flags,  and  festoons  of  flowers,  and  bearing 
inscriptions  in  honor  of  Lafayette  and  Freedom.  Proceeding 
through  the  principal  streets,  he  was  received,  at  the  eastern 
boundary  of  the  town,  by  another  escort,  and  conducted  to 
Marblehead. 

Rev.  James  Diman  Greene  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Unita- 
rian Society,  on  the  3d  of  November. 

[That  very  ingenious  mechanic,  Joseph  Dixon,  lived  in  Lynn 
at  this  time.  And  here  he  labored  on  some  of  those  useful 
inventions  by  which  he  became  so  widely  known.  Among 
other  things  he  directed  his  attention  to  the  application  of 
steam,  and  was  the  originator  of  combinations  that  proved  the 
germs  of  some  of  the  most  gigantic  and  useful  contrivances 
through  which  that  mighty  agent  works  at  the  present  day. 
The  New  England  Farmer,  of  21  February,  1824,  thus  speaks 
of  one  of  his  inventions :  '^  We  have  seen  some  ingenious  ma- 
chinery for  heating  steam  to  a  high  temperature,  invented  by 
Mr.  Joseph  Dixon,  of  Lynn,  Mass.,  which  promises  to  prove  of 
much  utility."     And  a  particular  description  is  added.] 

1825. 

[The  Probate  Court  was  first  held  at  Lynn,  on  the  4th  of  Jan- 
uary.   And  sessions  were  continued  here  for  about  thirty  years.] 

For  several  days,  in  April,  the  moon  and  stars,  with  the  planet 
Venus,  were  visible  for  some  hours,  in  the  middle  of  the  day. 
There  were  no  clouds,  and  the  sun  shone  with  a  dim  light. 

On  the  20th  of  April,  a  piece  of  land  adjoining  the  Quaker 
burial  ground,  in  Lynn,  was  purchased  by  several  individuals 
and  opened  as  a  free  burial  ground.  This  was  done  because 
that  society  had  refused  to  permit  a  child  to  be  buried  in  their 
ground,  without  a  compliance  with  their  regulations. 

This  j^ear  Frederic  Tudor,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  built  his  beautiful 
rustic  cottage  at  Nahant. 
G2* 


390  ANNALS   OF  LYNN  —  182G,   1827. 


On  Thursday,  the  23(3  of  June,  at  the  commencement  of  twi- 
light, a  remarkable  sungush  appeared.  It  proceeded  from  the 
place  of  sunsetting,  and  rose  perfectly  straight  and  well-defined, 
to  the  height  of  twenty  degrees.  Its  color  was  a  beautiful 
bright  red,  and  its  width  equal  to  that  of  a  broad  rainbow ;  the 
clouds  around  were  variegated  with  the  finest  colors,  and  the 
pageant  continued  about  fifteen  minutes. 

[The  thermometer  rose,  21  July,  to  101  degrees  in  the  shade.] 

On  Saturday,  September  3d,  the  first  newspaper  printed  in 
Lynn  was  published  by  Charles  Frederic  Lummus,  with  the 
title  of  Lynn  Weekly  Mirror. 

A  comet  was  visilDle  in  October,  on  the  right  of  tne  Pleiades, 
with  a  train  about  six  degrees  in  length. 

1826. 

The  coldest  day  this  winter,  was  February  1,  when  the  ther- 
mometer was  sixteen  degrees  below  zero. 

A  schooner,  loaded  with  six  hundred  bushels  of  corn,  struck 
on  a  rock  off  the  mouth  of  Saugus  river,  on  the  12th  of  April, 
and  sunk. 

The  festival  of  St.  John,  June  24,  was  celebrated  at  Lynn,  by 
Mount  Carmel  Lodge,  and  five  other  lodges  of  free  masons.  The 
address  was  delivered  by  Hon.  Caleb  Cushing,  of  Newburyport. 

The  Lvnn  Institution  for  Savings  was  incorporated  on  the 
20th  of  June. 

[A  temperance  meeting  was  held  at  the  First  Methodist  meet- 
ing-house, on  the  evening  of  August  12.  A  hundred  and  thirty 
members  were  added  to  the  society,  which  before  numbered 
seventy-one.  The  object  of  the  society  was  "  the  suppression 
of  intemperance  and  its  kindred  vices."] 

The  Quaker  meeting-house,  in  Boston,  with  the  burial  ground 
adjoining,  having  been  long  disused,  and  few  or  none  of  the 
society  remaining  in  the  city,  it  w^as  thought  best  to  remove 
the  bones.  The  remains  of  one  hundred  and  nine  persons  were 
taken  up  and  removed  to  the  Quaker  burial  ground  at  Lynn. 
Mr.  Joseph  Hussey,  who  had  two  sisters  buried  at  Boston,  was 
unwilling  that  they  should  be  removed  with  the  rest,  and  caused 
their  remains,  so  dear  to  his  memoiy,  to  be  deposited  in  the 
cemetery  of  King's  Chapel. 

18  2  7. 
On  the  11th  of  April,  the  First  Congregational  meeting-house 
[the  Old  Tunnel]  was  removed  from  the  centre  of  the  Common 
to  the  corner  of  Commercial  street.  Its  form  was  changed,  a 
new  steeple  added,  and  it  was  dedicated  on  the  17th  of  October. 
[It  would  perhaps  be  more  correct  to  say  that  the  old  house 
was  demolished  and  a  new  one  built,  in  which  a  portion  of  the 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1828.  391 

old  materials  were  used ;  the  uew  erection  bearing  no  resem- 
blance to  the  old,  either  inside  or  out.  The  Second  Universalist 
Society  now  occupy  the  house.] 

On  the  30th  of  April,  Mr.  Paul  Newhall  was  drowned  from  a 
fishing  boat,  at  Swampscot,  in  attempting  to  pass  within  Dread 
Ledge.  His  body  was  found,  uninjured,  thirty-nine  days  after ; 
having,  it  was  said,  been  caused  to  rise  by  heavy  thunder,  which 
agitated  the  water. 

On  the  night  of  Thursday,  May  10th,  a  schooner  from  Kenne- 
beck,  loaded  with  hay  and  wood,  was  driven  by  a  storm  upon 
Lynn  Beach,  and  dismasted. 

The  anniversary  of  Independence  was  this  year  celebrated  at 
Woodend.  In  the  procession  were  thirteen  misses,  dressed  in 
white,  wearing  chaplets  of  roses,  representing  the  thirteen 
original  states,  and  eleven  younger  misses,  representing  the 
new  states.  They  recited  a  responsive  chorus,  written  for  the 
occasion,  and  an  oration  was  delivered  by  the  author  of  this 
history. 

On  Tuesday  evening,  August  28th,  a  most  beautiful  pageant 
was  displayed  in  the  heavens.  During  the  first  part  of  the 
evening,  the  northern  lights  were  uncommonly  luminous ;  and 
at  half  past  nine,  a  broad  and  brilliant  arch  was  formed,  which 
spanned  the  entire  heavens,  from  east  to  west.  No  one  who 
did  not  behold  it,  can  easily  imagine  its  splendor  and  sublimit3^ 
[It  was  like  a  splendid  rainbow,  with  the  exception  of  the  pris- 
matic colors ;  and  was  so  transparent  that  stars  were  clearly 
discernible  through  it.  It  shot  up  in  a  stream  of  white  light 
from  the  western  horizon  and  extended  to  the  eastern.] 

On  several  evenings  in  September,  the  northern  lights  were 
exceedingly  luminous,  sometimes  so  bright  as  to  cast  shadows. 

In  the  month  of  November  were  several  great  and  drifting 
snow  storms,  and  the  weather  was  colder  than  had  been  known 
at  that  season  for  many  years.  It  was  so  cold  that  it  froze  a 
large  water  cistern  solid,  and  burst  it. 

1828. 

On  the  2d  of  May,  a  whale  was  cast  ashore  at  Whale  Beach, 
Swampscot,  measuring  sixty  feet  in  length,  and  twenty-five 
barrels  of  oil  were  extracted  from  it.  , 

An  oration  was  delivered,  on  the  4th  of  July,  by  Rev.  James 
Diman  Green.  His  connection  with  the  Unitarian  Society,  was 
dissolved,  at  his  request,  on  the  4th  of  August. 

[The  Lynn  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  was  organized 
this  year —  Dr.  James  Gardner,  president,  and  Benjamin  Massay, 
secretary.] 

Flora,  a  black  woman,  died  on  the  1st  of  October,  aged  one 
hundred  and  thirteen  years.     She  was  born  in  Africa,  and  re- 


392  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1829. 

lated  many  interesting  anecdotes  of  her  country.  Her  father 
was  one  of  the  chiefs,  and  when  he  died  they  built  a  house  over 
him,  as  they  considered  it  an  indignity  to  suffer  the  rain  to  fall 
on  his  grave.  One  day  a  party  of  slave  dealers  came  and  set 
fire  to  their  happy  and  peaceful  village.  Her  mother  was  unable 
to  run  so  fast  as  the  rest,  and  as  Flora  was  unwilling  to  escape 
without  her,  she  remained  and  was  taken.  She  had  two  hus- 
bands and  five  children  in  Africa,  and  three  husbands  and  five 
children  in  America.  She  was  a  sensible  and  purely  pious 
woman,  and  was  greatly  respected. 

In  a  storm,  on  the  22d  of  November,  a  schooner,  belonging 
to  Freeport,  was  cast  upon  the  Lobster  Rocks.  The  crew,  with 
a  lady  passenger,  immediately  left  the  vessel,  which  was  found 
in  the  morning,  drifted  upon  Chelsea  Beach. 

The  Lynn  Lyceum  was  established,  23  December. 

18  2  9.  .       - 

One  of  the  most  beautiful  appearances  of  nature  was  presented 
on  the  morning  of  Saturday,  the  10th  of  Januar}^.     A  heavy 
mist  had  fallen  on  the  preceding  evening,  and  when  the  sun 
rose,  the  whole  expanse   of  hill   and  plain  displayed  the  most 
enchanting  and  dazzling  prospect  of  glittering  frost.     The  tall 
and  branching  trees  were  bent,  by  the  weight  of  ice,  into  grace- 
ful arches,  and   resembled  magnificent    chandeliers,   glittering 
with  burnished  silver.     As  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  all  was 
one  resplendent  surface  of  polished  ice ;  and  in  some  places, 
the  trees  which  stood  in  colonnades,  were  bent  till  their  tops 
touched  together,  and  formed  long  arcades  of  crystal,  decorated 
with   brilliant   pearls,  and   sparkling  with  diamonds.     But  the 
scene  in  the  open  village,  although  so  highly  beautiful  was  far 
exceeded  by  the  magnificent  lustre  of  the  woods.     The  majes- 
tic hemlocks  bent  their  heavy  branches  to  the  ground,  loaded  as 
with  a  weight  of  gold,  and  formed  delightful  bowers,  sparkling 
with  gems,  and  illuminated  with  colored  light.     The  evergreen 
cedars  were  covered  with  crystal  gold,  and  glowed  with  emeralds 
of  the  deepest  green.     The  silver  tops  of  the  graceful  birches 
crossed   each   other,  like   the   gothic  arches  of  some  splendid 
temple ;  while  the  slender  shafts,  and  the  glittering  rocks,  re- 
sembled  columns,  and  altars,  and  thrones ;  and  the  precipitous 
cliffs  looked  down,  like  towers   and  battlements  of  silver ;  and 
far  above  all,  the  tall  pines  glittered  in  the  frosty  air,  like  the 
spires  of  a  thousand  cathedrals,  overlaid  with  transparent  gold, 
and  burnished  by  the  cloudless  sun.     This  beautiful  and  sur- 
prising  exhibition  continued  undisturbed  for  two  whole  days. 
On  the   third  morning,  the  warm  fingers   of  Aurora  found  the 
frozen  chords  which  upheld  the  glittering  show.     They  severed 
at  the  touch  —  and  from  lofty  spire  and  stately  elm,  came  show- 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN  — 1829.  393 

ering  gems  and  pearls,  that  tinkled  as  they  bounded  on  the 
ciystal  plain.  The  ice,  which  had  confined  the  mighty  arms  of 
aged  forest  trees,  came  crashing  down,  breaking  the  frosted 
shrubs  beneath,  and  sending  through  the  woods  a  mingled 
sound,  like  falling  towers,  and  the  far  dash  of  waters.  The 
admirer  of  the  works  of  nature,  who,  during  the  continuance  of 
this  beautiful  scene,  was  in  the  majestic  woods,  will  never  forget 
their  indescribable  splendor,  or  doubt  the  power  and  skill  of 
Him,  who,  with  such  slight  means  as  the  twilight  vapor  and  the 
midnight  mist,  can  form  an  arch  of  fire  in  heaven,  or  create  an 
exhibition  of  glory  and  grandeur  on  earth,  so  far  surpassing  the 
utmost  beauty  of  the  works  of  man. 

[On  this  inspiring  occasion  Mr.  Lewis  produced  the  poem 
which  has  generally  been  considered  the  most  beautiful  of  his 
productions.  It  first  appeared,  I  think,  in  the  Token,  one  of 
those  elegant  gift  volumes  so  fashionable  at  this  period.  And 
surely  if  he  had  never  written  any  thing  else,  this  would  have 
been  sufficient  to  seal  him  as  a  poet.  Its  insertion  here  seems 
appropriate :] 

THE   FROSTED   TREES. 

JANUARY   10,    1829. 

What  strange  enchantment  meets  my  view, 

So  wondrous  bright  and  fan-? 
Has  heaven  poured  out  its  silver  dew 

On  the  rejoicing  air? 
Or  am  I  borne  to  regions  new, 

To  see  the  glories  there  ? 

Last  eve,  when  sunset  filled  the  sky 

With  wreaths  of  golden  light, 
The  trees  sent  up  their  arms  on  high, 

All  leafless  to  the  sight, 
And  sleepy  mists  came  dowoi  to  lie 

On  the  dark  breast  of  night. 

But  now  the  scene  is  changed,  and  all 

Is  fancifully  new ; 
The  trees,  last  eve  so  straight  and  tall, 

Are  bending  on  the  view, 
And  streams  of  living  daylight  fall 

The  silveiy  arches  through. 

The  boughs  are  strung  with  glittering  pearlfl, 

As  dew-drops  bright  and  bland ; 
And  there  they  gleam  in  silveiy  curls, 

Like  gems  of  Samarcand  ; 
Seeming  in  bright  and  dazzling  whirls, 

The  work  of  seraph's  hand. 

Each  branch  is  bending  with  the  weight, 

Which  makes  it  nod  and  swerve, 
As  if  some  viewless  angel  sate 

Upon  its  graceful  curve. 
Causing  its  heart  to  glow  elate, 

And  strain  each  secret  nerve. 


394  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1829. 


It  seems  as  if  some  robe  of  God 

Had  been  spread  out  below ; 
As  if  His  hand  had  stretclied  abroad, 

Where  midnight  breezes  go : 
To  make  the  mind  of  nature  awed 

With  His  most  glorious  snow. 

In  the  snow  storm  on  the  6th  of  February,  a  woman  perished 
on  Farrington's  Hill,  on  the  Turnpike,  one  mile  eastward  of  the 
Lynn  Hotel  Another  great  storm  commenced  on  the  20th, 
when  several  vessels  belonging  to  Swampscot,  were  driven  out 
to  sea.  One  of  them  remained  five  days,  and  went  on  shore  at 
Chatham,  where  the  crew  were  much  frozen. 

On  the  night  of  the  5th  of  March,  a  schooner,  loaded  with 
coffee,  struck  on  Shag  Rocks,  on  the  south  side  of  Nahant,  and 
was  dashed  entirely  to  pieces.  No  traces  of  the  crew  were 
found,  and  it  is  proljable  that  they  all  perished. 

Great  excitement  was  occasioned  this  year  in  Lj^nn,  as  it  had 
been  in  many  other  towns  and  cities  for  some  years  previous, 
on  the  subject  of  Freemasonr3^  On  the  1st  of  April,  Mr.  Jacob 
Allen,  of  Braintree,  gave  an  exhibition  of  some  of  the  alleged 
mysteries  of  that  institution,  at  Liberty  Hall,  corner  of  Essex 
and  Market  streets ;  and  on  the  6th,  the  inhabitants,  in  town 
meeting,  voted,  that  they  regarded  Freemasonry  ''  as  a  great 
moral  evil,"  and  its  existence  '^as  being  dangerous  to  all  free 
governments,"  and  gave  Mr.  Allen  the  use  of  the  Town  Hall  to 
continue  his  exhibitions.  [The  nature  and  tendency  of  the 
oaths  taken  on  admission  to  the  different  masonic  degrees  were 
soon  vehemently  discussed  in  the  community  at  large,  and  the 
principles  of  the  institution  and  its  value  freely  canvassed,,  it 
being  generally  conceded  that  the  veil  had  been  rent  from  its 
privacy.  Anti-masonry  presently  formed  an  active  element  in 
politics,  and  its  influence  began  seriously  to  be  felt.  We  had 
here  an  anti-masonic  newspaper  —  the  Lynn  Record  —  and  in 
other  places  similar  journals,  conducted  with  zeal  and  ability, 
sprang  up.  In  Lynn,  for  several  years,  the  anti-masonic  party 
were  in  complete  ascendancy,  and  managed  things  as  they 
thought  best.  The  battle  against  the  institution  continued  to 
rage  till  in  some  states  extra-judicial  oaths  were  prohibited 
under  severe  penalties.  Many  lodges  surrendered  their  charters, 
and  then  the  excitement  began  to  decline.  Soon  after,  how- 
ever, other  secret  societies  —  the  Odd  Fellows'  for  instance  — 
claiming  to  be  free  from  the  objectionable  features  of  Free- 
masonr}",  were  established.  And,  finally,  after  a  disturbed  sleep 
of  about  twenty  years,  the  ancient  institution  began  to  arouse 
and  assert  itself  with  renewed  vigor.] 

Rev.  David  Hatch  Barlow  was  ordained  minister  of  the  Uni- 
tarian Society,  on  the  9th  of  December. 

The  canker  worms,  for  seven  years,  have  been  making  great 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1830.  395 

ravages  among  the  fruit  trees.  Many  orchards  have  borne  but 
little  fruit  during  that  time,  and  the  leaves  and  blossoms  have 
been  so  thoroughly  devoured,  that  the  trees  have  appeared  as 
if  scorched  by  fire. 

In  a  very  great  thunder  shower,  on  the  30th  of  July,  a  barn 
on  Nahant,  belonging  to  Stephen  Codman,  Esq.,  was  struck  by 
lightning,  and  Mr.  William  Hogan,  a  carpenter,  was  killed. 

In  September,  a  stone  beacon,  twenty  feet  in  height,  was 
erected  on  the  outer  cliff  of  Dread  Ledge,  by  order  of  the  United 
States  government,  at  an  expense  of  one  thousand  dollars.  It 
was  thrown  down  by  a  storm,  on  the  31st  of  October. 

The  first  complete  Map  of  Lynn  was  made  this  year,  from  a 
particular  survey,  by  Alonzo  Lewis.  [And  the  first  numbers 
of  the  first  edition  of  Mr.  Lewis's  history  were  published. 

[The  manufacture  of  flannel  was  commenced  at  Saugus,  this 
year,  by  Brierly  and  Whitehead.  In  a  few  years  it  grew  to  be  a 
large  and  profitable  business.] 

1830. 

The  publication  of  the  second  newspaper,  entitled  the  Ljrnn 
Record,  was  begun,  January  23,  by  Alonzo  Lewis.  [Mr.  Lewis's 
connection  with  this  paper  ceased  with  the  sixth  number.  It 
then  became  the  organ  of  the  anti-masonic  party,  which  soon 
attained  supremacy  in  municipal  afiairs,  and  held  it  for  several 
years.     The  Record  was  discontinued  in  1841. 

[During  January,  not  a  single  death  occurred  in  the  whole 
population  of  8.000  in  Lynn,  Lynnfield,  and  Saugus.] 

One  of  the  highest  tides  ever  known  happened  on  the  26th 
of  March.  It  rose  about  five  feet  higher  than  common  high 
tides,  passing  entirely  over  the  Long  Beach,  and  making  Na- 
hant an  island.  It  also  flowed  over  the  southern  part  of  Market 
street,  and  passing  up  the  mill  brook,  swept  off  a  quantity  of 
wood  from  a  house  in  Bridge  street. 

On  the  12th  of  July,  Mr.  Joseph  Blaney,  aged  52,  went  out  in 
a  fishing  boat  at  Swampscot,  when  a  shark  overset  his  boat  and 
killed  him.  [This  shark  must  have  been  extremely  ferocious. 
Mr.  Blaney  went  out  into  the  bay  in  one  of  the  large  Swamps- 
cot boats,  which  he  left,  and  in  a  small  boat  rowed  away,  alone, 
to  fish.  After  some  hours  he  was  seen  to  wave  his  hat  for 
assistance.  Another  boat  immediately  started  toward  him,  and 
presently  the  fish  was  seen  to  slide  off,  Mr.  Blaney  still  remain- 
ing in  his  boat.  But  the  shark  renewed  the  attack,  carrying 
down  the  boat,  before  the  other  could  arrive.  It  came  to  the 
surface  bottom  up,  and  the  unfortunate  man  was  no  more  seen.] 

The  meeting-house  of  the  Third  Methodist  Society,  built  this 
year,  in  South  street,  was  dedicated  on  the  3d  of  August.  The 
first  minister  was  Rev.  Rufus  Spaulding. 


396  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1831. 

A  great  tempest  of  rain  and  wind,  on  the  26th  of  August, 
occasioned  very  great  damage  to  the  corn  and  fruit  trees. 

Donald  MacDonald,  a  native  of  Inverness,  in  Scotland,  died 
in  the  Lynn  almshouse,  on  the  4th  of  October,  aged  108  years. 
He  was  in  the  battle  of  Quebec,  when  Wolfe  fell,  and  was  one 
of  the  few  whom  Washington  conducted  from  the  forest  of 
blood  when  Braddock  was  killed  by  the  Indians. 

Vegetation  this  year  was  abundant ;  English  hay  was  eight 
dollars  a  ton ;  and  more  apples  were  .gathered  than  in  all  the 
seven  previous  years. 

Another  great  storm  tide,  on  the  29th  of  November,  came  in 
high  and  furious,  doing  great  damage  to  the  Long  Beach,  by 
sweeping  down  the  ridge  and  throwing  it  into  the  harbor. 

On  Wednesday,  December  1st,  there  were  two  shocks  of  an 
earthquake,  about  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening. 

On  the  morning  of  the  4th,  half  an  hour  after  midnight,  a 
meteor,  exceedingly  brilliant,  passed  south  of  the  moon,  which 
was  then  shining  near  the  meridian. 

The  northern  lights  made  an  uncommonly  rich  display  on  the 
evening  of  the  11th,  assuming  the  most  fanciful  forms,  changing 
into  the  appearance  of  tall  spires,  towei^,  arches,  and  warriors 
armed  with  long  spears. 

1831. 

Dr.  Aaron  Lummus  died  on  the  5th  of  January,  aged  74,  He 
resided  in  Lynn  nearly  fifty  yeaj's,  and  was  one  of  the  most 
popular  physicians  in  the  town.  He  married  Eunice  CoflSn,  in 
1786.  In  1823  and  1824,  he  was  a  senator  of  Essex  county. 
[Dr.  Lummus  had  seven  sons  and  three  daughters,  viz :  Clarissa, 
Hannah,  John,  Aaron,  Edward  A.,  Greorge,  Elizabeth  C,  Samuel, 
Charles  F.,  and  Thomas  J. 

[The  Essex  Democrat,  the  third  Lynn  newspaper,  ^vas  com- 
menced this  year,  by  Benjamin  Mudge.  It  was  published  a 
year  or  two,  and  then  the  materials  were  moved  to  Salem  and 
used  on  the  Commercial  Advertiser.] 

A  great  storm  commenced  on  the  15th  of  January,  in  wliich 
a  schooner,  belonging  to  Stephen  Smith,  was  torn  from  her 
fastenings  at  his  wharf,  and  dashed  to  pieces  against  the  em- 
bankment on  Deer  Island,  throwing  down  about  sixty  feet  of 
the  new  granite  wall,  recently  built  by  the  United  States  gov- 
ernment. 

In  August,  the  sun  and  the  atmosphere,  for  many  days,  pre- 
sented a  smoky  appearance,  of  a  greenish  blue  color.  The  same 
phenomenon  was  noticed  by  M.  Arago,  the  French  astronomer, 
at  Paris.  [It  was  also  observed  in  other  parts  of  Europe.  It 
was  not  damp,  like  fog,  and  was  entirely  wanting  in  some  of  the 
properties  of  smoke.     In  some  places  it  was  at  times  so  lumin- 


ANNALS  OP  LYNN — 1832.  397 

ous  that  people  were  able  to  read  by  it,  at  midnight.  I  remem- 
ber it  very  well,  and  how  much  it  was  remarked  and  speculated 
upon  here  at  Lynn.  Some  time  after  it  had  disappeared,  an  em- 
inent astronomer  of  Europe  thought  he  had  discovered  sufficient 
evidence  to  determine  that  the  earth  was  then  enveloped  in  the 
tail  of  a  comet.  And  such  an  occurrence  has  now  ceased  to  be 
alarming,  as  it  is  well  ascertained  to  have  taken  place  at  other 
times.  The  tail  of  the  great  comet  which  appeared  in  our 
heavens  with  such  startling  suddenness,  in  1861,  is  known  to 
have  been  in  actual  contact  with  the  earth,  three  days  before 
it  became  visible.     See  under  date  1861.] 

On  the  evening  of  the  26th  of  August,  the  moon  rose  about 
fifteen  minutes  before  nine ;  and  half  an  hour  after,  there  was  a 
shower  in  the  northwest,  and  on  the  cloud  a  perfect  and  beau- 
tiful lunar  rainbow  was  depicted,  of  a  yellowish  color. 

This  year  the  small-pox  made  its  appearance  in  Chesnut 
street,  Woodend.  The  infected  were  promptly  removed,  and 
the  disease  soon  disappeared.     One  death   occurred. 

Another  beacon  was  erected  on  Dread  Ledge,  at  Swampscot — 
an  obelisk  of  granite,  twenty-five  feet  in  height,  and  three  feet 
square  at  the  base. 

On  the  22d  of  November  there  was  a  singularly  mingled 
tempest,  very  violent,  for  an  hour  in  the  morning,  with  rain, 
hail,  snow,  thunder  and  lightning,  a  strong  east  wind,  and  a 
high  tide.  The  lightning  struck  at  Breed's  End,  and  a  vessel 
went  ashore  on  Phillips's  Beach,  and  another  on  Nahant  Beach. 

Dr.  James  Gardner  died  26  December,  aged  69  years.  He 
was  born  at  Woburn,  in  1762,  entered  the  army  of  the  Revolu- 
tion at  an  early  age,  and  on  the  return  of  peace  devoted  himself 
to  study,  and  graduated  at  Harvard,  in  1788.  He  came  to  Lynn 
in  1792,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine.  The  next 
year  he  married  Susanna,  daughter  of  Dr.  John  Flagg.  He 
was  a  skillful  and  popular  physician,  and  possessed  the  manners 
of  a  gentleman.  [His  residence  was  on  the  south  side  of  Bos- 
ton street,  near  Bridge  ;  and  he  was  the  father  of  a  very  respect- 
able family.] 

This  year  Mr.  John  Alley  enclosed  about  twenty  acres  of 
water,  by  a  dam  from  his  wharf  to  the  marsh,  [near  the  foot  of 
Pleasant  street,]  thus  making  a  pond,  on  which  h^  built  a  grist 
mill,  and  afterward  a  fulling  mill. 

On  the  last  of  December,  the  thermometer  was  eleven  degrees 
below  zero. 

18  8  2. 

[Col.  James  Robinson  died  on   Saturday,  21  January,  aged 
75.     He  was  the  first  postmaster  of  Lynn  —  appointed  in  1795  — 
and  for  many  years  a  most  useful  cihzen.     For  a  long  time  he 
H2 


398  ANNALS    OP    LYNN  — 1832. 

resided  in  the  ancient  mansion,  still  standing  on  the  northeast 
corner  of  Boston  and  Federal  streets.  And  in  a  little  shop  near 
by,  the  post-office  was  kept.  He  was  father  of  a  large  and 
res-pectable  family.  After  marrying  bis  second  wife,  he  removed 
to  Boston  and  there  lived  for  a  number  of  3'ears.  The  latter 
part  of  his  life  was  passed  in  reduced  circumstances,  and  mental 
obscurity.  He  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  and  in  his  last 
years  received  comforts  from  a  small  pension.  His  first  wife 
was  a  daughter  of  James  Newhall,  known  as  'Squire  Jim,  and 
his  children  by  her  were,  James,  Lydia,  Abigail,  John,  Harriet, 
Lois,  Janet,  George,  Charles,  Horatio. 

[The  Weekly  Messenger,  the  fourth  newspaper  established 
in  Lynn,  was  commenced  April  14,  by  James  R.  Newhall.  It 
was  published  on  Saturda\'s,  and  was  as  large  and  well  printed 
as  any  newspaper  ever  printed  in  Lynn,  up  to  that  period.  The 
publishing  business  was  not  then  profitable  here ;  nor  was  it 
for  many  years  after,  if,  indeed,  it  has  ever  been.  It  is  a  kind 
of  business  that  naturally  concentrates  in  the  larger  cities;  and 
Lynn  is  too  neai'  Boston  to  afi'ord  any  great  encouragement  to 
printers.] 

The  Lynn  Anti-Slavery  society  was  formed  on  the  25th  of 
April. 

Rev.  Otis  Rockwood  was  dismissed  from  the  pastoral  charge 
of  the  First  Congregational  Church,  on  the  12th  of  May.  Rev. 
David  Peabody  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  same  church  on  the 
15th  of  November. 

[The  LyDn  Mechanics  Fire  and  Marine  Insurance  Company 
was  incorporated  this  year.  Also  Nahant  Bank,  which  failed  in 
183^. 

[Eight  and  a  half  inches  of  rain  fell  in  May,  and  the  summer 
was  cold.] 

The  Tuscan  Chapel  at  Nahant  was  erected  by  subscriptions 
made  by  gentlemen  of  Boston.  Religious  services  are  held  in 
it  during  the  warm  and  visiting  season. 

[The  first  meeting  for  the  preaching  of  Mormonism,  in  Lynn, 
was  held  in  the  summer  of  this  year.  And  for  the  space  of  ten 
years  afterward,  elders  of  the  faith  continued  to  visit  here  and 
hold  meetings  at  intervals.  About  a  dozen  converts  were  made. 
Several  emigrated  to  Nauvoo,  and  thence,  when  the  Latter  Day 
Saints,  as  they  styled  themselves,  were  driven  from  Illinois, 
journeyed  to  the  Salt  Lake.  Two  or  three  finally  returned, 
having  renounced  the  faith ;  and  one  of  them,  a  female,  put 
forth  a  book  exposing  the  errors  and  evil  practices  of  the  Saints. 
Baptism  by  immersion  was  administered  to  a  small  body  of  con- 
verts, by  an  elder  named  Freeman  Nickerson,  near  the  foot  of 
Market  street,  in  1841.] 

A  Whaling  Company  was  formed,  and  five  Mps  employed, 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1832.  399 

three  of  which  were  built  at  Lynn.  They  harbored  in  Saiigus 
river,  but  on  the  crossing  of  the  rail-road^  in  1838,  they  were 
removed  to  Boston.  [None  of  the  whale  ships  were  built  at 
Lynn.  A  ship  yard  was  established  in  the  western  part  of  the 
town,  about  this  time,  but  no  vessel  larger  than  a  schooner  was 
built  there. 

[This  year  the  great  Nullification  ferment  in  South  Carolina 
occurred.  Many  entertained  serious  apprehension  that  it  would 
result  in  a  dissolution  of  the  Union.  Indeed  the  fiery  southern 
sentiment  seemed  rapidly  ripening  into  a  gigantic  rebellion. 
But  the  energy  and  unswerving  patriotism  of  General  Jackson, 
who  was  happily  then  in  the  presidential  chair,  in  all  human 
probability  saved  the  country  from  great  disasters.  The  stern 
and  uncompromising  proclamation  which  he  issued  on  what 
appeared  to  be  the  eve  of  a  terrific  political  storm,  created  a 
profound  sensation,  and  was  enthusiastically  applauded  in  every 
loyal  quarter  of  the  Union.  The  excited  southerners  at  once 
saw  the"  danger  of  precipitancy,  and  discreetly  abstained  from 
overt  acts.  And  the  danger  passed  away  in  harmless  dischages 
of  oratory.  On  the  evening  of  the  25th  of  December,  soon 
after  the  reception  of  the  proclamation  at  Lynn,  a  meeting  of 
the  citizens  was  held  in  the  Town  Hall,  composed  of  the  adhe- 
rents of  all  parties  —  of  Anti-masons,  Democrats,  and  National 
Republicans  —  at  which  the  following  preamble  and  resolutions 
passed  unanimously : 

At  a  time  of  unprecedented  prosperity  in  agriculture,  commerce  and  manu- 
factures, in  our  happy  Union,  and  this  Union  purchased  with  a  great  treasure, 
and  cemented  with  the  blood  and  tears  of  our  progenitors,  and  hallowed  by 
our  own  devout  prayers,  aspirations,  and  labors,  we,  the  citizens  of  Lynn, 
learn  with  sorrow  that  our  sister  State,  South  Carolina,  once  so  patriotic,  has 
assumed  false  principles,  and,  pretending  peace,  made  warlike  preparations 
to  dissolve  the  Union  so  dear  to  the  people  in  most  portions  of  the  nation. 
We  cannot  consent  to  the  proposition,  in  fact  we  do  not  believe,  that  any  State 
of  the  twenty-four  States  now  solemnly  united,  can  withdraw  her  allegiance 
to  tlie  United  States,  whenever  she  may  please,  or  dictate  to  the  Congress  of 
the  United  States  the  laws  which  should  be  enacted  or  repealed,  any  further 
than  the  weight  of  the  representatives  of  such  State  may  prevail  in  the  acts 
and  deliberations  of  that  body. 

But  since  the  acts  of  the  State  of  South  Carolina  have  undertaken  to  decide 
the  constitutionality  of  the  laws  of  Congress,  and  upon  the  same  principle  all 
other  laws  of  the  United  States,  when  such  decision  is  wholly  confided  to,  and 
intrusted  in,  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court  of  the  Union,  by  the  United  States 
constitution,  to  which  every  citizen  of  the  twenty-four  United  States  owes 
absolute  and  unqualified  allegiance,  and  since  such  principles  of  Nullification 
and  misrule  prevail  by  a  majority  of  the  citizens  of  one  State,  and  are  openly 
approbated,  and  not  reprobated,  by  some  other  States,  we  are  alarmed  for  the 
safety  of  the  Union,  and  our  own,  and  in  common,  for  the  liberties  of  the 
people. 

It  is  with  satisfaction  that  we  have  read  the  Proclamation  of  the  President 
of  the  United  States  denouncing  the  treasonable  designs  and  acts  of  the  Con- 
vention and  Leo-islature  of  the  State  of  South  Carolina.     This  Proclamation  is 


400  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1833. 

replete  with  true  sentiments  upon  the  construction  of  the  Federal  Constitution, 
of  the  power  and  duty  of  the  President,  and  of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court 
of  the  Union  ;  which  sentiments  we,  in  common  with  our  brethren  of  this  State, 
have  been  educated,  from  the  cradle  to  the  })resent  time,  to  cherish  and  love  ; 
and  we  will  never  abandon  them.     Therefore, 

Resolved,  That  we  abhor  and  denounce  the  doctrine  of  South  Carolina 
Nullification,  and  the  awkward  and  unnatural  attitude  in  which  she  has  placed 
herself  before  the  Union  and  the  world. 

Resolved,  That  we  approve  of  the  sentiments  and  principles  spread  before 
the  public  by  the  President  in  his  late  able  Proclamation,  and  believe  it  to  be 
the  duty  of  all  good  citizens  to  support  such  sentiments  and  principles  to  the 
hazard  of  life  and  property. 

Resolved,  That  in  all  cases  in  which  the  construction  of  the  Federal  Con- 
stitution is  drawn  in  question,  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court  of  the  United  States 
is  the  sole  interpreter. 

Resolved,  That  no  individual  State  or  any  individual  of  any  State  has  a 
right  to  declare  void  or  nullify  a  single  act  of  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States ;  and  that  the  several  States,  and  each  and  every  citizen  in  them,  owe 
allegiance  to  the  United  States,  which  cannot  be  dissolved  excepting  by  a 
majority  of  the  voices  of  the  people  of  the  whole  United  States,  constitution- 
ally and  legally  expressed.     And,  further, 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  the  foregoing  preamble  and  resolutions  be  signed 
by  the  chairman  and  secretary,  and  transmitted  to  the  President  of  the  United 
States.] 

1833. 

On  the  16th  of  January,  Mr.  David  Taylor's  shoe  manufactory, 
corner  of  Asli  and  Elm  streets  was  burnt,  with  a  large  amount 
of  stock. 

On  the  2d  of  February,  Rev.  David  H..  Barlow  relinquished 
the  care  of  the  Unitarian  Society;  and  Rev.  Samuel  D.  Robbins 
was  ordained  pastor  of  the  same  church  on  the  13th  of  No- 
vember. 

On  the  14th  of  February,  the  new^  Baptist  meeting-house  on 
the  north  side  of  the  Common  was  dedicated. 

[The  First  Universalist  Society  was  organized,  25  March,  in 
the  Town  Hall. 

[President  Jackson  visited  Lynn,  26  June.  The  old  hero 
was  warmly  greeted;  but  the  day  was  stormy,  and  his  stay  was 
short.] 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  phenomena  ever  witnessed  in 
New  England,  was  a  shower  of  meteors.  It  commenced  soon 
after  three  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  Wednesday,  the  13th  of 
November,  and  continued  until  day.  There  were  many  thou- 
sands, which  fell  in  all  directions,  like  flakes  of  snow.  Most  of 
them  were  small,  but  some  appeared  as  large  as  seven  stars  com- 
bined in  one.  The  meteors  seemed  to  proceed  chiefly  from  a 
point  about  fifteen  degrees  southeast  of  the  zenith,  and  the 
display  was  noticed  in  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore. 

[Friction  matches  came  into  use  about  this  time.  And  they 
soon  supplanted  the  old  tinder-box,  with  its  flint  and  steel. 

[Anthracite  coal,  also  began  to  be  used  here,  in  small  quan- 


ANNALS    OF   LYNN  —  1834,    1835.  401 

titles.  But  it  grew  in  favor  slowly,  and  sorely  tried  the  pa- 
tience of  its  friends.  It  required  such  different  treatment,  in 
burning,  from  any  kind  of  fuel  before  used,  that  it  seemed  as  if 
some  people  never  could  become  habituated  to  it. 

[Metal  pens,  likewise,  came  into  use  at  this  time ;  but  the  old 
goose  quill  long  continued  in  favor  with  many.  The  writing 
paper  of  that  time  was  not  well  adapted  to  the  new  pen,  a  hard- 
er and  smoother  surface  being  required ;  the  want,  however, 
was  soon  supplied,  and  then  the  metal  pen  became  more  gen- 
erally popular.] 

183  4. 

On  the  28th  of  May,  several  persons  destroyed  the  curious 
cave  in  the  Dungeon  Rock,  under  the  imagination  that  they 
might  obtain  a  treasure.  They  placed  a  keg  of  powder  in  the 
cave,  which,  on  its  explosion,  blew  out  the  lower  portion  of  the 
rock,  causing  the  great  mass  above  to  fall,  and  thus  destroying 
the  cavern.  This  is  the  third  time  that  curious  and  wonderful 
caves  in  Lynn  have  been  destroyed  by  wantonness.  It  is  much 
to  be  regretted  that  this  rage  for  destructiveness  cannot  cease. 
Such  persons  ought  to  be  confined  as  destroyers  of  God's  beau- 
tiful works. 

On  the  31st  of  July,  Mr.  Durant,  aeronaut,  ascended  in  a  bal- 
loon, from  Boston,  passed  over  Nahant,  and  descended  into  the 
water,  from  which,  in  about  fifteen  minutes,  he  was  taken  up  by 
a  schooner. 

On  the  12th  of  August,  Mr.  John  Mudge's  barn,  in  Shepard 
street,  was  burnt  by  lightning. 

[The  anti-masonic  sentiment,  growing  out  of  the  alleged  rev- 
elations regarding  the  evil  tendency  of  freemasonry  prevailed 
so  extensively  that  in  December  the  meetings  of  Mount  Carmel 
Lodge  were  discontinued.     But  they  were  resumed  in  1845.] 

18  3  5. 

On  the  22d  of  April,  Rev.  David  Peabody  resigned  the  pas- 
toral charge  of  the  First  Congregational  Church. 

[In  the  early  part  of  the  summer  of  this  year,  George  Thomp- 
son, a  prominent  English  abolitionist,  visited  Lynn  and  lectured 
in  several  of  the  meeting-houses,  to  large  audiences,  on  the 
subject  of  slavery.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  summer  he  again 
came  to  Lynn,  to  attend  a  meeting  of  the  Essex  County  Anti- 
Slavery  Society,  held  in  the  First  Methodist  meeting-house. 
Some  opposition  was  now  manifested  by  the  opponents  of  the 
anti-slavery  movement.  In  the  evening,  while  Mr.  Thompson 
was  lecturing,  a  great  crowd  collected  about  the  meeting-bouse, 
and  a  stone  was  hurled  through  one  of  the  windows,  causing 
great  disturbance  within.  A  large  number  pressed  into  the 
H2^  26 


402  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1836. 

entry  and  attempted  to  burst  in  the  inner  doors,  which  had 
been  closed.  During  the  tumult  Mr.  Thompson  ended  his  dis- 
course, and  passed  out,  unobserved  by  the  crowd.  He  was 
presently  surrounded  by  a  guard  of  ladies,  and  conducted  to  a 
neighborring  house,  whence  he  departed,  privately,  to  his  tempo- 
rary residence,  at  Swampscot.] 

A  comet  appeared,  in  the  constellation  of  Ursa  Major,  on  the 
9th  of  October,  and  continued  in  view  about  two  weeks. 

On  the  4th  of  November,  Hezekiah  Chase's  mill,  at  the  mouth 
of  Strawberry  brook,  was  burnt. 

The  Christian  Church,  in  Silsbe  street,  was  organized  on  the 
5th  of  November.  The  first  minister  was  Rev.  Philemon  R. 
Russell,  who  preached  there  about  five  years. 

On  Tuesday  evening,  November  17,  the  northern  lights  were 
very  lustrous,  and  presented  the  singular  appearance  of  a  splen- 
did illuminated  crowni  in  the  zenith. 

On  the  10th  of  December,  the  First  Universalist  Meeting- 
house, in  Union  street,  was  dedicated. 

The  16th  of  December  was  the  coldest  day  of  the  season,  the 
thermometer  being  fourteen  degrees  below  zero. 

On  the  evening  of  the  17th  of  December,  Mr.  Rufus  NewhalPs 
barn,  in  Essex  street,  was  burnt. 

On  the  28th  of  December,  Lieutenant  Robert  R.  Mudge,  of 
Lynn,  aged  26  years,  was  killed  by  the  Seminole  Indians,  near 
Withlacoochie,  in  Florida,  three  persons  only  escaping  in  a  com- 
pany of  a  hundred  and  eight. 

[There  were  one  hundred  families  reckoned  as  belonging  to 
the  Society  of  Friends,  in  Lynn,  this  year.] 

1836. 

This  year  a  second  attempt  was  made  to  form  an  Episcopal 
Church  in  Lynn.  It  was  commenced  on  the  7th  of  January,  by 
three  persons,  under  the  name  of  Christ  Church.  On  the  5th 
of  November,  a  handsome  rustic  edifice,  with  diamond  windows, 
and  four  Tuscan  columns,  was  erected  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Common.  [And  this  was  the  first  Episcopal  Church  built  in 
Lynn.]     Rev.  Milton  Ward  was  the  first  minister. 

The  Second  Universalist  Societ}^  was  organized  on  the  9th 
of  March.     Their  first  minister  was  Rev.  Dunbar  B.  Harris. 

[The  act  establishing  the  fire  department  of  Lynn  was  passed 
March  23,  and  accepted  by  the  town  April  18.] 

The  winter  was  very  long  and  cold ;  snow  began  on  the  23d 
of  November,  and  sleighing  continued  until  the  15th  of  March  — 
sixteen  weeks.  [There  was  a  frost  in  every  month,  and  remark- 
able spots  appeared  on  the  sun.] 

Rev.  Parsons  Cooke  was  installed  pastor  of  the  First  Con- 
gregational Church  on  the  4th  of  May. 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1837.  403 

[The  first  post-office  in  Ljnnfield  was  established  25  May, 
in  the  south  village.] 

This  year  Henry  A.  Breed,  Esq.,  bui-lt  a  large  brick  factory  on 
Water  Hill,  for  calico  printing  and  dyeing.  He  dug  a  new  pond, 
comprising  about  an  acre,  for  a  reservoir.  He  also  laid  out  sev- 
eral new  streets,  and  built  nearly  four  hundred  convenient  cot- 
tages, and  other  buildings,  and  a  wharf 

[The  Trinitarian  Congregational  Society,  at  Saugus  centre, 
built  their  stone  meeting-house,  at  a  cost  of  $2,800.] 

Dr.  Richard  Hazeltine  died  on  the  10th  of  July.  He  was 
born  at  Concord,  N.  H.,  November  28th  1773,  married  Phebe 
Carter  in  1799,  and  came  to  Lynn  in  1817.  [He  owned  the 
beautiful  estate  on  the  south  side  of  Essex  street,  between  High 
and  Pearl  streets,  and  there  resided.  He  was  a  man  of  sterling 
integrity,  dignified  manners,  and  commanding  person.  He  act- 
ed to  some  extent  as  a  civil  magistrate,  and  took  much  interest 
in  the  common  schools.] 

On  the  23d  of  September,  a  young  man  jumped  off  the  preci- 
pice of  High  Rock,  a  descent  of  sixty  feet,  and,  strange  to  tell, 
walked  away  uninjured. 

A  fire  in  Broad  street,  near  Exchange,  on  the  evening  of  the 
18th  of  October,  burnt  the  stable  of  Boynton  Yiall  and  the  shoe 
manufictory  of  Isaac  B.  Cobb. 

The  brig  Shamrock,  Jortin,  of  Boston,  with  a  cargo  of  sugar 
and  molasses,  was  wrecked  on  Long  Beach,  on  the  17th  of  De- 
cember. 

[At  this  time  there  were  but  seventeen  buildings  of  brick  in 
all  Lynn,  and  only  six,  of  any  material,  above  two  stories  in 
height.  There  were  sixty  streets,  and  the  dwellings,  through- 
out the  town  were  valued  at  an  average  of  $500.] 

1837. 

On  the  15th  of  January,  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  there 
was  an  earthquake. 

The  new  meeting-house  of  the  First  Congregational  Society, 
on  South  Common  street,  corner  of  Vine,  was  dedicated  on  the 
1st  of  Februarj'-. 

On  the  20th  of  June,  the  schooner  Triton  of  Waldoborough, 
loaded  with  wood,  was  wrecked  on  Fishing  Point,  Swampscot. 

[The  barn  of  Hubbard  Emerson,  Lynnfield,  was  struck  by 
lightning,  20  June,  and  an  ox  killed.] 

On  the  21st  of  June,  Lewis  A.  Lauriat  ascended  in  a  balloon 
from  Chelsea,  and  lauded  in  the  woods  near  Lynn  Dye  House. 

Augustus,  son  of  Israel  Perkins,  aged  14,  was  drowned  on 
the  1st  of  July,  while  bathing  in  Alley's  mill  pond,  near  the 
wharf. 

Independence  was  celebrated  near  Lover's  Leap,  by  a  party 


404  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1838. 

of  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  Lynn,  Boston  and  Salem,  and  several 
songs  written  by  the  Lynn  Bard,  were  sung.  [The  "  Lynn 
Bard  "  was  Mr.  Lewis.  He  adopted  the  name  soon  after  he  be- 
gan to  publish  poetry.] 

The  Episcopal  Church,  on  North  Common  street,  was  conse- 
crated on  Thursday,  20  July.     Sermon  by  Bishop  Griswold. 

[The  subject  of  the  manufacture  of  silk  excited  much  attention 
in  Lynn  and  many  other  places  at  this  time.  Great  numbers  of 
white  mulberry  trees  were  planted  to  furnish  food  for  the 
worms,  and  high  expectations  were  entertained.  Considerable 
success  attended  the  experiments;  but  the  matter  died  au^ay 
without  important  results.  A  gentleman  who  took  quite  an 
interest  in  the  business,  showed  me,  within  a  few  months,  some 
handkerchiefs,  which  were  woven  from  silk  produced  by  worms 
raised  by  him,  and  fed  on  leaves  of  trees  which  he  planted. 
They  were  of  beautiful  texture,  and  handsomely  printed  at  the 
silk  printing  works  then  in  operation  here.] 

In  August,  a  survey  of  Lynn  Beach  and  Harbor  was  made  by 
Alonzo  Lewis,  under  the  direction  of  Congress ;  and  a  plan 
submitted  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  sea  wall,  the  whole 
length  of  the  Beach,  at  an  expense  of  $37.000 ;  but  though  en- 
couragement was  given  for  a  grant,  yet  none  was  obtained. 

[This  5^ear  the  surplus  United  States  revenue  was  distributed. 
The  amount  received  by  Lynn  was  $14.879.00 ;  and  it  was,  by 
vote  of  the  town,  applied  to  the  payment  of  the  town  debt. 
Lynnfield  received  $1,328.29,  and  in  like  manner  applied  it  to 
their  town  debt.  Saugus  received  $3,500.00,  and  appropriated 
it  to  the  building  of  a  town  hall.  Where  shall  we  look  for  a 
parallel  case  in  the  history  of  any  nation  ?  But,  judging  from  the 
present  and  prospective  accumulation  of  our  national  debt,  cen- 
turies will  roll  away  before  the  United  States  will  be  in  a  condi- 
tion to  repeat  the  example. 

[There  was  a  frost  every  month  this  year,  as  well  as  the 
preceding.] 

1838. 

[The  thermometer  fell  to  18  degrees  below  zero  on  the  30th 
of  January.] 

The  ladies  of  Lynn  held  a  fair  at  the  Town  Hall,  on  the  4th 
of  July,  for  benevolent  purposes.  Francis  Maria,  [wife  of  Mr. 
Lewis]  was  principal,  and  nearly  $500  were  obtained. 

The  Eastern  Bail-road,  passing  through  Lynn,  was  opened  for 
public  travel,  from  Boston  to  Salem,  on  the  28th  of  August. 
Before  this  time,  a  few  stages  had  accommodated  all  the  eastern 
travel;  but  now  the  number  of  passengers,  to  and  from  Boston, 
so  rapidly  increased,  that  for  the  first  three  months,  the  average 
was  three  hundred  and  forty-eight  persons  each  da}^     The  com- 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1839.  405 

pany  for  effecting  this  great  and  convenient  entei-prise  was  in- 
corporated on  the  14th  of  April,  1836.  [After  the  road  was 
opened,  as  above,  it  was  rapidly  extended  eastward  to  Port- 
land.] It  was  a  magnificent  project,  happily  accomplished,  and 
it  may  be  regarded  not  merely  as  a  civil  convenience,  but  as  a 
work  of  great  moral  influence,  tending  to  break  down  the  barri- 
ers of  sectional  prejudice,  and  to  promote  feehngs  of  benevo- 
lence and  refinement,  by  bringing  many  persons  of  both  sexes 
into  habits  of  social  and  daily  intercourse.  [In  relation  to  what 
Mr.  Lewis  says  above  regarding  the  travel  by  stage,  before  the 
rail-road  was  opened,  it  may  be  stated  that  in  1836,  twenty-three 
stages  left  Lynn  Hotel  for  Boston,  daily,  and  there  were  like- 
wise numerous  extras.  They  belonged  to  the  great  eastern  and 
the  Salem  lines.  Oftentimes  they  were  well  filled  on  their  arri- 
val at  Lynn,  and  the  cry  "  stage  full,''  fell  upon  the  ear  of  the 
hurrying  man  of  business  in  a  way  any  thing  but  pleasant.  A 
great  many,  however,  drove  to  Boston  in  their  own  vehicles. 
And  there  were  numerous  fast  horses  about  town.] 

On  the  28th  of  September,  two  brakemen  a  Mr.  Tyler  and  a 
Mr.  Baker,  who  were  standing  upon  the  top  of  a  car,  were 
instantly  killed,  by  being  struck  against  the  overhead  framework 
of  the  little  bridge  near  the  West  Lynn  depot. 

[Edward  Franker  this  year  bought  the  water  privilege  and 
other  property  of  the  New  England  Wool  Company,  at  Saugus, 
and  commenced  the  manufacture  of  flannel.  In  1846  he  in- 
creased the  power  by  raising  the  dam  two  feet,  and  greatly 
enlarged  his  business,  which  proved  lucrative  and  added  much 
to  the  prosperity  of  the  place.  In  1860,  he  built  a  fine  large 
mill  to  be  run  by  steam  power.  His  mills,  together  with  that 
of  Mr.  Scott,  are  picturesquely  situated  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
site  of  the  old  Iron  Works,  a  location  well  adapted  to  manu- 
facturing purposes.] 

The  Lynn  Freeman  newspaper  was  commenced  on  the  10th  of 
November  —  David  Taylor  and  Charles  Coolidge,  proprietors. 

1839. 

On  the  27th  day  of  May,  died,  Francis  Maria,  wife  of  Alonzo 
Lewis  —  a  woman  amiable,  talented,  virtuous  and  greatly  be- 
loved. Her  funeral  w:as  attended  by  perhaps  as  great  a  number 
of  persons  as  were  ever  present  at  the  interment  of  any  lady  in 
Lynn,  to  whom  her  active  benevolence,  and  her  worth  as  a 
teacher,  had  greatly  endeared  her. 

Amid  the  attention  which  is  given  to  the  various  concerns  of 
humanity,  surely  one  page  may  be  spared  as  a  tribute  to  the 
excellence  of  Woman.  In  the  course  of  history,  the  virtues  and 
the  worth  of  Man  are  delineated  in  all  the  features  of  strong  and 
admirable   portraiture ;  but  Woman  —  the  inspiration  of  exist- 


406  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1839. 

ence,  the  soul  of  humanity,  without  whom  the  world  would  be 
but  a  resplendent  desert,  and  life  itself  a  burden  to  its  lordly 
and  lonely  possessor — Woman  is  overlooked  with  indifference, 
as  if  she  were  not  entitled  even  to  a  small  share  in  the  record 
of  human  events.  When  a  man  is  consigned  to  the  tomb  of  his 
fathers,  his  worth  is  recorded  on  monuments  of  marble,  and  his 
virtues  illuminate  the  page  of  history ;  but  the  grave  of  woman 
is  passed  in  silence  and  neglect.  She  who  is  the  mother  of  man, 
the  wife  of  his  bosom,  the  daughter  of  his  affection  —  she  who 
has  shared  all  his  dangers  and  encouraged  his  footsteps  up  the 
steep  ascent  of  fame  —  she  who  in  the  hour  of  sickness  has 
been  his  comforter,  in  the  day  of  adversity  his  support,  and  in 
the  time  of  trial  his  guardian  angel  —  generous,  virtuous,  unas- 
suming woman —  is  permitted  to  go  to  her  everlasting  sleep, 
with  no  mention  of  her  name,  no  record  of  her  virtues.  Poetry 
indeed  has  extolled  her,  but  even  poetry  has  praised  her  but 
half  It  has  represented  her  chiefly  as  a  thing  of  beauty,  an 
object  of  youthful  admiration,  a  creature  of  light  and  fancy,  full 
of  fascination  and  the  blandishments  of  love.  Poetry  and  ro- 
mance follow  her  in  the  sunny  days  of  youth  and  beauty;  but 
when  the  time  of  her  maturity  and  usefulness  arrives,  they 
abandon  her  for  other  pursuits,  and  leave  her  alone  to  encounter 
the  trials,  and  sickness,  and  sorrows  of  home.  It  is  there,  in  the 
unobserved  paths  of  domestic  life,  that  the  value  of  woman  is  to 
be  estimated.  There  may  be  found  unwavering  faith,  untiring 
affection,  hope  that  endures  all  afflictions,  and  love  that  bears  all 
trials.  There  may  be  found  the  smile  of  unfailing  friendship, 
mantling  over  a  breaking  heart  —  the  unobtrusive  tear  of  sym- 
pathy, falling  in  the  silence  of  solitude.  There  may  be  found  a 
being,  like  a  spirit  from  another  world,  watching  through  the 
long  dark  hours  of  night,  over  the  form  of  manhood,  prostrate 
and  wasting  by  slow  consuming  sickness,  and  performing  all  the 
numerous  duties,  and  encountering  all  the  innumerable  trials  of 
common  life,  with  the  enduring  patience  of  years,  and  with  no 
reward  but  the  satisfliction  of  her  own  secret  heart.  Man  per- 
forms the  public  toils  of  life,  and  participates  the  honors  of  the 
world  and  the  recompense  of  fame  ;  but  woman,  who  has  formed 
man  for  his  high  destin}^,  and  whose  virtues  and  amiable  quali- 
ties constitute  the  refinement  of  society,  has  no  share  in  such 
rewards.  But  history  cannot  do  justice  to  her  merits ;  slie 
must  be  satisfied  with  the  living  admiration  of  her  excellence 
on  earth,  and  the  everlasting  remuneration  of  her  virtues  in 
hea^en. 

[Louisa  Jane  a  young  daughter  of  Samuel  Stearns,  keeper  of 
the  rail-road  depot  on  Central  Square,  in  August,  1837,  drank 
some  potash,  in  a  tumbler  of  water,  which  had  been  prepared 
for  cleaning  purposes.     It  destroyed  the  inner  coating  of  her 


I 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1840.  407 

stomach,  and  she  did  not  eat  for  twenty-two  days.     On  the  30th 
of  March,  this  year,  she  died,  having  again  abstained  from  food' 
for  twenty-one  daVvS.] 

On  the  7th  of  June,  Rev.  Samuel  D.  Robbins  resigned  the 
care  of  the  Unitarian  Society. 

One  of  the  greatest  storms  for  many  years  commenced  on 
Sunday,  December  15th,  and  continued  three  days.  It  consisted 
of  snow  and  rain,  and  the  wind  blew  a  gale,  which  did  great 
damage  to  the  shipping  in  many  places.  The  schooner  Catha- 
rine, from  Philadelphia,  for  Boston,  was  wrecked  on  the  rocks 
near  Bass  Point,  at  Nahant.  Two  of  the  crew  were  instantly 
drowned,  and  another  was  so  injured,  by  being  dashed  upon 
the  rocks,  that  he  soon  died.  Capt.  Nichols  and  one  man  were 
saved.  At  Oloucester,  twenty  vessels  were  wrecked,  and  sev- 
enteen dead  bodies  were  picked  up  on  the  beach. 

1840. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  Rev.  William  Gray  Swett  was  ordained 
minister  of  the  Unitarian  Society. 

[The  house  of  widow  Betsey  Newhall,  in  the  south  part  of 
Lynnfield,  was  burned,  on  the  4th  of  January. 

[On  the  16th  of  January  the  thermometer  was  18  degrees 
below  zero.] 

On  the  evening  of  Sunday,  October  25th,  a  scene  of  terrific 
grandeur  was  exhibited.  A  tempest  suddenly  rose,  in  which 
the  thunder  was  exceedingly  heavy,  so  as  to  shake  the  houses 
like  an  earthquake ;  and  the  lightning  was  intense,  making  the 
whole  atmosphere,  at  times,  appear  as  if  it  were  a  flame ;  and 
in  the  house  it  seemed  as  if  one  were  enveloped  with  fire.  At 
the  same  time  snow  fell  and  covered  the  ground.  The  exhibi- 
tion was  singular  and  awfully  sublime. 

On  the  11th  of  November,  during  a  storm,  the  tide  rose  higher 
than  it  probably  had  done  since  1815.  The  wind  had  been  east- 
erly for  several  weeks,  and  the  swell  of  the  waters  was  immense, 
passing  for  several  days  entirely  over  the  Long  Beach,  so  that 
not  onl}^  the  harbor,  but  the  marshes  of  Lynn,  Saugus  and  Chel- 
sea, were  a  portion  of  the  mighty  sea.  There  was  no  safety  in 
approaching  the  level  shore ;  but  it  was  a  grand  and  terrible 
sight,  to  stand  upon  Sagamore  hill,  or  some  other  elevation,  and 
view  the  fearful  devastations  of  the  waters.  Nahant  appeared 
to  be  severed  forever  from  the  main,  and  ocean  to  be  passing  the 
bounds  of  its  ancient  decree. 

[The  Puritan,  a  religious  and  secular  newspaper  was  com- 
menced this  year,  at  Lynn.  Rev.  Parsons  Cooke  was  editor  of 
the  religious  department,  and  James  R.  Newhall  of  the  secular. 
The  paper  was  afterward  removed  to  Boston,  and  being  united 
with  the  Recorder  was  called  the   Puritan   Recorder.      Sub- 


408  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1841. 

,sequently  the  name  Puritau  was  dropped  and  the  publication 
continued  under  the  name  Recorder.  Mr.  Cooke's  connection 
with  it  continued  till  1862.] 

One  fact  appears  evident  from  recent  observation  —  either 
the  sea  is  encroaching  upon  our  shores  by  elevation,  or  the 
marshes  are  sinking.  There  are  strong  indications,  by  marks 
upon  the  rocks,  that  the  ocean  once  broke  against  the  cliffs  of 
Saugus ;  and  on  examination  of  the  marshes,  we  are  led  to  the 
almost  irresistible  conclusion  that  the  whole  region  now  occu- 
pied by  them  was  once  a  portion  of  the  sea.  By  some  means, 
not  easily  explained,  these  marshes  were  formed,  and  covered, 
or  filled,  with  trees.  The  trunks  and  stumps  of  those  trees,  in 
some  places  bearing  marks  of  the  axe  !  are  now  buried  two  or 
three  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  marsh  !  and  twice  that  depth 
beneath  the  level  of  high  tides!  —  so  that  the  sea,  after  having 
been  shut  out  by  some  great  revolution,  appears  to  be  returning 
to  claim  what  were  perhaps  its  ancient  limits.  Another  proof 
that  the  waters  are  gaining  upon  the  land  is  the  fact  that  the 
creeks  are  much  wider  now  than  they  formerly  were ;  and  the 
trunk  of  a  pine,  which  a  few  years  since  projected  three  feet 
into  the  river,  now  projects  twenty  feet. 

1841. 

The  Lyceum  Hall,  in  Market  street,  was  built  this  year. 

Phrenology  and  Mesmerism  received  much  attention  at  this 
period.  Many  lectures  were  given  by  European  and  American 
professors,  and  many  interesting  experiments  performed  to  the 
satisfaction  of  numbers ;  but  some  remained  incredulous.  ^ 

This  year  Joseph  G-.  Joy,  Esq.  built  his  log  cabin,  at  Nahant, 
from  a  plan  by  Alonzo  Lewis.  [A  sort  of  log  cabin  mania  pre- 
vailed to  some  extent  throughout  the  country.  The  political 
campaign  which  resulted  in  the  election  of  General  Harrison  to 
the  presidency,  was  called  the  log  cabin  and  hard  cider  cam- 
paign, in  allusion  to  the  alleged  fact  that  the  General,  during  his 
western  life,  lived  in  a  log  cabin  and  refreshed  himself,  while 
toiling  as  a  husbandman,  by  the  free  use  of  hard  cider.  It  was 
thought  by  sagacious  politicians  that  the  picture  of  simplicity' 
thus  brought  before  the  people,  with  the  adjunct  of  hard  cider 
songs,  had  great  influence  in  the  election.  Many  individuals, 
before  and  after  the  election,  erected  unique  structures,  for 
temporary  residences  and  other  purposes,  bearing  some  resem- 
blance to  the  log  cabins  of  the  frontier. 

[Some  disturbance  was  created  in  Lynn  and  other  places, 
about  this  time,  b}''  the  Comeouters,  as  the}'  were  called.  They 
arrayed  themselves  against  the  religious  organizations,  and  in  a 
number  of  intances  disturbed  public  worship  by  entering  the 
meeting-houses  and   denouncing  the  proceedings.      The  First 


ANNALS    OF   LYNN — 1842.  409 

Congregational  and  the  First  Baptist  churches  had  the  beDefit 
of  their  visits;  but  members  of  the  congregations,  without  appre- 
ciating the  interruptions,  quietly  carried  out  the  disturbers. 
They  had  little  respect  for  Sunday,  or  the  settled  institutions  of 
religion.  In  some  cases  their  conduct  became  so  outrageous 
that  they  were  arrested  and  punished  as  breakers  of  the  peace. 
They  professed  great  regard  for  morality,  but  seemed  to  think 
it  better  when  separated  from  religion.  In  a  few  years,  how- 
ever, the  new  light  exhausted  itself  in  extravagance  of  doctrine 
and  indecorum  of  practice. 

[On  the  17th  of  April  a  party  of  public  spirited  young  men 
assembled  and  set  trees  around  the  Common,  in  Lynnfield. 

[The  first  Daguerreotype  picture  ever  taken  in  Lynn  was 
executed  this  year  by  James  R.  Newhall.  It  was  a  landscape, 
and  the  instrument  b}^  which  it  was  taken  was  a  cumbrous 
affair,  imported  from  France.  The  beautiful  art  had  been  dis- 
covered but  a  few  months  before,  and  was  just  beginning  to  be 
applied  to  the  taking  of  likenesses  of  persons.  No  more  sensi- 
tive coating  for  the  plate  had  then  been  discovered  than  the  sim- 
ple exhalation  of  iodine ;  and  the  plate  was  of  copper  with  a 
face  of  silver;  it  not  having  been  discovered  that  a  picture 
could  be  taken  on  any  thing  but  a  surface  of  silver.  Three 
minutes  were  the  shortest  time  thought  of  for  a  sitting,  even  in 
clear  sunshine  ;  and  eight  or  ten  minutes  were  not  unfrequently 
required.  And  after  the  trial  of  sitting,  the  miniatures  were 
dim  and  unsatisfactory,  requiring  to  be  held  in  a  particular  light 
to  have  any  efiect,  or  even,  in  most  cases,  to  be  discernible. 
American  ingenuity,  however,  soon  greatly  improved  the  art. 
And  at  the  famous  world's  exhibition,  in  London,  in  1852,  the 
pictures  from  the  United  States  took  precedence  of  all  others. 
In  about  twenty  years  after  the  first  operations  under  the 
process,  the  elegant  miniatures  known  as  photographs  were 
produced.  And  presently  the  photograph  album  appeared  on 
the  centre-table  of  the  mansion  and  shelf  of  the  cot,  often  dearer 
than  the  Bible  itself.] 

1842 
[Robert  W.  Trevett  died,  13  January,  aged  53.  He  was  a 
graduate  of  Harvard  College,  and  for  many  years  in  respectable 
practice  as  a  lawyer,  at  Lynn,  having  come  in  1813.  He  was 
a  conspicuous  man  in  our  community,  and  something  of  a  poli- 
tician, though  he  never  occupied  a  very  high  official  position. 
With  general  literature  of  the  better  sort,  he  was  more  than 
ordinarily  familiar,  and  few  stood  before  him  in  knowledge  of  the 
history  of  American  commerce  and  manufactures.  In  person 
he  was  of  something  more  than  medium  size,  and  in  tempera- 
ment exceedinglv  nervous,  so  much  so,  that  in  his  latter  years 
"^2 


410  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1843. 

bis  whole  system,  mental  and  physical,  was  unfavorably  afFectecl. 
The  closing  years  of  his  life  he  passed  in  obscurity  and  indi- 
gence, shunned  by  most  of  those  who  in  his  prosperous  da^'s 
had  received  benefits  at  his  hand.  His  wife  was  a  lady  eminent 
for  her  virtues.  They  had  four  children ;  Sarah,  Robert  W., 
Susan  W.,  and  Warren  G. 

[The  Essex  County  Washingtonian,  a  large  and  well  printed 
paper,  designed  to  advocate  the  cause  of  temperance,  was 
commenced  on  the  16th  of  March  —  Christopher  Robinson  pro- 
prietor.] 

The  Lynn  Natural  History  Society  was  formed  on  the  3d  of 
August.  It  was  quite  successful  in  the  collection  of  interest- 
ing natural  curiosities,  and  continued  in  operation  a  number  of 
years. 

[The  house  of  Warren  Newhall,  at  Lynnfield  Centre,  was 
destroyed  by  fire,  on  the  23d  of  September.] 

Another  great  storm  happened  on  Friday,  the  3d  of  Decem- 
ber, during  which  a  singular  phenomenon  occurred.  It  was 
high  tide  about  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  and  the  tide  rose 
nearly  three  feet  higher  than  common  spring  tides.  Soon  after 
eleven,  when  the  water  had  ebbed  more  than  a  foot,  the  wind 
changed,  and  brought  the  tide  in  again  above  two  feet ;  so  that 
vessels  and  timbers,  landed  by  the  first  tide,  were  set  afloat  by 
the  second.  This  is  the  only  instance  on  record  of  a  double 
tide,  since  the  remarkable  one  in  1635. 

1843.    . 

Dr.  Charles  0.  Barker  died  on  the  8th  of  January.  He  wa.s 
born  at  Andover,  March  8,  1802,  graduated  at  Cambridge  in 
1822,  and  married  Augusta,  daughter  of  Rembrandt  Peale,  in 
1828.  His  practice  was  extensive  and  successful,  and  he  was 
beloved  b}"  all  who  formed  his  acquaintance. 

Rev.  William  Gray  Swett,  pastor  of  the  Unitarian  Society, 
died. on  the  15th  of  February.  He  was  born  in  Salem,  July  15, 
1808,  and  graduated  at  Cambridge  in  1828.  He  went  to  Cuba 
in  1830,  for  the  benefit  of  his  health,  where  he  spent  upwards 
of  two  years.  In  July,  1836,  he  was  ordained  at  Lexington; 
and  on  the  first  of  January,  1840,  was  installed  at  Lynn.  He 
was  a  practical  preacher,  and  was  greatly  beloved  by  his  people. 
His  death  was  a  great  loss  to  his  society  and  to  the  town ;  for 
he  was  a  man  of  talent,  of  active  benevolence,  and  of  sterling 
worth.  He  united  high  classical  attainments  with  a  manly  piety, 
and  knew  enough  of  human  nature  to  mingle  with  all  its  sympa- 
thies and  partake  of  all  its  innocent  and  social  enjoyments. 

In  a  sudden  storm  of  snow  and  rain,  on  the  morning  of  March 
17,  before  daybreak,  the  schooner  Thomas,  Captain  William 
Sprowl,   of  Belfast,  loaded  with   wood,   was  wrecked   on  the 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1843.  411 

southern  end  of  the  Loi:g  Beach.  There  were  seven  men  on 
board^  five  of  whom  were  drowned,  by  tlie  swamping  of  the 
long-boat,  as  they  were  attempting  to  gain  tlie  shore. 

A  splendid  comet  made  its  appearance  this  year.  It  was 
observed  on  the  1st  of  February,  in  the  day  time,  passed  the 
sun  on  the  26th  of  that  month,  and  was  in  its  most  favorable 
position  for  observation  on  the  night  of  the  18th  of  March.  Its 
train  then  extended  from  Zeta  in  Eridanus,  to  Eta  in  Lepus  — 
thirty-eight  degrees  in  length.     It  was  brilliant  and  beautiful. 

The  winter  was  very  cold.  I  crossed  the  harbor  on  the  17th 
of  March,  and  the  ice  was  then  strong  enough  to  bear  a  horse. 
On  the  4th  of  April  the  snow  in  many  places  was  three  feet 
deep,  and  on  the  8th,  a  man  drove  an  ox-sled,  loaded  with  wood, 
across  Spring  Pond.  On  the  20th  of  April,  the  ice  was  still 
thick  on  the  ponds.  There  were  heavy  frosts  on  the  1st  and 
2d  of  June. 

President  Tyler  attended  the  celebration  of  the  battle  of 
Bunker  Hill,  on  the  17th  of  June ;  and  in  that  week,  20,600 
people  passed  over  the  Eastern  Rail-road. 

Lewis  A.  Lauriat  made  an  ascent,  in  a  balloon,  from  Chelsea, 
on  the  4th  of  July,  and  descended  amid  thousands  of  spectators, 
near  the  Lynn  Bard's  cottage,  at  Sagamore  Hill. 

This  year,  Theophilus  N.  Breed  built  his  factory  for  making 
cutlery  and  shoemaker's  tools  on  Oak  street.  [An  excellent 
water  power  was  obtained  by  running  a  dam  across  the  valley, 
a  few  rods  from  Oak  street,  on  the  north.  A  fine  pond,  of  fifty- 
three  acres,  was  thus  formed,  which,  besides  answering  the 
useful  purpose  of  carrying  machinery,  constituted  a  most  pictur- 
esque feature  of  the  landscape.  Surrounded  by  woodland  hills, 
excepting  at  the  narrow  outlet  on  the  west,  where,  at  the  dam, 
the  busy  little  colony  of  iron  workers  was  located,  and  with 
waters  as  clear  as  an  alpine  lake,  it  never  failed  to  attract  the 
eye  that  could  appreciate  the  romantic  and  beautiful.  On  the 
15th  of  April,  1851,  during  the  memorable  storm  by  which  the 
light  house  on  Minot's  Ledge  was  destroyed,  a  serious  disaster 
happened  here.  Some  forty  feet  of  the  dam  were  carried  away, 
and  out  rushed  the  waters,  in  a  current  ten  feet  in  depth,  with 
such  impetuosity  as  to  carry  large  rocks  across  Oak  street, 
down  into  the  meadow,  where  they  still  remain.  Some  of  the 
buildings  were  considerably  injured  by  the  storm  and  rushing 
waters,  and  other  damage  was  done.  The  dam  was  repair^ed, 
and  Mr.  Breed  continued  his  business,  which  was  casting  and 
machine  work,  five  or  six  years  longer,  and  then  the  works 
were  closed.  In  1860  the  dam  was  broken  and  the  water  suf- 
fered to  escape.  And  then  the  acres  which  formed  the  bed 
of  that  beautiful  pond  were  reduced  to  a  noxious  bog,  where 
rank  veisctation  flourished  and  noisy  reptiles  congregated.     The 


412  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1843. 

clink  of  the  iron  worker's  hammer  no  longer  rang  among  the 
hills,  the  red  fires  of  the  forges  went  out,  and  the  buildings 
began  to  decay.  In  1868,  however,  the  dam  was  again  repaired, 
the  pond  restored,  and  the  business  of  preparing  hair  com- 
menced.] 

In  August,  about  twenty  of  the  Penobscot  Indians  came  to 
Lynn,  and  encamped,  some  at  High  Rock,  and  others  at  Nahant. 

Rev.  John  Pierpont,  Jr.  was  ordained  minister  of  the  Unita- 
rian Societ}^,  on  the  11th  of  October. 

For  about  four  years  past,  it  has  been  noticed  that  the  syca- 
more trees  [buttonwoods]  have  been  leafless,  decayed,  and  dy- 
ing. It  is  supposed  that  their  decay  has  been  owing  to  heav}^ 
frosts  blighting  them,  after  they  had  budded  early.  [But  their 
diseased  condition  was  noticed  in  various  distant  parts  of  the 
country  and  in  Europe.  They  seem  now,  [1864]  however,  in  a 
great  measure  to  have  recovered  ;  though  there  are  but  few  left 
of  what  was  once  a  very  fashionable  tree.] 

Sagamore  Hall,  near  the  Central  Square  Depot,  was  partially 
burnt  in  the  night  of  the  25th  of  November.  Loss,  about  $3000. 
The  town  has  been  remarkably  exempt  from  losses  of  this  kind  — 
this  being  the  only  great  fire  for  ten  years. 


With  the  year  1843  the  labors  of  Mr.  Lewis,  as  the  historian 
of  Lynn,  close.  He  inserted  a  concluding  chapter,  bearing 
date  1844,  which  was  probably  written  in  the  earl}'  part  of  that 
year.  A  few  passages  of  it  appeared  to  be  superseded  by  other 
matter  in  this  edition,  and  the  remainder  is  given  in  other  con- 
nections. In  1857,  he  made  known  his  intention  to  prepare  a 
new  edition,  but  causes  operated  to  prevent  his  fulfilling  his 
design;  and  he  died  in  the  early  part  of  1861.  I  have  not 
thought  it  right,  in  the  preceding  pages,  to  make  any  essential 
alteration  in  the  text  of  Mr.  Lewis,  nor  to  introduce  additions  of 
my  own  in  a  way  that  would  render  him  responsible.  And 
hence,  as  elsewhere  remarked,  I  have  indicated  by  brackets 
what  I  have  supplied.  It  would  have  been  a  little  more  fash- 
ionable, perhaps,  to  have  resorted  to  foot  notes  than  to  have 
introduced  the  new  matter  in  the  way  chosen.  But  the  most 
fashionable  things  are  not  always  the  most  convenient.  And 
foot  notes,  though  often  pets  with  writers  are  dire  afflictions  to 
readers.  In  the  remainder  of  our  volume,  however,  the  unor- 
namental  bracket  will  of  course  be  dispensed  with,  as  Mr.  Lewis's 
matter  extends  no  farther  than  this  page.  J.  E.  N. 


ANNALS    OF   LYNN — 1844.  413 


1844. 

Early  this  year  Laroy  Sunderland  gave  a  course  of  lectures  on 
Pathetism,  as  he  termed  his  subject,  in  Lyceum  Hall.  He  claimed 
ability  to  explain  divers  mystical  operations  of  the  mind,  and  by 
experiments  to  exhibit  some  of  its  most  remarkable  effects  on 
the  body.  The  attendance  on  his  lectures  was  very  large.  The 
supposed  science,  however,  seemed  but  another  phase  of  Mes- 
merism, or  animal  magnetism,  which  created  a  good  deal  of 
attention  in  France  toward  the  close  of  century  1700,  and  which 
Franklin,  as  a  member  of  an  investigating  committee,  referred 
to  the  imagination.  Yet,  on  a  question  of  such  depth  in  mental 
philosophy  it  might  require  one  greater  than  Franklin  to  deter- 
mine what  is  imaginary  and  what  real.  During  the  few  years 
immediately  antecedent  to  the  year  1850,  scores  of  lecturers, 
many  of  them  ignorant  mountebanks,  travelled  up  and  down  the 
country,  pretending  to  great  discoveries  in  mental  science,  and 
adopting  various  learned  names  for  the  dignifying  of  their  sys- 
tems. But  they  all  seemed  to  fade  away  in  the  light  of 
Spiritualism,  which  began  to  prevail  about  that  marked  year, 
1850.  Great  numbers  among  the  learned  and  refined,  as  well 
as  among  the  ignorant,  believed  that  means  were  now  discov- 
ered by  which  intelligible  communication  could  be  held  with 
disembodied  spirits.  The  means  —  to  wit,  the  knocking  against 
a  wainscot  or  the  tipping  of  a  table — through  which  the  com- 
munications of  the  invisible  ones  were  vouchsafed,  were,  to  be 
sure,  to  common  apprehension  a  little  extraordinary ;  but  in 
matters  which  are  altogether  mysterious,  and  without  the  circle 
of  common  events,  the  rules  of  what  we  call  common  sense 
may  not  apply.  But  all  such  things  are  perhaps  useful,  from 
directing  attention  to  studies  which  may  do  much  to  elevate 
mankind  ;  even  as  the  old  astrology,  which  in  itself  was  puerile, 
led  to  some  of  the  loftiest  discoveries  in  astronomy. 

The  Essex  County  Whig,  a  weekly  newspaper  was  com- 
menced this  year.  In  1846,  the  name  was  changed  to  Lynn 
News.     And  in  1861  it  was  discontinued. 

The  journeymen  shoemakers  formed  a  society  for  mutual 
benefit,  early  this  year.  They  endeavored  to  establish  better 
and  more  uniform  prices.  The  old  order  system  —  the  system 
under  which  the  workman  was  compelled  to  take  orders  payable 
in  goods,  for  his  earnings  —  which  often  operated  oppressively, 
was  now  very  generally  abandoned,  and  the  wages  were  paid  in 
money.  No  striking  results,  perhaps,  immediately  followed  the 
formation  of  this  society  ;  yet,  like  all  similar  movements,  it  was 
useful  in  diffusing  a  knowledge  of  the  real  condition  of  things, 
and  affecting  public  sentiment. 

The  thermometer  stood  at  100  degress,  in  the  shade,  26  June. 


414  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1845. 

The  Whig  part}^  held  a  mass  meeting  in  Lynn,  4  September/ 
Eminent  speakers  from  abroad  were  present,  and  a  procession, 
numbering  about  3.000,  moved  through  the  principal  streets. 

On  the  6th  of  September,  the  Democratic  party  had  a  great 
clam-bake  at  Swampscot.  A  procession,  numbering  some  two 
thousand,  two  hundred  of  whom  were  of  the  military,  was  formed 
at  the  Central  Depot,  in  Lynn,  and  marched  to  the  place  of  the 
unique  entertainment.  Addresses  were  made  by  eminent  polit- 
ical orators. 

Tuesday,  22  October,  was  the  day  calculated  by  the  Millerites, 
as  the  believers  in  the  immediate  destruction  of  the  world  were 
called,  to  be  that  on  which  the  closing  up  of  all  earthly  affairs 
would  take  place.  But  it  passed  off  without  any  extraordinary 
occurrence,  probably  to  the  relief  of  some  whose  courage  was 
not  equal  to  their  faith.  There  were  quite  a  number  in  Lynn, 
who  firmly  believed  in  the  predictions  of  Mr.  ^liller.  They 
held  meetings,  and  in  some  instances  showed  their  sincerity  by 
abandoning  their  business  and  giving  away  their  property.  And 
many  still  continue  steadfast  in  the  belief  that  the  end  of  all 
things  is  close  at  hand. 

Mr.  John  Alley,  3d,  had  a  swine,  raised  by  himself,  slaughtered 
this  year,  which  weighed,  before  being  dressed,  1.330  pounds. 
The  fat  produced  128  pounds  of  lard.  He  had  the  skin  stuifed  ; 
and  it  became  an  object  of  curiosity  at  agricultural  exhibitions. 

1845. 

About  midnight,  on  the  4th  of  May,  a  dwelling  house  on  the 
north  side  of  Summer  street,  between  Market  and  Pleasant, 
occupied  by  Albourne  Oliver  and  David  M.  Hildreth,  was 
burned.  The  two  families  had  barely  time  to  escape  with  their 
lives.  Not  even  a  change  of  clothing  was  saved  by  any  of  the 
inmates.     Loss  $3,000. 

Mount  Carmel  Lodge  of  Freemasons,  instituted  in  1805,  and 
discontinued  in  1834,  under  the  anti-masonic  pressure,  was  this 
year  reorganized  and  regular  meetings  resumed. 

Joseph  W.  Millett,  of  Swampscot,  met  his  death,  28  May, 
under  painful  circumstances.  Some  young  men  were  in  the 
pastures  in  pursuit  of  geological  specimens,  and  he  accompanied 
them.  They  charged  a  rock  with  a  pound  of  powder,  and  he 
volunteered  to  touch  it  off.  They  retired,  not  without  appre- 
hension, as  he  appeared  so  daring,  leaving  him  to  execute  the 
dangerous  task.  They  heard  the  report,  returned,  and  found 
him  dead,  his  body  being  much  mutilated.  He  left  a  wife  and 
six  children. 

The  Lynn  Artillery  joined  the  escort  at  the  funeral  solemnities 
held  in  Boston,  9  July,  on  the  occasion  of  the  death  of  General 
JacksoD. 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1846.  415 

The  thermometer  reached  101  degrees,  in  the  shade,  12  July 
A  young  man  from  Bradford,  named  Noyes,  was  drowned, 
while  bathing,  at  Needham's  Landing,   10  September.     He  had 
come  to  Lynn  in  the  hope  of  benefitting  his  health  by  sea  bath- 
ing, arriving  only  the  day  before. 

1846. 

Between  eleven  and  twelve  o'clock  on  the  night  of  1  January, 
a  fire  broke  out  in  the  Rockaway  House,  at  Swarapscot,  destroy- 
ing the  building  and  furniture,  bowling-alleys,  stable,  and  other 
out  buildings.  Loss  about  $20,000.  The  building  was  formerly 
the  Topsfield  Hotel,  and  was  moved  from  that  town  to  Swamps- 
cot,  a  distance  of  about  fifteen  miles. 

For  several  days,  in  the  early  part  of  January,  the  air  was 
so  clear  that  the  planet  Venus  could  be  seen  at  noonday,  about 
three  hours  behind  the  sun. 

Amariah  Childs  died,  21  Januar}^  aged  80.  He  owned  the 
mills  on  Saugus  river,  Boston  street,  which  so  long  bore  his 
name,  and  there  manufactured  that  excellent  chocolate  which 
became  celebrated  not  only  throughout  the  United  States,  but 
in  Europe.  He  began  the  manufacture  in  or  about  the  year 
1805,  and  sold  out  the  business  in  1840.  He  lived  on  Boston 
street,  nearly  opposite  Bridge,  and  was  an  esteemed  citizen. 
He  married  three  wives,  the  first  and  last  of  whom  were  sisters, 
and  the  intermediate  one  the  widow  of  a  deceased  brother  of 
the  other  two.  The  last  named  was  Mrs.  Larkin,  mother  of 
Thomas  0.  Larkin,  who,  at  one  time  during  the  excitement 
respecting  the  California  gold  discoveries,  was  reputed  to  be 
the  wealthiest  man  in  the  Union,  he  having  become  proprietor 
of  extensive  tracts  of  land  in  that  auriferous  region.  At  the 
time  of  his  death,  however,  which  occurred  a  few  years  after,  it 
appeared  that  though  a  rich  man,  his  possessions  had  been 
greatly  over-estimated. 

A  house  on  Franklin  street,  belonging  to  John  Alley,  3d,  was 
struck  by  lightning,  18  May,  and  two  persons  knocked  down. 

On  the  21st  of  June,  the  lightning  struck  the  house  of  Charles 
P.  Curtis,  then  in  process  of  erection,  on  Ocean  street,  doing 
considerable  damage  to  the  frame. 

On  Sunday,  28  June,  there  appeared  a  remarkable  solar  halo. 
The  outer  edge  was  of  a  beautiful  violet,  and  the  inner  red. 

The  first  Congregational  meeting-house  in  Swampscot,  was 
dedicated  on  the  15th  of  July,  and  the  church  organized. 

On  the  1st  of  August,  the  anniversary  of  the  abolishment 
of  slavery  in  the  British  West  Indies  was  celebrated  in  the 
woods,  near  Lover's  Leap.  The  day  was  pleasant,  and  a  large 
company  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  assembled.  Some  prominent 
speakers  from  other  places  were  present. 


416  ANNALS  OP  LYNN — 1846. 

Thomas  Nourse  killed  a  rattlesnake  five  feet  long,  and  having 
nine  rattles,  on  the  Lynnfield  road,  in  July.  The  ages  of  these 
reptiles  may  be  determined  by  the  number  of  their  rattles. 
They  have  the  first  when  three  years  old,  and  afterward  one 
annually. 

On  Sunday  morning,  9  August,  one  of  the  most  destructive 
fires  that  ever  occurred  in  Lynn,  took  place.  It  commenced  at 
about  two  o'clock,  in  the  spice  and  cofi^ee  mill  of  Nehemiah 
Berry  and  Samuel  C.  Childs,  on  Water  Hill.  The  mill  and  adja- 
cent frame  buildings  were  soon  destroyed  and  the  fire  commu- 
nicated to  the  large  brick  building  used  for  silk  printing  and 
dyeing,  then  occupied  by  Daniel  K.  Chase ;  and  that  also  was 
destroyed.  Total  loss  about  $75,000.  Insurance  $20,000.  This 
brick  factory  was  the  one  referred  to  under  date  1836. 

On  Frida}^  afternoon,  14  August,  during  the  recess  at  the 
grammar  school  on  Franklin  street,  the  upper  wall  fell  —  plaster- 
ing, beams,  flooring,  and  all — and  precipitated  into  the  room 
a  cord  and  a  half  of  wood  which  had  been  piled  in  the  attic.  It 
came  down  with  such  force  that  portions  sank  through  the  floor 
into  the  basement.  Several  pupils  who  happened  to  remain  in 
during  the  recess,  were  injured;  none,  however,  fatally.  The 
average  attendance  of  scholars  was  about  a  hundred  and  fifty, 
and  had  the  accident  occurred  while  the  school  was  in  session, 
many  lives  must  have  been  lost. 

A  smart  shock  of  an  earthquake  was  felt  on  Tuesday  morning, 
25  August,  at  fifteen  minutes  before  five  o'clock.  It  was  suffi- 
ciently violent  to  wake  persons  from  sleep,  and  in  some  instances 
dishes  were  thrown  from  shelves.  There  was  for  a  moment  a 
dull,  rumbling  sound,  like  that  produced  by  a  train  of  cars  pass- 
ing over  a  bridge. 

The  old  Lynn  Light  Infantry,  organized  in  1812,  was  disbanded 
this  year.     For  many  years  it  was  a  famous  company. 

The  Agricultural  Society  of  Essex  County,  held  their  annual 
cattle  show  and  exhibition  in  Lynn,  1  October.  The  weather 
was  pleasant  and  a  very  large  number  were  present  from  abroad. 
The  address  was  delivered  by  Moses  Newell,  of  West  Newbury, 
and  the  dinner  was  had  in  the  basement  of  the  First  Congrega- 
tional meeting-house.  A  levee  and  dance  took  place  in  the 
evening. 

The  summer  and  autumn  were  unusually  warm  and  dry ; 
more  so,  it  was  stated,  than  at  any  previous  time  for  a  quarter  of 
a  century.  There  was  a  great  failure  of  water  in  the  wells  about 
town ;  some  dried  up  that  never  had  before.  November  and 
December  were  very  cold.  At  Thanksgiving  time  there  was 
a  great  easterly  storm  that  did  much  damage. 

A  singular  disease  began  to  affect  the  potato  crop,  this  year; 
and  it  has  continued  to  exhibit  itself  with  more  or  less  virulence 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1847.  417 

every  season  since,  in  some  instances  destroying  wnole  crops ; 
the  potatoes  being  sometimes  attacked  while  in  the  ground,  and 
at  other  times  after  being  digged.  Four  periods  have  been 
marked  by  the  prevalence  of  the  ^'  potato  rot,"  in  this  vicinity; 
the  first  in  1770.  The  remedy  in  former  times  seems  to  have 
been  in  the  use  of  the  seed,  instead  of  the  bulb,  for  propagation. 

The  congress  boot  began  to  be  manufactured  at  this  time. 
Its  peculiarity  consisted  mainly  in  the  substitution  of  an  elastic 
gore  for  the  old  lacing,  thus  rendering  the  boot  easier  about 
the  ankle,  and  more  tasty  in  appearance. 

The  Mexican  war  commenced  this  year.  Lynn  furnished 
twenty  volunteers,  viz :  Mark  Annis,  Henry  Chester,  Benjamin 
Coates,  C.  W.  Foster,  Nathan  Green,  Lucius  Grover,  Joseph 
Hepburn,  Amos  Kimball,  Stephen  Morton,  Henry  Newhall, 
William  B.  Patten,  Hezekiah  Shaw,  Walter  Sherman,  Edward 
F.  Skinner,  John  Spinney,  William  Swasey,  Joseph  Wendell, 
Joseph  York,  and  two  others  of  the  name  of  Brown. 

1847. 

On  the  15th  of  April,  there  were  two  inches  of  frost  in  the 
ground.  And  on  the  22d  of  the  same  month  the  weather  was 
so  warm  that  the  thermometer  rose  to  eighty-six  degrees  in  the 
shade.     But  the  next  day  it  snowed. 

President  Polk  made  a  short  visit  to  Lynn  on  Monday  after- 
noon, 5  July.  He  came  from  the  east  in  a  special  train,  left  his 
car  at  the  Central  Depot  and  rode  through  the  town  in  a  car- 
riage, taking  his  car  again  at  the  depot  at  the  foot  of  Commer- 
cial street.  There  was  great  eagerness  to  greet  him,  but  his 
stay  was  so  short  that  few  could  be  gratified. 

The  Hutohinson  cottage  at  High  Rock  was  built  this  year. 
Also  Exchange  Building,  on  Market  street. 

The  Agricultural  Society  of  Essex  county,  again  held  their 
annual  cattle  show  and  exhibition  at  Lynn,  29  September.  The 
address  was  dehvered  by  Thomas  B.  Payson  of  Rowley.  The 
dinner  and  other  festivities  usual  on  the  occasion  passed  off  in 
a  manner  most  satisfactory. 

Samuel  Mulliken  died  25  November,  aged  86.  He  was  long 
identified  with  the  prosperity  of  Lynn,  and  was  the  third  post- 
master, serving  from  1803  to  1807.  Before  coming  to  Lynn 
he  for  a  short  time  pursued  the  business  of  a  watchmaker,  at 
Salem.  In  Lynn,  he  did  a  large  business,  for  many  years,  as  a 
tanner,  and  at  one  time  kept  a  large  store  at  the  southern  end 
of  Market  street.  He  was  a  man  of  strict  integrity  and  great 
industry.  He  had  a  strong  will,  which,  being  usually  set  in  the 
right  direction  stood  him  in  good  stead.  But  he  once  related 
to  me  an  instance  of  its  operation  which  seems  more  amusing 
than  beneficial.     During  the  active  portion  of  his  life,  it  was  a 

27 


418  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1848. 

custom,  as  public  conveyances  were  few,  for  a  couple  of  busi- 
ness men  to  visit  Boston  in  companv,  one  provfding  the  horse 
and  vehicle  and  the  other  paying  the  tolls  and  horse  keeping-. 
One  chilly  November  day,  he  and  Jeremiah  Bnlfinch,  a  neighbor, 
agreed  to  visit  Boston  in  that  partnership  way.  Mr.  B.  was  to 
furnish  the  conveyance  and  Mr.  M.  to  pay  the  expenses.  When 
they  arrived  at  Charlestown,  whicli  was  early  in  the  forenoon, 
they  found  that  an  additional  toll,  or  some  other  charge,  to  the 
amount  of  six  cents,  on  which  neither  had  calculated,  had  been 
levied.  Mr.  Mulliken  contended  that  the  extra  charge  should 
be  equally  shared ;  but  Mr.  Bulfinch  declared  that  none  of  it 
rightfull}'"  fell  on  him.  They  were  equally  matched  for  stub- 
bornness, and  there  they  sat,  disputing  and  arguing,  till  the 
declining  sun  warned  them  that  it  was  time  for  the  horse's  head 
to  be  turned  homeward.  And  home  they  rode,  each,  undoubt- 
edly, congratulating  himself  on  his  manly  triumph.  ''And," 
added  Mr.  Mulliken,  as  he  related  the  incident,  his  counte- 
nance radiating  from  the  old  fire  within,  though  he  was  then 
more  than  eighty  years  of  age,  "I  would  have  sat  there  till 
this  time,  before  I  would  have  paid  it ! "  Mr.  Mulliken  had  two 
wives ;  his  first  was  a  daughter  of  Col.  Ezra  Newhall,  of  the 
Revolution;  and  his  children  were,  Jonathan,  William,  John, 
Charles,  Susan,  George. 

The  old  Lynn  Rifle  Company  was  disbanded  this  year.  It 
had  been  in  existence  about  twenty-five  years,  and  ranked  high 
for  discipline. 

The  custom  of  pressing  sea  mosses  and  working  them  into 
parlor  ornaments,  began  about  this  time.  The  rocks  by  the 
sea  side  and  those  upon  the  woodland  hilis  furnish  an  inexhaust- 
ible amount  of  material  for  the  most  durable  and  beautiful  orna- 
ments ;  and  by  a  tasty  and  patient  hand  it  may  be  wrought  into 
pictures  that  might  easily  be  referred  to  the  skill  of  goddesses. 
And  the  brilliant  leaves  of  autumn,  carefully  pressed  and  var- 
nished may  be  formed  into  exquisite  pictures. 

The  first  telegraphic  wires  that  passed  through  Lynn  were 
put  up  in  December.  There  was,  however,  no  communication 
held  by  them  between  Lynn  and  other  places.  Morse's  tele- 
graph was  invented  in  1832,  and  the  line  between  Washington 
and  Baltimore  completed  in  1844. 

1848. 

On  the  night  of  Wednesday,  5  January,  the  harness  shop  of 
Edwin  N.  Pike,  on  Union  street,  near  the  Central  Depot,  was 
burned.     Loss  $1,200. 

Oliver  Fuller,  aged  60,  while  walking  on  the  rail-road  track, 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  Central  Depot,  on  Thursday,  24  February, 
was  run  over  by  a  locomotive,  and  instantly  killed. 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1848.  419 

George  Gray,  tne  Lynn  hermit,  died  28  February,  aged  78. 
He  was  by  birth  a  Scotchman  and  came  her©  near  the  close  of 
the  last  century,  locating  in  a  lonely  spot,  which  he  made  his 
home  till  the  time  of  his  death,  though  population  largely  in- 
creased around,  much  to  his  annoyance.  Two  or  three  rude 
little  structures,  erected  chiefly  by  his  own  hand,  answered  for 
his  dwelling,  workshops,  and  store  houses.  They  were  on 
the  south  side  of  Boston  street,  a  few  rods  east  of  the  main  en- 
trance to  Pine  Grove  Cemetery.  It  was  a  very  wild  place  till 
within  a  few  years.  A  high  woody  hill  rose  in  the  rear,  a  tan- 
gled swamp  was  on  either  hand,  with  a  weedy  brook  winding 
through ;  while  in  front,  beyond  a  little  area  of  brambles  and 
rank  vegetation,  wound  the  street  just  named.  He  persistently, 
and  often  with  a  good  deal  of  asperity,  refused  to  communicate 
to  the  curious  inquirers  who  sometimes  beset  him,  any  know- 
ledge of  his  personal  history  or  the  causes  which  induced  the 
adoption  of  his  comfortles-s  and  unnatural  mode  of  life.  And 
that  very  secrecy  gave  rise  to  innumerable  romantic  surmises. 
Some  believed  that  an  unfortunate  affair  of  the  heart  estranged 
him  from  the  world  ;  others  that  some  great  crime  rendered  his 
flight  from  his  native  land  a  necessity.  And  he  had  the  shrewd- 
ness to  avoid  entangling  himself  by  contradicting  any  current 
opinion. 

At  times  he  was  by  no  means  averse  to  discussing  affairs 
with  his  neighbors,  though  very  seldom  could  one  receive  a 
welcome  to  his  premises,  and  never  would  an  invitation  to  enter 
his  dwelling  be  extended.  His  calls  were  generally  made  at 
night.  I  was  occasionally  favored  with  one  and  usually  found 
him  so  forgetful  of  the  passing  time  that  it  was  necessary  to 
remind  him  of  the  lateness  of  the  hour  by  a  delicate  hint  like 
that  of  extinguishing  the  lights,  nothing  short  of  some  such  rude- 
ness appearing  to  be  understood.  On  one  of  these  visits,  when 
he  seemed  in  gracious  mood,  with  venturesome  curiosity  I 
expressed  a  desire  to  know  something  of  his  early  history ;  but 
the  sudden  and  lively  response  —  "That  is  what  don't  concern 
you!"  checked  all  approach  for  that  purpose.  He  was  a  reflecting 
man,  and  one  of  considerable  literary  and  scientific  attainment; 
but  the  current  story  of  his  carrying  a  Hebrew  Bible  about  in 
his  pocket  was,  no  doubt,  a  fiction.  He  took  great  pleasure 
in  attending  lectures,  and  in  studying  works  on  the  abstruse 
sciences.  But  his  fondness  for  the  mechanic  arts  was  perhaps 
his  most  conspicuous  trait,  and  he  became  very  skillful  in  some 
branches  connected  w^ith  machinery.  Strangers  w^ould  some- 
times vex  him  with  untimely  visits,  and  by  unpalatable  remarks 
induce  sudden  exhibitions  of  temper.  But  if  one  assumed  to 
possess  a  knowledge  of  mechanics,  he  was  pretty  sure  of  a  cour- 
teous hearing.     He  claimed  to  be  the  inventor  of  a  most  useful 


420  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1848. 

part  of  the  shrp's  steeriug  apparatus;  but  some  one  was  before 
him  in  securing  the  patent,  and  he  was  subjected  to  much  ex 
pense  in  unsuccessful  efforts  to  establisli  his  claims.  Rufus 
Choate  was  his  advocate  and  counsellor  at  one  time. 

In  religion  he  was  probably  a  materialist,  most  of  his  life. 
Perhaps  a  dozen  years  before  his  death  he  remarked  to  me  that 
it  was  "  ridiculous  for  any  one  to  contend  that  intelligence  was 
not  the  result  of  physical  organization."  But  it  is  understood 
that  he  subsequently  abandoned  his  old  views,  and  died  in  the 
Calvinistic  feith.  He  w^as  eccentric  in  his  habits,  and  had  little 
regard  for  personal  appearance,  oftentimes,  especially  during 
the  last  few  years  of  his  life,  appearing  in  a  grim  and  filthy  con- 
dition. He  was  remarkable,  even  in  old  age,  for  power  of  phy- 
sical endurance.  Many  a  time  has  he  walked  to  Boston,  on  a 
winter  evening,  attended  a  lecture,  and  walked  home  after  it 
had  closed,  making  a  distance,  in  all,  of  full  twenty  miles,  most 
likely  with  no  thicker  covering  to  his  head  than  a  dilapidated 
straw  hat  and  upon  his  feet  coarse  shoes  and  no  stockings. 
He  suffered  much  from  disease  during  his  few  last  years.  And 
there,  in  his  forlorn  habitation,  without  the  sympathy  of  friends 
or  the  common  endearments  of  home,  in  solitude  and  distress, 
his  last  days  were  passed. 

Mr.  Gra}^,  at  the  time  of  his  decease,  possessed  property  to 
the  amount  of  about  $4,000.  He  died  intestate,  and  his  debts 
were  not  large ;  a  considerable  portion,  therefore,  went  into  the 
treasury  of  the  commonwealth.  His  savings  do  not  appear, 
however,  to  have  accumulated  from  a  miserly  disposition,  but 
rather  from  habits  of  industry  and  a  naturallv  frugal  turn,  for 
the  administrator  informed  me  that  from  the  appearance  of 
things  he  could  hardly  have  taken  sufficient  interest  in  his  pe- 
cuniary affairs  to  have  known  what  he  did  possess.  In  some 
instances  the  evidences  of  his  money  deposits  were  found 
thrown  among  waste  paper. 

The  death  of  the  hermit  was  noticed  in  the  newspapers, 
throughout  the  country,  and  several  persons  appeared,  claiming 
to  be  heirs ;  but  they  failed  to  substantiate  their  claims.  On 
the  16th  of  January,  1861,  George  Gray  and  William  Gray  peti- 
tioned the  legislature  to  grant  to  them  the  proceeds  of  the 
hermit's  estate  in  the  treasury.  The  petitioners  represented 
that  the  hermit  was  a  natural  son  of  William  Gray,  of  Oxgang, 
Dunbarton  county,  Scotland,  of  whom  they  were  legitimate 
grandchildren.  They  did  not  assume  any  legal  right  to  the 
money,  but  in  consideration  of  the  fact  that  they  would  have 
been  entitled  as  heirs,  had  the  hermit  been  legitimate,  hoped 
the  legislature  would  favorably  regard  their  prayer.  The  peti- 
tion was  referred  to  the  committee  on  claims,  but  the  result 
was  not  favorable  to  the  petitioners. 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1848.  421 

During  the  month  of  May,  some  two  hundred  dwellings  were 
in  process  of  erection  or  enlargement  in  different  parts  of  Lynn. 

On  Saturday  morning,  6  May,  during  a  thunder  shower,  the 
safe  in  the  ticket  office  of  the  Central  Depot  was  blown  open 
and  robbed  of  about  forty  dollars.  The  thief  was  discovered 
and  suffered  imprisonment. 

On  Sunday,  11  June,  a  party  of  young  men  went  down  Sau- 
gus  river,  for  recreation,  partaking  of  clams  and  other  refresh- 
ments. On  their  way  back,  William  Austin,  one  of  the  number, 
was  suddenly  taken  ill,  and  died  before  a  physician  could  be 
summoned. 

Independence  was  this  year  celebrated  in  Lynn  by  the  friends 
of  temperance.  In  the  evening  there  was  a  display  of  fireworks, 
at  High  Rock,  and  a  great  crowd  of  spectators. 

The  second  post-office  in  Lynnfield  was  established,  1  August, 
in  the  centre  village. 

At  about  four  o'clock  on  Sunday  morning,  6  August,  the 
house  and  barn  of  Samuel  Parrott,  on  North  Bend,  were  entirely 
destroyed  by  fire.  Loss,  about  $3,500.  Two  cows  and  a  calf 
perished  in  the  flames. 

An  unusually  fatal  epidemic  prevailed  in  September.  There 
were  seven  funerals  in  town  on  the  17th.  And  on  the  next 
Sunday  Rev.  Dr.  Cooke,  of  the  First  Church,  preached  a  sermon 
appropriate  to  the  occasion. 

The  Agricultural  Society  of  Essex  County,  for  the  third  suc- 
cessive year  held  their  annual  exhibition  in  Lynn.  The  day 
was  pleasant  and  great  numbers  attended.  The  address  was 
delivered  by  Gen.  Josiah  Newhall,  of  Lynnfield.  Hon.  Daniel 
Webster  was  present.  The  evening  levee  was  in  Exchange 
Hall.  A  few  rockets  were  let  off  on  the  Common,  at  night, 
which  so  frightened  some  of  the  cattle  that  they  broke  from 
their  enclosures  and  fled.  Three  young  cows,  brought  by  David 
S.  Caldwell,  of  Byfield,  were  found,  about  midnight,  at  the  rail- 
road depot,  quietly  reposing  beside  the  same  car  in  which  they 
had  been  brought. 

In  October,  the  house  of  Daniel  Kidder,  in  Saugus,  near  the 
Newburyport  Turnpike,  was  burned.  Loss  $2,000.  The  fire 
was  occasioned  by  children  playing  with  matches  in  the  garret. 

On  Friday  afternoon,  29  December,  the  new  grammar  school- 
house  on  the  westerly  side  of  Franklin  street,  was  dedicated. 
Though  of  wood,  it  was  at  the  time  considered  a  fine  building. 

The  carriage  road  along  the  harbor  side  of  Long  Beach  was 
built  this  year  by  Dennison  W.  Goldthwaite,  under  the  super- 
intendence of  Alonzo  Lewis.  It  cost  $1,771.25.  The  town 
appropriated  $1,000  and  the  people  at  Nahant,  resident  and 
non-resident,  subscribed  $1,225.  A  part  of  the  town  appropri- 
ation was  not  used. 
J2 


422  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1849. 

Lynn  Common  was  fenced  this  year.     The  whole  cost  of  the 
fencing  fell  a  trifle  short  of  $2,500.     To  the  exertions  of  the 
ladies  the  town  was  in  a  great  measure  indebted  for  the  im- 
provement.   On  the  28th,  29th,  and  30th  days  of  September,  they 
held  a  great  fair  at  Exchange  Hall,  and  were  so  successful  as  to 
realize  $1,636,  including  $245  previously  obtained  by  subscrip- 
tion.    Other  sums  were  subsequently  subscribed,  and  the  town 
made  an  appropriation,  which  enabled  the   committee  promptly 
to  complete  the  work.     Down  to  this  time  the  Common  had 
remained  an  open  area.     Most  of  it  was  used  as  a  public  ground 
from  the   earliest  times,  military  trainings  and  public  parades 
and  exhibitions  being  held  there.     In  some  portions  the  surface 
remained  quite  uneven  as   late   as   1830  ;   there   were   hollows 
and   risings,  muddy  places  and   gravelly  shelves.     The  travel 
flowed  partly  along  the  sides,  where  North  and  South  Common 
streets  now  are,  and  partly  along  a  road  which  ran,  with  divers 
interruptions,  along  the  centre.     Just  east  of  where  the  pond 
now  is,  stood  a  dwelling-house,  with   out-buildings   and  a  small 
orchard.     And  a  little   farther   east   stood  the   gun-house  and 
town-house.     At   the    eastern    extremity    was   a   little    district 
school-house,  and  at  the  western  another.     Almost  exactly  op- 
posite where  Whiting  street  opens,  was  the  famous  Old  Tunnel 
meeting-house ;  and  so  few  were  the  buildJngs,  for  most  of  the 
distance,  between  the  middle  of  the  Common  and  the  sea,  even 
down  to  the  time  of  the  disappearance   of  that  sacred  edifice, 
that  people  in  passing  up  and  down   had  pleasant  views  of  the 
water.     Many  a  time,  when  a  boy,   on   my  way  to   and   from 
meeting,  have  I  watched  the  vessels.     In  1827  the  old  meeting- 
house was  removed  ;  and  in  the  course  of  about  half  a  dozen 
years  thereafter  the  whole  extent  was  freed  from  the  architec- 
tural  encumbrances.     It  was  then   ploughed   up,  the   circular 
pond  formed,   the  hollows   filled,  and   North  and   South  Com- 
mon  streets   graded.     Since   the   fence  was   built  the  city  has 
made  a  number  of  small  appropriations  for  improvements ;  the 
gravel  walks   have   been   formed,  and  numerous  trees  planted. 
At  the  time  the  Common  was  fenced  there  were  three  hundred 
and  forty-seven  trees  upon  it,  including  those  within  the  rail- 
ing and  along  the  side-walks. 

1849. 

On  Wednesday  afternoon,  3  January,  the  new  grammar  school- 
house,  on  the  east  side  of  Centre  street  was  dedicated.  This 
and  the  one  built  at  the  same  time,  on  Franklin  street,  and  ded- 
icated 29  December,  1848,  were  the  best  ever  built  in  Lynn,  up 
to  this  time.     They  cost  about  $5,000,  each. 

On  Wednesday,  31  January,  the  body  of  a  man  about  fifty 
years  of  age,  who  had  been  frozen  to  death,  was  found  on  Tower 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1849.  423 

Hill,  near  the  aims-bouse.  It  was  supposed  that  he  froze  the 
night  before,  which  was  intensely  cold,  while  in  a  condition  of 
helpless  intoxication. 

A  small  building  near  High  Rock,  used  as  a  shoemakers'  shop, 
was  burned  on  Sunday  evening,  25  March.  The  building  was 
an  interesting  relic,  having  been  the  belfry  of  the  Old  Tunnel 
meeting-house.  The  spaces  being  boarded  up,  it  furnished  a 
comfortable  though  not  very  capacious  shop. 

The  Lynn  Police  Court  was  established  this  year.  It  became 
a  court  of  record,  in  the  legal  sense,  1  January,  1862. 

The  Laighton  Bank  commenced  business,  2  August. 

A  national  fast  was  appointed  for  the  8d  of  August,  on  account 
of  the  threatened  prevalence  of  the  Asiatic  cholera.  The  day 
was  well  observed  at  Lynn.  About  a  dozen  cases  of  the  disease 
appeared  in  our  alms-house,  ten  of  which  proved  fatal.  A  few 
other  cases  occurred  in  different  parts  of  the  town.  But  the 
excitement  was  not  to  be  compared  with  that  of  1832,  when 
the  disease  first  reached  America.  Lynn,  at  that  time,  partook 
largely  of  the  general  alarm,  though  the  pestilence  did  not  then 
visit  her. 

In  September,  James  C.  Lamphier,  of  Swampscot,  discovered 
floating  off  Swampscot  beach,  a  turtle,  of  the  enormous  weight 
of  six  hundred  pounds.  Its  length,  from  the  end  of  the  nose  to 
the  end  of  the  tail,  was  eight  feet  and  six  inches,  and  its  shell 
was  six  feet  long  and  three  and  a  half  wide.  The  animal  was 
dead  when  discovered.  After  being  towed  ashore  a  bullet  hole 
was  found  in  the  body. 

Rev.  Theobold  Matthew,  of  Ireland,  a  distinguished  advocate 
of  temperance,  visited  Lynn  on  the  afternoon  of  Monday,  17 
September.  He  held  a  levee  at  Lyceum  Hall,  and  several  hun- 
dreds, mostly  his  own  countrymen,  took  the  temperance  pledge. 
On  the  7th  and  8th  of  October,  he  again  visited  Lynn  and 
administered  the  pledge  to  others. 

A  great  storm  occurred  on  the  6th  and  7th  of  October.  The 
sea  was  driven  in  with  such  fury  that  in  several  places  it  made 
breaches  entirely  over  Long  Beach. 

The  Bay  State,  a  weekly  newspaper,  advocating  democratic 
principles,  was  commenced  11  October,  by  Lewis  Josselyn. 

On  the  evening  of  19  October  a  party  of  Ojibway  Indians 
gave  an  entertainment  at  Lyceum  Hall.  They  had  traveled 
in  Europe  under  the  guidance  of  George  Catlin,  the  accom- 
plished Indian  delineator. 

The  new  grammar  school-house,  at  Swampscot,  was  dedicated 
on  the  20th  of  December. 

A  l^rge  number  left  Lynn,  this  year,  to  seek  their  fortunes  in 
California,  the  excitement  respecting  the  gold  discoveries  on 
the  Pacific  coast  having  set  people  almost  beside  themselves. 


424  ANNALS  OF  LYNN—  1850. 

Nearly  two  hundred  went,  some  by  water  and  some  by  land. 
And  there  was  as  much  diversity  in  their  success  as  in  their 
characters  and  habits.  Some  returned  in  poverty  and  with 
broken  health,  others  with  well-filled  purses  and  good  health  ; 
others  still  remained,  preferring  to  make  new  homes  in  that 
distant  region. 

The  grammar  school-house  at  Tower  Hill  w^s  built  this  year. 

1850. 

A  curious  discussion,  which  in  some  instances  waxed  quite 
warm,  arose  at  the  beginning  of  this  year.  It  was  on  the  ques- 
tion whether  1850  was  the  last  year  of  the  first  half  of  the  cen- 
tury, or  the  first  year  of  the  last  half 

Fifteen  cases  of  small-pox  occurred  in  January  in  one  house 
on  Spring  street;  only  one,  however,  proved  fatal.  All  the 
patients  were  colored  persons. 

At  the  beginning  of  this  year  there  were  in  Lynn  thirty-four 
public  schools,  employing  nine  male  and  thirty-four  female 
teachers.     The  whole  number  of  pupils  was  3.379. 

A  two  story  building  on  Centre  street,  between  North  Com' 
mon  street  and  the  Turnpike,  occupied  by  Peter  C.  Downing, 
as  a  boarding-house,  was  destroyed  by  fire  on  Sunday  night, 
March  31. 

Lynn  adopted  the  city  form  of  government  this  year.  The 
legislature  granted  the  charter  on  the  10th  of  April,  and  on  the 
19th  the  inhabitants  voted  to  accept  it.  The  organization  of 
the  first  city  government  took  place  on  Tuesday  forenoon,  the 
14th  of  May,  at  Lyceum  Hall.  The  day  was  pleasant,  and  a 
large  number,  some  of  whom  were  ladies,  were  present  to  wit- 
ness the  ceremonies.  George  Hood  took  the  oath  of  office  as 
mayor,  Daniel  C.  Baker  as  president  of  the  common  council,  and 
William  Bassett  as  city  clerk.  In  the  evening  the  new  city 
government,  together  with  a  large  company  of  citizens,  partook 
of  a  collation,  in  the  old  Town  Hall. 

A  great  fire  raged  in  the  woods  on  Sunday,  21  April.  Sev- 
eral hundred  acres,  chiefly  in  Dungeon  Pasture,  were  burned 
over. 

Col.  Samuel  Brimblecom  died  24  April,  aged  81.  He  was 
for  many  years  an  enterprising  shoe  manufacturer,  and  did  a 
great  deal  towards  establishing  the  business  on  a  firm  basis. 
Before  his  time  the  whole  trade  was  so  loosely  conducted  that 
few  realized  any  thing  beyond  a  bare  maintenance  from  unre- 
mitted toil  and  perplexity ;  but  many  of  his  suggestions  tended 
greatly  to  systematize  the  business  and  render  it  profitable.  In 
common  with  all  the  manufacturers  of  that  period  he  met  with 
reverses  in  early  life,  though  before  the  infirmities  of  age  had 
settled  upon  him  he  had  secured  a  competency.     He  was  a  man 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1850.  425 

of  philosophical  turn  of  mind,  and  estimable  social  qualities ; 
fond  of  reading,  and  ready  to  aid  in  all  efiforts  to  improve  the 
mind.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Unitarian  Society  at  its  forma- 
tion, and  continued  steadfast  in  the  faith.  He  had  seven  chil- 
dren, namely,  Mary,  Samuel,  Mary  Ann,  two  Williams,  Lucy,  and 
Ellen.  His  first  wife  was  Mary  Mansfield,  whom  he  married 
4  June,  1794;  and  his  second,  Nelly  Copp,  whom  he  married 
1  June,  1817.  Ellen  was  the  only  child  by  the  second  marriage. 
His  residence  was  on  the  south  side  of  the  Turnpike,  a  few 
rods  west  of  Franklin  street.     He  was  a  native  of  Marblehead. 

At  about  midnight,  on  Sunday,  26  May,  two  buildings  on 
the  wharf  at  the  foot  of  Commercial  street,  were  destro3^ed  by 
fire,  with  a  considerable  quantity  of  lumber  and  lime.  On  the 
morning  of  the  same  day,  a  store-house  in  the  rear  of  Caleb 
Wiley's  store,  corner  of  the  Turnpike  and  Federal  street,  was 
burned. 

Down  to  the  last  day  of  May,  the  easterly  wind  had  been  the 
prevailing  one  for  a  hundred  successive  days,  an  occurrence 
quite  uncommon  even  here  where  our  springs  are  so  marked 
by  easterly  winds. 

The  physicians  of  Lynn,  by  mutual  agreement,  commenced 
charging  seventy-five  cents  for  each  professional  visit,  June  15. 
The  most  common  fee,  previous  to  that,  had  been  fifty  cents. 
It  was  a  time  of  great  prosperity,  and  wages  in  almost  every 
craft  and  profession  took  an  upward  course. 

On  the  afternoon  of  Thursday,  20  June,  during  a  thunder 
shower,  the  lightning  struck:  the  clothing  store  of  Roland  G. 
Usher,  on  Market  street.  James  W.  Ingalls,  who  was  standing 
in  the  door  way,  was  knocked  down.  The  lightning  passed 
between  his  legs,  tearing  one  of  his  boots,  and  burning  his 
person  somewhat. 

The  "■  ten  hour  system,"  as  it  was  called  —  that  is,  the  reckon- 
ing of  ten  hours'  labor  as  a  day's  work  —  was  very  generally 
adopted  this  year.  The  church  bells  were  rung  at  six  in  the 
afternoon,  and  then  labor,  for  the  most  part,  ceased,  in  field 
and  shop.     Mayor  Hood  took  a  lively  interest  in  the  movement. 

On  the  night  of  the  18th  of  July,  the  morocco  manufactory 
of  James  Tibbets,  on  Sutton  street,  was  destroyed  b}^  fire. 

On  the  afternoon  of  Wednesday,  24  July,  Pine  Grove  Ceme- 
tery was  consecrated.  The  weather  was  pleasant,  though  very 
warm,  and  a  great  concourse  attended.  The  address  was  deliv- 
ered  by  Rev.  Charles  C.  Shackford,  of  the  Unitarian  Society. 

A  son  of  Joseph  Ramsdell,  of  Lynnfield,  aged  10,  killed  a 
rattlesnake,  in  July,  which  was  five  feet  in  length  and  had  eleven 
rattles. 

In  the  summer  of  this  year,  the  Salem  and  Lowell  rail-road, 
running  through  the  northerly  part  of  Lynnfield.  was  opened. 
J2^ 


426  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1850 

A  tornado  passed  through  the  westerly  part  of  Lynofield,  on 
the  1st  of  August,  at  about  three  in  the  afternoon,  sweeping 
every  thing  before  it.  Its  track  was  but  a  few  rods  in  width, 
and  fortunately  no  buildings  were  in  it. 

On  Thursday,  August  15,  a  sad  disaster  occurred  at  Humfrey's 
pond,  in  Ljmnfield.  A  company,  connected  for  the  most  part 
with  the  First  Christian  Society  of  Lynn,  were  holding  a  pic-nic 
on  the  border  of  the  pond.  In  the  course  of  the  afternoon  a 
party  of  twenty-five,  chiefly  ladies,  rowed  out  in  a  large  flat 
bottomed  boat,  about  a  hundred  yards  from  the  shore.  As  some 
of  them  shifted  from  side  to  side,  the  boat  was  made  to  careen; 
and  several  becoming  alarmed  threw  their  weight  in  a  manner 
to  completely  capsize  it.  Before  aid  could  reach  them  thirteen 
were  drowned. 

The  Salem  and  South  Reading  rail-road,  passing  through 
Lynnfield,  was  opened  for  travel,  31  August. 

The  dry  goods  store  of  Charles  B.  Holmes,  on  Market  street, 
was  broken  into  on  the  night  of  5  October,  and  robbed  to  the 
amount  of  some  $500.  Several  other  robberies  were  committed 
at  about  the  same  time,  in  diS'erent  parts  of  the  town. 

This  year  the  potato  rot  was  very  destructive  to  the  crops  in 
and  about  Lynn. 

The  first  burial  in  Pine  Grove  Cemetery  took  place  on  Sun- 
day, October  13.  It  was  on  Myrtle  path  and  in  lot  number  212. 
The  stone  bears  this  inscription :  "  Harriet  Newell,  wife  of 
George  W.  Stocker,  died  Oct.  11,  1850,  aged  27  years.  Faith- 
ful while  below,  she  did  her  duty  well.  The  first  interment  and 
the  first  stone  erected  in  this  Cemetery." 

The  planet  Yenus  was  visible  to  the  naked  eye,  on  clear  after- 
noons, for  several  days  during  the  early  part  of  November. 

On  the  evening  of  28  November,  George  Thompson,  the  dis- 
tinguished abolition  lecturer  and  member  of  the  British  parlia- 
ment, being  again  in  the  country,  had  a  public  reception  by  his 
friends  in  Lynn,  and  delivered  an  address.  The  meeting  was 
at  Lyceum  Hall,  which  was  well  filled,  though  the  weather  was 
stormy.  James  N.  Bufi"um  presided.  For  notice  of  Mr.  Thomp- 
son's earlier  visits  see  under  date  1835. 

The  law  passed  by  Congress,  this  year,  intended  to  facilitate 
^  the  rendition  of  slaves  escaping  into  the  free  states,  and  known 
as  the  "  Fugitive  Slave  Law,"  met  with  strong  opposition  in 
Lynn.  Several  largely  attended  meetings  were  held,  at  which  it 
was  warmly  denounced.  At  Lyceum  Hall,  on  Saturday  evening, 
5  October,  a  full  and  enthusiastic  meeting  convened,  at  which 
Mayor  Hood  presided,  Jonathan  Buffum,  Daniel  C.  Baker, 
Charles  Merritt,  and  William  Bassett,  being  vice  presidents,  and 
George  Foster  and  Benjamin  F.  Mudge  secretaries.  One  or 
two  prominent  speakers  from  abroad  made  stirring  addresses, 


I 


« 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1850.  427 

and  the  following  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted.  They 
are  certainly  characteristic  of  the  people  of  Lynn,  in  the  ani- 
mated spirit  of  freedom  they  breathe  though  the  exceeding 
fervor  of  one  or  two  seems  to  savor  somewhat  of  nullification : 

Resolved,  That  the  Fugitive  Slave  Bill,  recently  enacted  by  Congress, 
violates  the  plain  intent  and  the  strict  letter  of  the  United  States  constitution, 
which  secures  to  every  citizen,  except  in  cases  of  martial  law,  the  right  of  trial 
by  jury  on  all  important  questions ;  further,  said  bill  outrages  justice,  since  it 
does  not  secure  to  the  fugitive,  or  to  the  free  man  mistaken  for  a  fugitive,  due 
notice  beforehand  of  the  charge  made  against  him,  and  opportunity  for  cross- 
examining  the  witnesses  against  him  on  their  oath,  gives  him  no  time  to  get 
counsel  or  gather  testimony  in  his  own  behalf — rights  which  our  fathers 
secured  by  the  struggle  of  two  hundred  years,  and  which  are  too  dear  to  be 
sacrificed  to  the  convenience  of  slave  hunters,  afraid  or  ashamed  to  linger 
amid  a  community  whose  institutions  and  moral  sense  they  are  outraging. 

Again,  said  bill  tramples  on  the  most  sacred  principles  of  the  common  law; 
and  even  if  men  could  be  property,  no  property,  however  sacred,  can  claim 
the  riglit  to  be  protected  in  such  a  way  as  endangers  the  rights  and  safety  of 
Iree  men,  therefore  — 

Resolved,  That  we  protest  against  it  as  grossly  unconstitutional,  as  frauglit 
with  danger  to  the  safety  of  a  large  portion  of  our  fellow  citizens,  and  capable 
of  being  easily  pe?verted  to  the  ruin  of  any  one,  white  or  black;  we  denounce 
it  as  infamous,  and  we  proclaim  our  determination  that  it  shall  not  be  executed. 

Resolved,  That  we  rejoice  to  believe  that  there  are  not  prisons  enough  at 
the  North  to  hold  the  men  and  women  who  stand  ready  to  succor  and  protect 
t/he  panting  fugitive  slave,  and  baffle  and  resist  the  slave  hunter,  who  shall 
dare  to  pollute  our  soil. 

Resolved,  That  every  man  who  voted  for  this  atrocious  bill,  every  one 
who  avows  his  readiness  to  execute  it,  and  every  one  who  justifies  it  on  any 
ground,  is  a  traitor  to  the  rights  of  the  free  states,  and  a  criminal  of  the  deepest 
die ;  at  the  head  of  whom  stands  Millar-d  Fillmore,  who  from  party,  or  even 
baser  motives,  has  set  his  name  to  a  law,  the  provisions  of  which,  so  far 
from  being  fitted  for  a  christian  republic,  remind  one  only  of  the  court  of 
Jeffries,  or  the  camp  of  Haynau. 

Resolved,  That  Samuel  A.  Eliot,  of  Boston,  in  giving  his  vote  for  this 
blood-hound  bill,  dishonored  and  betrayed  Massachusetts ;  and  low  as  is  often 
the  moral  sense  of  a  great  city,  cankered  by  wealth,  we  rejoice  to  know  that 
he  misrepresented  his  immediate  constituents ;  and  we  demand  of  them,  in 
the  name  of  our  old  commonwealth,  to  save  us  from  the  mfamy  of  his  presence 
in  another  Congress. 

Resolved,  That  since  God  hath  commanded  us  to  "bewray  not  him  that 
wandereth,"  and  since,  our  fathers  being  witnesses,  every  man's  right  to  lib- 
erty is  self-evident,  we  see  no  way  of  avoiding  the  conclusion  of  Senator 
Seward,  that  "it  is  a  violation  of  the  divine  law  to  surrender  the  fugitive  slave 
who  takes  refuge  at  our  firesides  from  his  relentless  pursuers;"  and  in  view 
of  this,  as  well  as  of  the  notorious  fact  that  the  slave  power  has  constantly 
trampled  under  foot  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  to  secure  its  own 
extension  or  safety,  and  especially  of  the  open,  undisguised,  and  acknowledged 
contempt  of  that  instrument,  with  which  the  slave  states  kidnap  our  colored 
citizens  traveling  south,  and  imprison  our  colored  seamen,  we,  in  obedience  to 
God's  law,  and  in  self-defense,  declare  that,  constitution  or  no  constitution, 
law  or  no  law,  with  jury  trial  or  without,  the  slave  who  has  once  breathed  the 
air  and  touched  the  soil  of  Massachusetts,  shall  never  be  dragged  back  to 
bondage. 

Resolved,  That  Lewis  Cass  and  Daniel  Webster,  Senator  Foote  and  Sen- 
ator Clay,  and  each  and  every  one  of  the  "  comoromise  committee  of  thirteen," 


428  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1851. 


who  reported  and  urged  the  passage  of  this  bill,  as  well  as  every  one  who 
voted  for  its  passage,  are  unworthy  the  votes  of  a  free  people  for  any  office 
for  which  they  may  be  hereafter  named. 

In  the  course  of  a  few  months  other  large  meetings  were  held, 
attended  by  prominent  individuals  of  the  several  political  parties, 
and  similar  resolutions  adopted.  Other  places  in  the  common- 
wealth were  quite  as  much  in  a  ferment  as  Lynn,  and  pubhc 
opinion  soon  became  so  moulded  that  a  legislature  was  elected 
which  made  such  provisions  that  the  operation  of  the  law  was 
seriously  obstructed  ;  and  the  southerners  grew  rampant  under 
what  they  declared  to  be  Ma.-^.sachusetts  nullification.  Some 
very  bad  seeds  were  sown  at  this  time. 

George  Thompson,  member  of  the  British  parliament,  deliv- 
ered the  introductory  lecture  before  the  Lynn  Lyceum,  on  tlie 
21st  of  November.  There  was  a  very  large  attendance.  His 
subject  was  Reforms  in  England. 

The  Central  Congregational  meeting-house,  Silsbe  street,  was 
dedicated  on  the  11th  of  December. 

Rev.  Elbridge  G-.  Brooks  was  installed  minister  of  the  First 
Universalist  Society,  on  Sunday  evening,  December  22. 

The  valuation  of  the  real  estate  in  Lynn,  for  this  year,  was 
$3,160,515;  of  personal,  $1,674,328  —  total,  4.834.843.  Rate 
of  taxation,  $9  on  $1,000.  Number  of  polls,  3.215.  City  debt, 
$56,960.55.  By  turning  to  date  1860,  the  reader  will  have  an 
opportunity  to  determine  what  progress  had  been  made  in  these 
particulars  in  ten  years. 

The  whole  number  of  deaths  in  Lynn,  this  year,  was  262;  of 
consumption,  43.  Aggregate  population,  14.257.  Many  have 
an  impression  that  Lynn  is  an  especially  unfavorable  locality 
for  such  as  are  liable  to  pulmonar}^  diseases.  But  it  is  thought 
that  a  careful  study  of  the  bills  of  mortality  will  show  that  a 
smaller  number  of  deaths,  from  all  diseases,  occur  in  Lynn,  in  a 
given  period,  than  in  almost  an}^  place  of  equal  population,  in 
New  England ;  and  that  though  the  consumptives  here  bear  a 
greater  proportion,  they  are  yet  less  in  tl^e  whole  number  than 
the  consumptives  in  those  other  places.  •• 

1851 

On  Wednesday,  8  January,  the  commodious  structure,  erected 
on  High  street,  for  the  use  of  the  High  School,  was  dedicated. 
The  school  was  commenced  28  May,  1849,  in  the  wooden  school- 
honse  on  Franklin  street,  under  the  charge  of  Jacob  Batchelder, 
as  principal. 

The  carpenter  shop  of  Thoijias  Taylor,  on  Sagamore  street, 
was  destroyed  by  fire,  on  the  night  of  4  February.  And  on 
Monday  night,  17  February,  the  two  story  wooden  building  on 
Market  street,   corner   of  Essex,  was  nearly  burned  up.     The 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1851.  429 

lower  story  was  occupied  as  a  crockery  ware,  grocery,  and 
provision  store.  The  Freemasons  and  two  temperance  societies 
had  their  rooms  above. 

On  Sunday  evening,  March  11,  a  barn  near  the  Dr.  Cheever 
place,  in  Saugus,  was  burned,  with  about  twelve  tons  of  hay. 

On  Tuesda}',  18  March,  a  tremendous  storm  occurred.  The 
tide  was  driven  entirely  over  Long  Beach,  at  several  points, 
so  that  Nahant  was  literally  an  island.  The  new  road,  on  the 
harbor  side  was  much  damaged,  the  marshes  were  submerged, 
and  considerable  injury  was  done  to  the  rail-road  bed. 

The  second  City  Government  was  organized  April  7  —  George 
Hood,  mayor,  James  R.  Newhall,  president  of  the  common  coun- 
cil, William  Bassett,  city  clerk. 

On  the  15th  of  April,  another  violent  easterly  storm  com- 
menced, continuing  two  days.  The  wind  was  terrific,  and 
much  rain  fell.  A  higher  tide  was  occasioned  than  any  since 
that  driven  in  by  the  great  gale  of  1815.  The  sea  again  swept 
over  Long  Beach,  to  such  an  extent  that  a  continuous  sheet  of 
raging  water  lay  between  Lynn  and  Nahant.  Two  men,  on 
horseback,  attempted  to  cross  the  Beach,  but  the  horses  were 
thrown  down  by  a  wave,  and  they  were  in  great  danger  of  losing 
their  lives.  The  lower  part  of  Beach  street  was  submerged, 
and  much  lumber,  wood,  and  other  property  floated  off.  This 
storm  was  more  severe  than  that  of  the  18th  of  March.  Seven 
successive  tides  rushed  over  the  Beach,  badly  gullying  the  road 
so  lately  built,  and  rendering  it  almost  impassable.  At  Breed's 
mill,  on  Oak  street,  a  part  of  the  dam  was  carried  away  and 
much  damage  done,  a  more  particular  statement  whereof  may 
be  found  on  page  411.  But  the  most  serious  disaster  on  the 
coast  was  the  destruction  of  the  light-house  on  Minot's  Ledge, 
and  the  loss  of  two  faithful  assistant  keepers.  The  height  of  the 
building  was  seventy-five  feet,  and  it  was  supposed  to  have  been 
so  strongly  built  as  to  survive  any  storm.  It  was  seen  to  fall, 
a  few  minutes  after  midnight,  by  persons  on  board  an  inward 
bound  vessel. 

After  these  two  severe  storms  it  became  apparent  that  some- 
thing must  speedily  be  done  for  the  protection  of  the  Beach  or 
it  would  entirely  disappear  leaving  the  town  exposed  to  the 
unobstructed  inroads  of  the  ocean.  As  the  cheapest  plan,  it  was 
concluded  to  place  a  line  of  red  cedars  along  the  ridge,  working 
stones,  sand,  and  sea  debris  as  compactly  as  possible  among 
them.  A  guard  was  thus  formed,  answering  a  very  good  pur- 
pose. The  city  appropriated  $5,000  to  the  object.  There 
should,  however,  be  a  substantial  wall  of  stone ;  and  it  is  hoped 
that  government  will  one  day  supply  the  need ;  though  there  is 
not  much  prospect  that  they  will  do  so  at  present. 

On  Friday  afternoon.  May  2,  Miss  Sarah  Churchill,  aged  19, 


430  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1851. 

a  daughter  of  Ivory  Churchill,  of  Vine  street,  while  on  a  pleas- 
ure ride  with  a  young  man  named  Davis,  visited  the  Fort,  at 
Marblehead.  They  rode  on  an  embankment,  and  Mr.  Davis  step- 
ped from  the  chaise  to  turn  the  horse,  when  the  animal  suddenly 
backed  the  carriage  over  the  embankment,  at  a  perpendicular 
descent  of  some  nine  feet,  and  Miss  Churchill  was  instantly 
killed,  her  neck  being  broken.  She  was  buried  from  St.  Ste- 
phen's church,  on  the  following  Sunday,  and  a  great  concourse 
attended  the  solemn  service. 

On  Sunday  evening,  4  May,  a  barn  on  the  Ballard  estate,  in 
Saugus,  was  destroyed  by  fire.  An  ox  and  a  cow  perished  in 
the  flames. 

At  about  noon,  on  Saturday,  28  June,  Charles  Furbush  killed 
John  J.  Perdy,  at  the  boarding  house  of  Mr.  Bailey,  on  Market 
street,  near  the  rail-road  crossing.  Furbush  and  Perdy  were 
both  journeymen  shoemakers,  boarding  with  Mr.  Baile}'.  They 
had  come  home  to  dinner,  and  immediately  after  the  meal  was 
ended,  Furbush  went  to  his  room,  and  Perdy  went  out,  but 
soon  returned,  and  went  into  the  chamber  where  Furbush  was. 
Presently  two  discharges  of  a  pistol  were  heard,  and  some  ex- 
cited ejaculations.  The  people  below  rushed  to  the  chamber 
and  found  that  Perdy  had  been  shot;  and  he  immediately  ex- 
pired. Furbush  was  tried  for  murder,  but  acquitted  on  the 
ground  of  insanit3\ 

A  petition  was  this  year  presented  to  the  city  council,  by 
Hiram  Marble,  for  leave  to  excavate  Dungeon  Rock.  Leave 
was  granted,  in  July,  and  then  commenced  those  labors  of  Mr. 
Marble  in  that  romantic  locality,  which  will  remain  forever, 
evidence  of  his  faith  and  perseverance.  For  a  somewhat  ex- 
tended notice  of  the  whole  subject  see  under  date  1658. 

An  effort  was  made  this  year,  by  a  considerable  number  of 
ladies,  to  bring  into  fashion  the  Turkish  costume,  or,  as  it  was 
called,  the  Bloomer-dress,  from  a  lady  of  the  name  of  Bloomer, 
who  strongly  urged  its  adoption.  They  however  had  but  small 
success  in  inducing  the  sex  generally  to  lay  aside  their  graceful 
flowing  robes  for  those  which,  though  more  picturesque  and 
perhaps  more  convenient,  have  always,  among  the  more  fastidi- 
ous at  least,  been  deemed  less  appropriate  if  not  less  modest. 
On  a  pleasant  afternoon  in  July,  a  bevy  of  young  ladies  from 
Boston,  richly  and  gaily  habited  in  the  new  costume,  left  the 
cars  at  the  Central  Station,  creating  considerable  observation  if 
not  admiration  by  their  short  tunics,  full  trowsers,  bright  sashes 
and  jaunty  hats.  Quite  a  number  of  the  young  ladies  of  Lynn 
arrayed  themselves  in  the  new  style,  but  such  a  strong  prejudice 
against  the  innovation  began  to  manifest  itself,  that  they  soon 
laid  aside  the  unappreciated  garments. 

On  the  afternoon  of  Wednesday,  13  August,  during  a  thunder 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1851.  431 

sliower,  the  lightning  struck  the  house  of  Mr.  Conner,  on  River 
street ;  and  in  a  description  of  the  singular  effects,  given  by 
one  who  soon  after  visited  the  premises  it  is  stated  that  the  light- 
ning descended  the  chimney,  bursting  it  all  to  pieces  as  far  down 
as  the  attic  floor.  Then  it  passed  down  a  stove  funnel  to  the 
chamber  floor,  bursting  the  cook  stove,  passing  along  the  floor 
into  a  room  adjoining,  where  two  persons  were  taking  tea.  In 
its  course  here  it  tore  up  a  large  piece  of  the  floor,  upsetting 
the  table,  bursting  out  two  whole  windows  in  the  room,  break- 
ing the  very  chairs  on  w^iicli  the  persons  sat,  and  throwing 
table,  dishes,  food,  broken  chairs,  splinters  of  wood,  and  broken 
plastering,  on  all  sides.  Pieces  of  the  broken  iron  and  shivered 
wood  were  afterward  to  be  seen  sticking  in  the  casings  of  the 
room,  having  been  driven  in,  endwise,  with  much  violence. 
From  this  room  it  could  be  traced  to  the  basement,  and  off  into 
the  ground.  And  what  is  most  wonderful  of  all,  out  of  seven 
persons  who  were  in  the  house  at  the  time,  none  were  seriously 
injured.  The  curious  fact  appeared,  that  pieces  of  the  broken 
stove  were  so  highly  magnetized,  that  in  one  instance  a  piece 
about  six  inches  square  had  strength  enough  to  take  board  nails 
from  the  floor  and  hold  them  by  the  point.  At  about  the  same 
time  that  Mr.  Conner's  house  was  struck  the  lightning  also  struck 
the  store  of  Mr.  Vickary,  in  Gravesend  village,  somewhat  injur- 
ing it,  and  knocking  down  one  person. 

On  Friday  afternoon,  22  August,  a  fierce  tornado  visited  this 
region.  It  was  felt,  however,  to  but  a  small  extent  in  Lynn. 
At  Woodend,  a  boat  was  thrown  out  of  the  pond,  and  an  apple 
tree  eight  or  ten  inches  in  diameter  torn  up  by  the  roots.  In 
Gravesend,  the  lightning  which  accompanied  the  tornado,  in  one 
instance  descended  the  chimney  of  a  house  and  went  out  through 
the  front  door,  taking  the  side-lights.  But  it  was  terrific  in 
some  of  the  adjacent  places  ;  tearing  up  lofty  trees,  demolishing 
out  buildings  and  fences,  wrenching  off  roofs,  and  more  or  less 
injuring  many  persons  who  were  exposed  t®  its  fury. 

The  new  grammar  school-house  at  Nahant,  was  dedicated  on 
Tuesday  afternoon,  16  September. 

On  Sunday,  21  September,  a  great  fire  raged  in  the  woods. 
Some  streets  were  filled  with  smoke,  and  much  damage  was 
done. 

The  Independent  Methodist  meeting-house,  at  Nahant,  wat 
dedicated  on  Thursday  afternoon,  25  September. 

The  Methodist  meeting-house  in  Saugus,  east  village,  was 
broken  into  on  the  night  of  Thursday,  October  23,  and  the  mis 
sionary  box  robbed  of  six  dollars,  and  some  thirty  yards  of 
carpet  stolen  from  the  floor. 

On  Sunday  night,  October  26,  the  British  schooner  Brothers, 
Captain  Clark,  was  wrecked  by  striking  on  the  outer  ledge,  off 


432  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1852 

Swampscot.  The  crew,  seven  in  number,  were  landed  in  safety, 
about  midnight,  by  the  assistance  of  Edward  C.  Bates  and  his 
men,  who  lieard  their  outcries  and  hastened  to  their  succor. 
The  wreck  drifted  over  to  the  Nahant  rocks,  near  Mr.  Tudor's. 

The  new  grammar  school-house  in  Woodend,  was  dedicated 
on  Wednesday  afternoon,  29  October.  It  was  destroyed  by  fire, 
21  January,  1859,  being  then  valued  at  $6,000. 

A  new  religious  society,  called  the  Central  Unitarian  Society, 
was  formed  in  Lynn  this  year.  They  commenced  worship  in  a 
hall,  on  Sunday,  9  Novemi3er.  This  society  was  afterward  dis- 
tinguished as  the  Free  Church. 

Sagamore  Building,  near  the  Central  Depot,  was  again  nearly 
destroyed  by  fire,  14  November. 

The  new  grammar  school-house  in  Gravesend  was  dedicated 
19  November. 

On  Friday  evening,  21  November,  the  brig  Exile,  of  Yar- 
mouth, N.  S.,  Captain  Sharp,  was  wrecked  on  Long  Beach. 
Large  quantities  of  her  deck  load  of  wood  were  washed  ashore, 
and  by  the  means  an  immense  fire  was  kindled  on  the  Beach, 
by  the  light  of  which  the  multitude  worked  in  saving  the  lives 
of  the  mariners,  wdio  were  very  much  exhausted  and  in  great 
peril.  By  half  past  one  o'clock  all  were  safe  on  shore,  but  the 
vessel  was  a  total  loss.  It  was  estimated  that  there  were  a 
thousand  people  on  the  Beach  that  night,  and  the  scene  was 
one  of  teri'ific  grandeur. 

The  first  power  printing  press  ever  used  in  Lynn  was  set  up 
at  the  office  of  the  Ba}'  State  on  Christmas  day.  Before  that 
all  the  printing  here  was  done  on  hand  presses.  The  second 
power  press  was  set  up  in  the  Reporter  office,  in  March,  1854. 

The  first  meetings  of  the  Second  Baptist  Society  of  Lynn, 
were  held  this  year. 

The  legislature  authorized  the  offering  of  a  reward  of  $10,000 
for  the  discovery  of  a  remedy  for  the  potato  rot. 

1852. 

On  Wednesday  night,  7  January,  Joseph  Barrett,  of  Graves- 
end,  aged  70,  was  frozen  to  death  on  his  way  home  from  Salem, 
whither  he  had  been  to  testify  in  the  Perdy  murder  case. 

At  about  sunrise,  on  a  morning  in  January,  a  noble  eagle  was 
observed,  perched  upon  a  house  in  Green  street.  Finding  that 
he  was  attracl-iug  a  good  deal  of  attention,  he  presently  soared 
away. 

A  light  snow  fell  on  Sunday  evening,  March  21,  and  the  next 
morning  mysterious  footprints  were  discovered  in  the  vicinity 
of  Nahant  street  and  Long  Beach.  They  were  of  a  shape  that 
excited  much  curiosity,  and  no  one  was  able  to  determine  what 
sort  of  a  creature  had  made   them.     But  on  Monday  evening. 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1852.  433 

Mr.  John  Barry  shot  a  very  large  gray  owl,  on  the  marsh,  near 
the  foot  of  Pleasant  street,  and  it  was  concluded  that  the  won- 
derful tracks  were  made  by  him.  He  measured  more  than  five 
feet  from  tip  to  tip  of  the  wings. 

An  act  was  passed,  26  March,  to  prevent  the  destruction  of 
shad  and  alewives  in  Saugus  river,  and  the  tributary  streams  in 
tlie  city  of  Lynn.  Shad  had  long  before  disappeared,  but  ale- 
wives  continued  abundant. 

The  Saugus  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  commenced 
business  on  the  1st  of  April. 

The  organization  of  the  third  city  government  took  place  on 
the  5th  of  April.  Edward  S.  Davis  was  elected  president  of 
the  common  council,  and  William  Bassett,  city  clerk.  Mr.  Hood 
continued  to  act  as  mayor,  no  other  having  been  elected.  Daniel 
C.  Baker  and  Benjamin  F.  Mudge  were  the  principal  candidates ; 
but  there  were  sufficient  scattering  votes  to  defeat  an  election. 
The  old  majority  law  was  then  in  force  ;  and  it  was  not  till  the 
eighth  trial  that  a  choice  was  effected.  Mr.  Mudge  was  elected, 
June  12,  by  a  small  majority,  and  took  the  oath  of  office,  on 
the  16th  of  June. 

A  violent  snow  storm  occurred  on  the  6th  of  April.  A  foot 
of  snow  fell.  There  was  also  a  snow  storm  on  the  13th  of  April, 
during  which  from  six  to  eight  inches  fell. 

On  Thursday,  6  May,  Louis  Kossuth,  the  distinguished  Hun- 
garian patriot  visited  Lynn,  and  was  received  with  public 
honors.  He  arrived  at  about  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and 
a  procession  w^as  formed  which  proceeded  through  the  Common, 
between  lines  of  public  school  children,  and  thence,  by  Market 
street,  to  Lyceum  Hall,  where  an  enthusiastic  reception  awaited 
him.  He  w^as  quite  ill,  from  exertion  and  exposure,  but  was 
able  to  speak  for  about  three  quarters  of  an  hour.  The  proces- 
sion was  imposing,  embracing  some  military,  the  fire  companies, 
the  city  government,  associations,  and  citizens  generally  —  with 
stirring  music.  It  was  thought  that  ten  thousand  persons  were 
on  the  Common  at  the  time  the  procession  passed.  Kossuth 
left  in  the  afternoon.  The  day  was  quite  warm,  the  thermom- 
eter standing  at  eighty. 

An  act  was  passed  by  the  legislature,  13  May,  designed  more 
effectually  to  restrain  people  from  carrying  away  sand,  sea-weed, 
and  stones  from  the  beaches.  Much  damage  had  been  done  by 
inconsiderate  and  mercenary  trespassers. 

The  Lynn  City  Guards  were  chartered  this  year.  They  were 
formed  as  an  independent  company,  and  for  a  short  time  called 
the  Kossuth  Guards,  their  first  duty  having  been  to  serve  as 
escort  on  the  reception  of  Gov.  Kossuth,  May  6.  They  were 
chartered  as  an  artillery  company.  William  T.  Gale  was  the 
first  captain,  but  he  resigned  in  August,  and  was  succeeded  by 
K2  28 


434  ANNALS  OF  LYNN—  1852. 

Thomas  Herbert.  Capt.  Herbert  resigned  15  May,  1857,  and 
James  Hudson,  jr.,  was  chosen  commander.  This  was  one  of 
the  companies  belonging  to  the  renowned  Eighth  Regiment, 
wliich  so  promptly  responded  to  the  first  call  of  President  Lin- 
coln, on  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  the  great  rebellion,  in 
1861.  In  five  hours  after  the  unexpected  requisition  arrived  in 
Lynn,  this  company  and  the  Light  Infantry  were  ready  for  duty. 
And  they  both  departed  in  the  forenoon  of  the  next  day. 

A  band  of  music  was  formed  in  Lynn,  this  year,  under  the 
name  of  Mechanic  Brass  Band. 

Swampscot  was  incorporated  as  a  separate  town.  May  21. 
And  on  Saturday,  the  29th,  public  festivities  were  held  there  in 
honor  of  the  event.  Bells  were  rung,  cannon  fired,  and  flags 
raised.  In  the  afternoon  there  was  a  procession,  with  music  by 
the  Salem  Brass  Band,  an  address  by  Rev.  J.  B.  Clark,  and  a 
collation.  In  the  evening  there  was  a  torch-light  procession 
and  illuminations. 

On  Thursday,  June  3d,  three  men  were  in  a  boat,  near  Pig 
Rocks,  when  a  severe  squall  struck  them  with  such  force  as  to 
lift  the  boat  entirely  out  of  the  water.  It  was  capsized,  and 
two  of  the  men,  Mr.  Small,  of  Swampscot,  and  Mr.  Danforth,  of 
East  Boston,  were  drowned. 

The  bells  were  tolled  and  flags  raised  at  half-mast,  on  the  3d 
of  July,  by  order  of  the  city  government,  on  account  of  the 
death  of  Henry  Clay. 

The  planet  Venus  was  brighter  in  the  month  of  July,  than  it 
had  been  for  the  ten  preceding  years.  And  for  several  nights 
the  unusual  occurrence  of  all  the  visible  planets  being  above 
the  horizon  at  the  same  time,  was  witnessed. 

In  July,  a  rattlesnake,  having  ten  rattles,  and  measuring 
nearly  five  feet  in  length,  was  killed  on  the  Lynnfield  road,  by 
Joshua  Soule.  And  on  the  29th  of  July  another  was  killed 
by  Samuel  J.  Sargent,  measuring  five  feet  in  length  and  eleven 
inches  in  girth,  and  having  twelve  rattles.  Still  another  was 
killed  in  August,  on  the  Turnpike,  between  Lynn  and  Boston, 
by  a  Mr.  Grout,  which  was  four  and  a  half  feet  long  and  had 
seven  rattles. 

On  the  28th  of  August,  Mrs.  Jerusha  Rhodes  died,  aged  a 
little  more  than  97  years —  being  the  oldest  person  then  in  Lynn. 

On  Thursday,  2  September,  the  Sixth  Regiment  of  Infantry 
went  into  camp  at  Lynn,  occupying  the  field  on  the  southeast 
corner  of  Washington  and  Laighton  streets.  Many  military 
notables  and  others  were  present  from  abroad.  Some  gamblers 
and  pickpockets  also  made  their  appearance,  but  the  police 
interfered  with  their  arrangements. 

Building  was  very  active  during  the  spring  and  summer  of 
this  year.     Many  houses  of  the  better  sort  were  erected. 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1852.  435 

On  Wednesday,  15  September,  tlie  new  meeting-houae  of  the 
Trinitarian  Congregational  Society,  in  Saugus,  was  dedicated. 
It  cost  $5,500. 

An  omnibus  commenced  running  between  the  east  and  west 
sections  of  Lynn,  in  October,  and  was  continued  till  the  horse 
rail-road  was  built. 

Funeral  services  were  held  in  the  First  Congregational  meet- 
ing-house, on  Friday,  29  October,  in  memory  of  Daniel  Webster, 
it  being  the  day  on  which  his  funeral  took  place  at  Marshfield. 
The  city  council  attended,  each  member  wearing  a  badge  of 
mourning  on  his  left  arm.  The  house  was  appropriately  draped. 
Minute  guns  were  fired  on  the  Common  from  twelve  to  one 
o'clock,  the  bells  were  tolled,  and  flags  raised  at  half-mast. 

Died,  on  Tuesday,  9  November,  Isaac  Gates,  aged  74.  He 
practiced  law  in  Lynn,  for  many  years,  but  closed  his  life  at 
Harvard,  his  native  place.  He  had  been  unwell,  but  recovered, 
as  was  supposed,  and  went  to  the  polls  to  vote  the  day  before 
his  death.  He  retired  apparently  in  good  health  and  was  found 
dead  in  his  bed  the  next  morning.  He  graduated  at  Cambridge, 
with  the  class  of  1802,  and  possessed  good  natural  abilities,  but 
had  such  eccentricities  and  irregularities,  as  tended  to  impede 
his  success ;  and  he  never  prospered  much  at  the  bar.  His 
style  of  address  was  dogmatical,  and  his  expressions  extrav- 
agant; but  he  possessed  an  abundance  of  grating  wit  and 
loved  much  to  indulge  his  powers  of  sarcasm,  particularly  in 
the  political  caucus.  His  talents  were  sufficient  to  have  ren- 
dered him  conspicuous  and  useful  in  any  community  ;  but  in 
him  was  afforded  another  of  those  instances  over  which  the 
philanthropist  is  so  often  called  to  lament.  He  took  a  good 
deal  of  interest  in  the  management  of  town  afl\\irs,  and  often 
wrote  timely  articles  for  the  newspapers ;  but  his  really  judi- 
cious suggestions  too  frequently  lost  their  force  through  some 
lurking  prejudice  or  severity  of  expression.  He  also  loved 
to  write  political  articles  for  the  newspapers,  but  his  style  even 
here  was  often  so  pungent  as  to  destroy  the  effect.  Neverthe- 
less 'Squire  Gates,  as  he  was  popularly  called,  secured  many 
friends  by  his  good  nature  and  readiness  to  do  a  neighborly  act. 
The  following  very  well  exhibits  a  common  way  he  had  of  giv- 
ing vent  to  his  humor.  He  had  in  the  court  of  common  pleas 
defended  a  man  of  notoriously  intemperate  habits  against  the 
charge  of  being  a  common  drunkard,  and  by  some  strange 
good  luck  succeeded  in  winning  from  the  jury  a  verdict  of 
not  guilty.  The  man  was  so  elated  that  he  began  to  stammer 
out  his  thanks.  Mr.  Gates,  perceiving  his  object,  sprang  to  his 
feet,  and  throwing  up  his  spectacles,  exclaimed,  in  that  earnest 
manner  which  every  one  who  knew  him  will  remember,  "  There, 
there  !  don't  you  try  to  say  any  thing ;  the  jury  on  their  oath 


436  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1853. 

declare  that  you  are  not  a  drunkard.  Now  go  right  home  and 
see  if  you  can't  keep  sober  for  a  week,  a  thing  that  you  know 
you  haven't  done  for  the  last  six  months."  Before  coming  to 
L3^nn  Mr.  Gates  practiced  in  Concord,  N.  H.,  and  Brunswick,  Me. 
He  had  one  son  and  three  daughters,  and  the  family  were  refined 
and  highly  esteemed. 

On  the  26th  of  November,  an  earthquake  was  felt  at  Lynn. 

A  bell  was  raised  on  the  meeting-house  of  the  Trinitarian 
Congregational  Society,  in  Lynnfield,  November  26.  And  this 
was  the  first  church  bell  in  the  town. 

At  the  great  World's  Fair  held  in  London,  this  year,  several 
lots  of  shoes,  the  product  of  Lynn  industry,  were  exhibited, 
highly  praised,  and  in  one  or  two  instances  took  prizes. 

18  5  3. 

On  Monday,  January  3d,  a  prize  fight  took  place  between 
two  pugilists  from  Boston,  in  a  field  bordering  on  the  north- 
eastern road  to  Lynnfield.  The  stakes  were  $300.  The  fight 
was  arranged  in  Boston,  continued  about  an  hour,  and  was 
witnessed  by  a  large  number  of  persons,  many  of  whom  came 
in  carriages  from  other  places.  The  combatants  were  badly 
bruised.  The  city  marshal  succeeded  in  arresting  one  of  the  par- 
ties who  was  afterward  convicted  in  the  court  of  common  pleas. 

The  gas  was  lighted  in  Lynn,  for  the  first  time,  on  Thursday 
night,  13  January.  The  price  to  consumers  was  fixed  at  $3.50 
a  thousand  cubic  feet. 

On  the  16th  of  January,  the  harbor  was  frozen  to  Sand  Point ; 
on  the  23d  it  was  clear  of  ice ;  and  on  the  next  day  it  was 
again  frozen  to  Chelsea. 

The  new  grammar  school-house  in  the  fourth  ward  was  dedi- 
cated on  the  25th  of  January. 

On  Tuesday,  February  1,  the  cars  commenced  running  over 
the  Saugus  Branch  Rail-road. 

On  Monday  afternoon,  February  14,  Richard  Roach,  a  man 
about  forty  years  of  age,  was  at  work  near  the  Lynn  Common 
rail-road  depot,  sawing  wood  with  a  steam  circular  saw.  The 
balance  wheel  suddenly  exploded,  with  a  terrific  report,  and 
fragments  flew  in  all  directions,  one  of  them  striking  the  unfor- 
tunate man  just  above  the  chin,  and  knocking  his  head  com- 
pletely ofi",  with  the  exception  of  a  part  of  the  jaw.  Another 
part  of  the  wheel  was  thrown  with  such  force  as  to  cut  off  a 
four-inch  joist  and  shoot  to  a  distance  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile ; 
and  two  pieces  landed  on  Boston  street. 

Nahant  was  incorporated  as  a  separate  town,  March  29. 

The  organization  of  the  fourth  city  government  took  place 
on  Monday,  April  4  —  Daniel  C.  Baker,  mayor,  Edward  S.  Davis, 
president  of  the  common  council,  Charles  Merritt,  city  clerk. 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1853.  437 

On  Friday  afternoon,  May  20,  the  remains  of  Jesse  Hutchin- 
son were  buried  from  the  stone  cottage  at  High  Rock,  which 
was  built  by  him  six  years  before.  He  was  one  of  the  band  of 
vocalists  known  as  the  Hutchinson  brothers,  though  his  duties 
lay  rather  in  making  arrangements  and  writing  songs  than  in 
singing.  He  was  the  poet  of  the  family,  had  much  skill  in 
touchinp^  the  popular  vein,  and  would,  could  he  have  been  per- 
suaded to  spend  a  little  more  time  and  thought  in  elaborating 
some  of  his  pieces,  have  left  what  would  have  endured.  He 
had  a  social  disposition  though  his  temper  was  impulsive;  and 
he  possessed  many  eccentricities  that  were  attractive,  coupled 
with  some  that  were  not.  He  had  a  good  printing-office  educa- 
tion, had  traveled  some,  read  a  great  deal,  and  his  mind  was 
well  stored  with  information,  much  of  which  was  unavailable  in 
the  practical  concerns  of  life.  He  was  a  spiritualist,  and,  it  is 
said,  pledged  himself  to  return,  after  entering  the  spirit  land, 
and  convince  mankind  of  the  truth  of  his  views.  But  from 
some  cause,  he  appears  to  have  failed  in  fulfilling  his  pledge. 
He  died  at  Cincinnati,  where  he  had  stopped  at  a  water-cure 
establishment  on  his  way  home  from  California,  in  the  hope  of 
recovering  his  health.  He  was  the  father  of  several  children, 
all  of  whom  died  young,  and  before  his  own  decease. 

The  Lynn  Light  Infantry  was  chartered  this  year.  This  was 
the  second  company  of  the  name  formed  in  Lynn.  See  under 
date  1846. 

Boston  street  Methodist  Society  was  organized  this  year,  and 
their  meeting-house  dedicated  on  Thursday,  9  June. 

During  a  thunder  shower,  on  the  23d  of  July,  electrical  dis- 
charges were  heard  in  several  places  near  where  telegraph  wires 
ran,  resembling  the  discharges  of  muskets.  When  one  of  the 
explosions  took  place  near  the  Central  Depot,  xtwo  horses  were 
thrown  to  their  knees.  At  the  mill  on  Saugus  river,  as  one  of 
the  discharges  took  place  the  glass  attachment  on  the  ridge-pole 
was  shivered  and  pieces  sent  to  the  distance  of  a  hundred  rods. 

A  comet  was  visible  in  August.  It  was  about  as  bright  as  a 
star  of  the  third  magnitude  and  had  a  tail  two  degrees  in  length, 
extending  upward.  The  best  view  was  when  it  was  in  the  west, 
an  hour  or  two  after  sunset. 

On  Friday  morning,  16th  September,  a  fire  broke  out  in  a 
building  on  the  north  side  of  Federal  square,  owned  by  Joseph 
Moulton,  jr.  A  store  and  dwelling-house  were  destroyed  and 
several  other  buildings  injured.     Loss  $3,000. 

Patrick  McGuire,  an  Irishman,  aged  about  23,  was  fatally 
stabbed  in  Franklin  street,  at  half  past  nine  o'clock  on  Monday 
evening,  September  26.  The  murdered  man  was  thought  to 
have  been  mistaken  for  another.     The  murderer  escaped. 

On  Monday  night,  24  October,  a  severe  gale  took  place.  The 
K2^ 


438  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1854. 

eastern  wing  of  Nahant  Hotel,  eighty  feet  in  length  and  thirty 
in  breadth,  and  containing  sixty  sleeping  rooms  and  the  large 
dining  hall,  fell,  with  a  tremendous  crash.  It  had  been  raised 
from  the  foundation  for  the  purpose  of  being  altered. 

Albert  Gove,  aged  51,  while  near  the  Central  Depot,  25  Octo- 
ber, was  caught  by  the  arm,  by  a  locomotive,  and  dragged  some 
two  hundred  feet.  His  injuries  caused  his  death,  two  days 
after.  His  spectacles  were  found  on  the  cow-catcher,  at  the 
Salem  depot. 

1854. 

Pine  Grove  Cemetery  was  conveyed  to  the  City,  January  2, 
by  the  Corporation. 

During  the  first  week  in  Januar}^,  there  were  four  snow 
storms.  Between  two  and  three  feet  fell.  The  rail-road  trains 
were  much  impeded.  On  Thursday,  five  locomotives  were 
joined  to  force  a  morning  train  from  Lynn  to  Boston.  Some 
damage  was  done  to  Nahant  Hotel,  by  the  wind. 

Early  this  year  various  fashions  in  wearing  the  beard  began 
to  be  adopted.  A  great  man}^  laid  aside  the  razor  altogether, 
and  allowed  it  full  scope ;  others  kept  it  within  what  was  to 
them  a  convenient  length,  by  the  use  of  the  scissors ;  others 
entertained  only  mustaches ;  and  soon  as  great  diversity  pre- 
vailed as  existed  in  the  tastes  and  whims  of  those  who  cultivated 
the  masculine  appendage. 

The  Legislature  passed  the  plurality  law  in  February.  This 
was  a  great  convenience  and  the  means  of  saving  much  expense 
at  elections.  In  a  community  where  the  number  of  voters  is  few, 
it  may  operate  well  to  require  a  majority  for  an  election.  But 
where  the  number  reaches  to  thousands,  and  there  must  neces- 
sarily be  many  opposing  candidates,  a  plurality  law  seems  a 
necessity.  The  majority  requisition  was  a  great  burden  to 
Lynn,  where  there  were  usually  more  than  two  parties.  It  was 
not  till  the  eighth  trial  that  the  mayor  was  elected,  in  1852. 

On  Friday  night,  March  17,  a  violent  gale  commenced  from 
the  northeast,  continuing  through  Saturday.  For  a  few  days 
previous  the  weather  had  been  quite  warm,  with  some  thunder 
and  lightning ;  but  when  the  wind  set  in  so  violently  the  tempe- 
rature changed  with  a  suddenness  seldom  witnessed  even  here. 
In  about  five  hours  the  thermometer  sank  from  near  summer 
heat  to  below  freezing  point.  The  wind  was  so  powerful  as  to 
overthrow  several  chimneys,  and  the  lofty  flag-staff  at  East  Sau- 
gus.  Upon  the  Eastern  Rail-road  a  train  was  brought  to  a  full 
stop,  while  passing  over  the  marshes,  by  the  force  of  the  wind. 
Mr.  Stevens,  of  the  Tremont  House,  Boston,  while  attempting 
to  ride  across  Long  Beach,  on  his  way  to  Nahant,  found  himself 
and  his  horse  in  danger  of  being  buried  by  the  drifting  sand, 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1854.  439 

and  was  compelled  to  give  up  the  attempt  and  return  to  Lynn. 
Old  people  at  Nabant  declared  that  so  severe  a  gale  had  not 
before  taken  place,  within  their  recollection. 

The  Lynn  Weekly  Reporter  was  commenced  on  the  25tb  of 
March,  by  Peter  L.  Cox  and  Henry  S.  Cox. 

The  organization  of  the  fifth  city  government  took  place  on 
Monday,  April  3  —  Thomas  P.  Richardson,  mayor,  Gustavus 
Attwill,  president  of  the  common  council,  Charles  Merritt,  city 
clerk. 

John  Estes  died,  30  May,  aged  41,  of  lockjaw.  About  a  fort- 
night before,  he  stepped  on  a  rusty  nail,"wounding  his  foot;  but 
the  wound  apparently  healed  and  he  thought  nothing  further 
of  it  for  some  days.  But  on  the  Saturday  before  his  death  he 
iook  cold,  and  on  Monday  took  to  his  bed,  complaining  of  an 
unpleasant  feeling  in  his  head.  His  jaws  presently  became 
fixed  and  no  effort  could  relax  the  muscles.  Mortification 
ensued  and  on  Tuesday  afternoon  he  died. 

A  large  and  beautiful  elm,  on  Washington  square,  died  in 
May,  as  was  supposed  from  the  effects  of  gas  that  had  leaked 
from  the  under-ground  pipes.  Several  other  fine  trees,  among 
them  a  stately  elm  on  South  Common  street,  which  had  cast  its 
shade  for  sixty  years,  died  about  the  same  time,  and  as  was 
thought,  from  the  same  cause  ;  also  one  on  Market  street,  corner 
of  Liberty. 

On  Friday,  16  June,  a  little  son  of  C.  W.  Jewett,  died  from 
injuries  received  while  attempting  to  turn  summersets. 

On  Saturday  morning,  8  July,  a  car  load  of  cotton  belonging 
to  a  Saco  company,  on  arriving  at  Lynn  was  found  to  have 
taken  fire  from  a  spark  from  the  locomotive.  Alarm  was  given 
and  the  fire  engines  appeared.  After  considerable  exertion  the 
fire  was  ex'tinguished.     Some  fifteen  bales  were  destroyed. 

There  was  a  great  drought  this  jear.  No  rain  fell  for  six 
weeks  immediately  preceding  the  first  of  September.  On  that 
da}^  copious  showers  took  place,  much  to  the  refreshment  of 
parched  nature. 

On  the  3d  of  August,  Henry  Thomas  shot  a  white-faced  seal 
off  Swampscot.  The  animal  was  four  feet  in  length  and  weighed 
forty  pounds. 

Mackerel  were  unusually  plenty  on  the  coast  this  year.  Old 
fishermen  declared  them  to  be  more  so  than  at  any  other  time 
within  twenty-five  years.  Considerable  quantities  were  taken 
from  the  wharves  in  Lynn. 

The  City  Bank  went  into  operation  in  September.  Capital^ 
$100,000.     John  C.  Abbott,  president;  B.  V.  French,  jr.,  cashier. 

The  Cemetery  at  Swampscot  was  consecrated  in  September. 

Sagamore  Hotel  was  built  this  year.  The  stone  dwelling  on 
the  point  of  Sadler's  Rock,  at  the  junction  of  Walnut  and  Hoi- 


440  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1854. 

yoke  streets,  was  also  built  this  year.  The  stone  was  taken 
from  the  hill  above,  and  affords  a  fair  specimen  of  large  deposits. 
Our  rough  and  partially  barren  hills  contain  that  which  at  some 
future  day  may  be  esteemed  rich  treasure.  In  elevated  locali- 
ties especially,  stone  is  far  preferable  to  wood  as  a  building 
material,  not  only  because  it  is  more  substantial  and  durable, 
but  also  because  it  is  so  much  less  liable  to  be  affected  by 
atmospheric  changes.  There  were  only  three  stone  houses  in 
Lynn  when  this  was  built.  But  a  novel  material  for  building 
began  to  be  used  to  some  extent  at  this  time.  It  consisted  of 
coarse  gravel,  with  about  one  twelfth  part  of  lime,  worked  into 
mortar.  Many  believed  it  would  be  sufficient  to  form  walls  firm 
enough  for  large  dwellings.  But  the  delusion  was  dispelled  in 
a  singular  and  effectual  manner,  on  Monday  afternoon,  November 
13.  Joseph  Hay  had  employed  William  H.  Mills,  a  carpenter,  to 
erect  for  him,  on  Breed  street,  near  Lewis,  a  dwelling-house, 
the  dimensions  of  which,  on  the  ground,  were  thirty-four  by 
twenty-eight  feet,  with  an  L  twenty-three  by  eighteen  feet. 
The  walls,  which  were  of  this  new  material,  had  been  carried 
up  twenty-two  feet  from  the  underpinning,  and  the  roof  was  put 
on  early  in  October.  The  house  was  now — November  13  — 
lathed,  and  ready  for  the  inside  plastering.  Ten  persons  were 
at  work  within,  w^hen,  without  any  premonition,  and  with  a 
tremendous  crash,  the  whole  fabric  fell  to  the  ground.  A  cloud 
of  dust  ascended  and  great  alarm  spread.  Nothing  remained 
but  a  heap  of  rubbish.  Mr.  Hay  had  three  of  his  ribs  broken ; 
a  young  man  had  an  arm  broken  ;  and  several  others  were  badly 
bruised  ;  no  one,  however,  was  fatally  injured.  After  this  catas- 
trophe, the  "  mud  houses,"  as  they  were  called,  were  looked 
upon  with  little  favor.  But  it  should  be  added  that  one  or  two 
smaller  buildings,  of  similar  material,  erected  about  the  same 
time,  are  still  standing.  The  ingredients  may,  however,  have 
been  better  proportioned,  or  the  weather  during  the  time  of 
building  may  have  been  more  favorable.  It  is  quite  certain 
that  in  a  climate  as  variable  as  that  of  New  England,  something 
more  substantial  is  required. 

The  rail-road  running  from  Danvers  to  South  Beading,  through 
Lynnfield,  was  opened  for  public  travel,  in  connection  with  the 
Danvers  and  Georgetown  rail-road,  on  the  23d  of  October. 

An  unusually  protracted  and  delightful  period  of  Indian  sum- 
mer ended  on  the  28th  of  October.  The  natural  cause  of  the 
beautiful  autumn  weather  known  in  New  England  as  Indian 
summer  still  remains  unknown.  Some  naturalists  think  it  pro- 
ceeds from  a  chemical  condition  of  the  atmosphere  produced  by 
the  ripening  and  falling  of  the  foliage. 

Brick  side  walks  began  to  be  laid  in  Lynn  this  year,  though  a 
few  trifling  patches  existed  before.     With  a  view  to  encourage 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — ^1854.  441 

the  improvement,  the  city  government  passed  an  order  that 
granite  curb  stones  should  be  furnished  and  set  at  the  public 
expense,  in  all  cases  where  individuals  would  furnish  and  lay 
the  bricks. 

On  Sunday  evening,  December  3,  a  violent  wind  with  rain 
and  hail  arose  and  did  considerable  damage,  breaking  trees  and 
destroying  fences.  Two  dwelling  houses  in  process  of  erection 
at  Bass  Point,  Nahant,  were  blown  down. 

During  the  winter  of  this  year  there  were  thirty-five  storms, 
and  a  more  than  usual  aggregate  of  snow. 

The  boundary  line  between  Lyruifield  and  Reading  was  estab- 
lished this  year. 

Two  of  those  financial  anomalies  called  loan  and  fund  associa- 
tions were  formed  this  year ;  one  called  the  *'  Lynn  Mutual  Loan 
and  Fund  Association,"  and  the  other  the  '^  West  Lynn  Loan 
and  Fund  Association."  It  is  not  singular,  as  may  be  remarked 
in  general,  and  with  no  special  reference  to  the  Lynn  associ- 
ations, that  many  of  that  large  class  who  in  the  hot  pursuit  of 
riches  rely  rather  upon  their  supposed  shrewdness  than  any 
settled  business  principle  or  mathematical  rule,  and  have  a  child- 
like credulity  in  regard  to  any  speculation  that  promises  in- 
crease, should  roadily  join  such  associations  as  these;  but  it 
is  singular  that  so  many  reputable  and  experienced  business 
men,  should  have  so  readily  given  countenance  to  what  was  so 
questionable.  Some  expected  to  derive  from  them  large  benefits 
as  borrowers  and  others  as  lenders.  But  most  were  disappoint- 
ed ;  for  it  turned  out  as  a  few  careful  computers  declared,  that 
miscalculations  had  entered  into  the  plans  of  operation.  The 
modes  by  which  these  associations  operated  were  complicated 
and  not  easily  understood ;  and  perhaps  that  very  thing  was 
one  cause  of  their  acceptance  ;  for  many  minds  are  charmed  with 
what  is  mysterious,  and  disdainful  of  what  is  simple.  A  portion 
of  those  connected  with  these  associations  complained  bitterly 
of  their  usurious  and  oppressive  management.  And  the  supreme 
court  was  appealed  to  for  the  righting  of  some  of  the  alleged 
wrongs ;  but  the  appeal  was  barren  of  the  expected  results. 
They  were  relieved  from  the  charge  of  usury;  and  the  purgation 
was  followed  by  such  reasoning  as  to  satisfy  honest  and  reflect- 
ing men  that  the  tribunal  still  remains  a  human  institution. 

For  several  years  a  difference  had  existed  among  the  Friends, 
occasioned  b}^  some  of  their  distinguished  writers  having  advo- 
cated and  published  sentiments  which  were  deemed  by  a  large 
portion  of  the  society  to  be  at  variance  with  some  of  its  well- 
known  and  fundamental  principles.  This  difference  at  length 
resulted  in  a  division  or  separation  in  the  Yearly  Meeting  of 
New  England,  one  branch  professing  to  adhere  uncompromis- 
ingly to  the  original  ground,  while  the  other  had  so  far  aban- 


442  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1855 

doned  that  ground  as  to  acknowledge  religious  fellowship  and 
unity  with  those  who  had  sought  to  introduce  their  modified 
views  into  the  church.  A  large  proportion  of  the  Friends' 
Meeting  in  Lynn  having  declared  themselves  subordinate  to 
this  latter  body,  no  alternative  remained  for  those  members 
who  could  not  join  in  this  course  but  to  meet  apart  from  them 
and  thus  sustain  or  continue  the  Meeting  in  connection  with 
the  Yearly  Meeting  which  had  resisted  the  innovations  upon 
its  discipline  and  doctrines.  This  year  they  erected  a  neat 
meeting-house  on  Cambridge  street.  Perhaps  the  reader  will 
be  enabled  to  form  some  just  conception  of  the  differences 
existing  between  the  two  parties  by  the  statement  that  both 
contended  that  they  were  the  true  Quakers.  Those  who  re- 
tained possession  of  the  meeting-house,  approved  the  teachings 
of  Joseph  John  Gurney,  an  English  Quaker,  and  considered  that 
the  reading  of  the  scriptures  forms  an  essential  part  of  family 
and  private  devotion  —  that  the  scriptures  alone  reveal  the  true 
character  of  sin  —  that  the  observance  of  the  sabbath  is  impor- 
tant—  that  the  written  gospel  becomes  the  power  of  God  unto 
salvation  —  that  Christ  will  come  again  literally.  The  other 
party,  in  accordance  with  the  ministration  of  John  Wilbur  and 
the  early  Quakers,  held  that  the  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
within  the  heart,  was  the  true  gospel,  and  alone  suflScient  for 
salvation  —  that  the  sabbath  is  a  Jewish  institution,  the  first 
day  of  the  week  not  being  the  anti-type  thereof  nor  the  true 
christian  sabbath,  which,  with  Calvin,  they  believed  to  have  a 
more  spiritual  sense  —  that  the  reading  of  the  scriptures  is 
profitable,  but  the  knowledge  of  them  not  so  essential  to  the 
understanding  or  practice  of  a  holy  life  as  to  preclude  the  pos- 
sibility of  leading  such  a  life  without  it  —  that  Christ  has  come 
already  spiritually. 

1855. 

By  an  amendment  of  the  city  charter,  the  municipal  year 
was  made  to  commence  on  the  first  Monday  in  January  instead 
of  the  first  Monday  in  April. 

The  influx  of  the  sea  was  so  great  during  the  violent  storms 
in  the  early  part  of  this  year  that  considerable  damage  was 
done  to  the  embankments  along  Ocean  street.  Many  bathing 
houses  were  thrown  down  and  King's  Beach  was  at  times  com- 
pletely overflowed. 

"  Josselyn's  Lynn  Daily,"  a  good  sized,  well  printed  and  ably 
edited  sheet  was  commenced  in  January,  and  continued  for 
some  months,  by  Lewis  Josselyn. 

On  the  morning  of  January  10,  Samuel  Newhall  shot,  near 
Saugus  river,  two  eagles  —  one  gray  and  the  other  bald. 

There  was  an  interval  of  severe  cold  early  in  February.     On 


ANNALS   OF    LYNN — 1855.  443 

the  morning  of  the  5th,  the  body  of  a  well-dressed  man  was 
found  in  the  road  between  Lynn  and  Danvers.  He  had  evidently 
frozen  to  death.  On  the  7th,  the  thermometer  stood  at  eighteen 
degrees  below  zero,  in  the  morning,  but  at  noon  it  was  eight 
above ;  making  a  change  of  twenty-six  degrees  in  four  hours. 

The  new  Methodist  meeting-house  in  East  Saugus,  was  dedi- 
cated on  Thursday  forenoon,  22  February.  Sermon  by  Bishop 
Janes.  The  cost  of  the  edifice,  including  furnishings,  was  about 
$9,000. 

On  Tuesday  forenoon,  27  February,  Mrs.  Mary  Farley,  aged 
28,  died  from  the  effects  of  ether.  She  went  into  the  office  of 
a  respectable  and  skillful  dentist,  near  the  Central  Depot,  for 
the  purpose  of  having  a  tooth  extracted,  and  desired  that  ether 
might  be  administered.  The  operator  advised  against  it,*but 
after  being  urged  complied.  She  died  immediately,  without 
returning  to  consciousness.  A  coroner's  inquest  was  held,  and 
the  verdict  Avas  that  she  died  from  congestion  of  the  lungs, 
caused  by  inhaling  the  ether.  And  the  jury  exonerated  the 
operator  from  all  blame  in  the  unfortunate  matter. 

During  the  week  ending  March  3,  the  Swampscot  fishermen 
were  unusually  successful.  The  number  of  boats  employed 
was  fourteen,  and  the  aggregate  tonnage,  six  hundred.  The 
total  number  of  men  employed  was  one  hundred  and  twenty-six, 
and  the  fish  which  they  caught  sold  for  $5,272.00.  None  of  the 
boats,  excepting  one,  were  out  more  than  five  days. 

Rev.  Jotham  B.  Sewall  was  installed  pastor  of  the  Central 
Church,  Silsbe  street,  on  Wednesday,  7  March. 

The  Lynn  Library  Association  was  incorporated  in  March. 

On  Saturday  evening,  31  March,  some  gentlemen  at  Little 
Beach  captured  a  black-fish,  eighteen  feet  in  length.  The  blub- 
ber produced  two  barrels  of  oil. 

Seven  thousand  tons  of  ice  were  cut  in  the  ponds  of  Lynn 
during  the  last  winter. 

The  Lynn  Musical  Association  was  incorporated  this  year. 

On  Sunday,  6  May,  a  large  tract  of  woodland,  in  Saugus,  was 
burned  over.     A  striking  display  was  made  by  the  fire,  at  night. 

Early  on  Friday  morning.  May  11,  the  shoe  manufactory  of 
Nelson  Raddin,  near  East  Saugus  bridge,  was  burned,  and  with 
it  a  large  amount  of  stock. 

Several  young  men  made  a  trial  of  their  powers  in  a  pedes- 
trian contest,  in  June.  Albert  Ramsdell  ran  three  fourths  of  a 
mile  in  two  minutes  and  fifty  seconds ;  Jacob  Ramsdell  ran 
the  same  distance  in  two  minutes  and  fifty-five  seconds  ;  and 
Charles  Breed  equalled  the  latter.  E.  F.  Newhall  ran  one  mile, 
on  Long  Beach,  in  five  minutes  and  fifteen  seconds.  A.  M.  Col- 
yer,  a  shoemaker,  ran  a  mile  in  five  minutes  and  twenty-seven 
seconds,  barefoot,  and  on  hard  ground. 


444  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1855. 

On  the  16th  of  June,  a  turtle,  weighing  thirty-five  pounds, 
was  caught  in  Floating  Bridge  pond. 

True  Moody  died  on  Sunday  morning,  17  June.  He  was  a 
colored  man  and  had  been  out-door  servant  and  hostler  at  Lynn 
Hotel  for  about  forty  years.  He  was  a  native  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, an  honest  man  and  a  faithful  servant,  and  acquitted  him- 
self so  willingly  and  skillfully  in  his  humble  calling  that  travelers 
regarded  him  with  great  favor.  In  person  he  was  stout,  and 
possessed  in  a  well-developed  form,  all  the  physical  peculiarities 
that  distinguish  the  African  race.  His  mouth  was  capacious 
and  answered  the  novel  purpose  of  a  temporary  savings  bank ; 
for  in  it  he  was  accustomed  to  deposit  the  pecuniary  gratuities 
that  were  bestowed  by  the  numerous  visitors  at  the  house,  till 
he  could  find  time  to  remove  them  to  a  more  suitable  place,  or 
till  he  required  his  mouth  for  some  more  legitimate  use.  And 
there  is  an  account  of  a  wager  by  some  young  men  as  to  the 
amount  of  silver  change  in  his  mouth  at  a  given  time.  To 
determine  the  bet  he  consented,  with  his  usual  good  nature,  to 
discharge  the  deposits  into  a  bowl,  when  they  were  found  to 
amount  to  a  little  more  than  five  dollars,  the  whole  being  in 
small  pieces.  By  his  gains  in  this  humble  way,  he  was  enabled 
to  secure  a  comfortable  home  and  respectably  support  a  family. 
By  the  failure  of  Nahant  Bank,  in  1836,  he  lost  some  five  hun- 
dred dollars,  which  was  a  sad  misfortune.  And  the  Eastern 
Rail-road,  which  was  built  a  few  years  afterward,  by  diverting 
travel  from  the  Hotel,  which  for  many  years  had  ranked  as  one 
of  the  best  in  the  vicinity,  greatly  reduced  his  income.  It  is 
said  that  at  this  period  he  was  accustom^ed  to  retire  to  a  corner 
of  the  deserted  stable  and  weep.  He  long  bore  the  name  of 
Master  True,  and  few  persons  were  better  known  to  travelers. 
And  he  knew  all  the  noted  characters  who  traveled  the  road, 
many  of  whom  would  rather  >have  lost  an  hour  on  their  jour- 
ney than  an  opportunity  to  have  a  chat  with  him.  It  is  said 
that  Harrison  Gray  Otis  was  accustomed  to  speak  of  him  as  an 
acquaintance,  and  a  man  of  great  moral  worth.  Some  newspa- 
pers stated  that  he  was  ninety-seven  years  old  at  the  time  of  his 
death  ;  but  this  was  probably  far  from  the  truth ;  or  he  must 
have  been  endowed  with  extraordinary  physical  powers.  His 
history  affords  another  illustration  of  the  fact  that  diligence 
and  faithfulness,  even  in  the  most  lowly  occupation  will  attract 
attention  and  ensure  reward. 

The  electric  telegraph  to  Nahant  was  put  in  operation  this 
summer. 

The  bakery  of  J.  C.  Eldred,  on  Commercial  street,  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire  on  Friday  night,  10  August.     Loss  $3,500. 

On  Monday,  20  August,  a  horse  mackerel,  weighing  a  thou- 
sand pounds,  and  measuring  ten  feet  in  length  and  six  in  girth, 


ANNALS    OP    LYNN — 1856.  445 

was  captured  between  Egg  Rock  and  the  Swampscot  shore,  by 
three  men  from  Swampscot. 

A  severe  dronglit  prevailed  during  the  last  of  summer  and 
first  of  autumn. 

A  sad  accident  occurred  at  Dungeon  Rock,  September  19.  Ed- 
win Marble,  who  was  assisting  his  father  in  the  work  in  progress 
there,  and  Benjamin  Mann,  were  engaged  in  blasting,  when  a 
charge  prematurely  exploded,  breaking  Edwin's  left  arm  and  two 
of  the  fingers  of  his  right  hand ;  also  badly  cutting  and  bruising 
his  face  and  neck.  Mr.  Mann  was  likewise  bruised,  though  he 
escaped  with  comparatively  little  injury. 

David  S.  Proctor,  of  Swampscot,  during  three  days  hunting 
in  Lynn  woods,  killed  three  foxes  and  forty  gray  squirrels. 

On  Sunday,  25  November,  the  Catholic  church,  on  Ash  street, 
was  consecrated,  by  Bishop  Fitzpatrick.  Nearly  three  hundred 
persons  were  confirmed  on  the  same  day.  The  main  portion 
of  the  building  was  old.  It  was  built  by  the  Methodists;  after- 
ward occupied  by  the  Baptists  ;  and  later  still  used  for  the  sixth 
ward  grammar  school.  The  Catholics  purchased,  repaired,  and 
enlarged  it,  rendering  it  capable  of  accommodating  something 
over  a  thousand  worshipers.  This  was  the  first  Roman  Catho- 
lic church  in  Lynn.     See  under  date  1815. 

Michael  Dolan,  aged  22,  was  knocked  down  by  a  rail-road 
train  from  Boston,  at  the  Market  street  crossing,  21  December, 
and  so  much  injured  as  to  cause  his  death. 

At  the  close  of  December  there  was  a  splendid  display  of 
frosted  trees,  continuing  three  days.  Few  people  ever  witnessed 
such  a  fairy-like  exhibition.  It  appeared  to  me  far  superior  to 
that  noticed  under  date  1829.  In  the  forest,  when  the  sun  was 
shining  brightly,  one  could  hardly  realize  that  he  had  not  been 
transported  to  some  enchanted  land. 

The  Lynn  Five  Cents  Savings  Bank  commenced  receiving 
deposits,  November  27  —  George  Hood,  president. 

There  were  issued  in  Lynn,  during  this  year,  one  hundred 
and  sixty-three  marriage  certificates. 

1856. 

On  Saturday,  January  5,  a  violent  snow  storm  commenced, 
and  continued  through  Sunday.  A  great  quantity  of  snow  fell, 
and  the  wind  blew  a  hurricane  from  the  northeast.  Rail-road 
traveling  was  greatly  obstructed.  The  half  past  six  o'clock 
train  from  Boston,  on  Saturday  evening,  was  twenty-two  hours 
in  reaching  Salem  ;  it  became  fast  bound,  a  short  distance  east  of 
the  Swampscot  station,  and  had  to  remain  through  the  night, 
the  passengers,  among  whom  were  some  twenty  ladies,  suff'ering 
much  from  the  intense  cold,  and  want  of  food.  For  several 
days  after  the  storm  the  weather  was  very  cold,  the  thermome- 
L2 


446  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1856. 

ter,  on  Wednesday;  standing  at  twelve  degrees  below  zero.  In- 
deed the  winter  of  1855-6  was  one  of  marked  severity.  From 
Cliristmas  to  near  the  middle  of  March,  the  same  snow,  in  many 
instances,  remained  on  the  roofs.  Sleighing  commenced  the 
day  after  Christmas  and  continued  between  eighty  and  ninety 
consecutive  days.  On  the  morning  of  the  10th  of  March,  the 
thermometer,  in  various  parts  of  Lynn,  stood  at  ten  degrees 
below  zero.  The  ice  in  the  harbor  broke  up  on  the  19th  of 
March.  Cutting  winds  from  the  northwest  greatly  prevailed 
for  ten  weeks  preceding  the  middle  of  March,  adding  much  to 
the  piercing  effects  of  the  cold. 

On  the  17th  of  January,  George  H.  Jillson,  aged  46,  a  carpen- 
ter, employed  on  Nahant  Hotel,  Avas  so  badly  injured  by  the 
falling  of  a  board  from  the  fifth  story,  upon  him,  that  he  died  on 
the  following  Sunday. 

A  pair  of  bald  eagles  were  seen  upon  the  ice  in  Lynn  harbor, 
17  January. 

On  Tuesday,  12  February,  Ezra  R.  Tibbetts,  a  respectable 
citizen  of  Lynn,  while  passing  along  the  side-walk  in  Brorafield 
street,  Boston,  was  killed  by  the  falling  of  a  body  of  ice  and 
snow  from  a  three  story  building,  upon  his  head.  He  was  a 
mason  by  trade,  and  an  industions,  worthy  man.  He  held  vari- 
rious  responsible  offices  under  the  old  town  government.  Tib- 
betts's  Building,  so  called,  on  Market  street,  was  built  by  him. 

On  the  night  of  27  February,  a  sudden  and  vivid  flash  lighted 
up  the  whole  atmosphere.  It  resembled  lightning,  in  some 
respects,  though  no  thunder  was  heard.  It  was  probably  some 
brilHant  meteor  passing  behind  the  clouds. 

On  Tuesday  evening,  April  8,  a  farewell  meeting  was  held  at 
the  First  Methodist  meeting-house,  on  the  occasion  of  Rev. 
William  Butler's  departure  for  his  field  of  duty  as  superintendent 
of  the  Methodist  missions  in  India.  Several  dignitaries  from  the 
church  at  large  were  present  and  the  exercises  were  instructive 
and  impressive.  Mr.  Butler  received  his  credentials  and  charges 
at  this  meeting.  Soon  after  his  arrival  in  India,  the  great  Sepoy 
revolt  took  place,  and  he  was  subjected  to  much  loss  though 
he  escaped  personal  harm. 

On  the  morning  of  April  10,  the  carpenter  shop  of  William 
H.  Mills,  on  Chesnut  street,  was  destroyed  by  fire  with  all  its 
contents.     Loss,  about  $1,400. 

A  severe  northeast  storm  began  on  Saturday  evening,  19 
April,  and  continued  to  rage  till  Monday  night.  Numerous 
buildings  were  more  or  less  injured.  The  steeple  of  the  Meth- 
odist meeting-house  at  Swampscot,  then  in  process  erection, 
was  blown  down. 

The  brick  school-house  on  Howard  street,  was  destroyed  by 
fire  on  the  morning  of  May  15.     Loss  $1,500. 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 185G.  447 

Stephen  Palmer,  a  carpenter,  aged  53,  fell  from  a  staging,  while 
at  work  on  the  house  of  Holten  Johnson,  at  the  eastern  end 
of  the  Common,  on  the  15th  of  May,  and  was  so  injured  that  he 
lay  senseless  till  the  morning  of  the  18th,  when  he  died. 

The  first  Methodist  meeting-house  at  Swampscot,  was  dedi- 
cated on  Monday,  June  30.  Bishop  Simpson  preached  the 
sermon. 

As  an  instance  of  the  quick  work  of  one  of  our  Lynn  shoe- 
makers, it  may  be  stated  that  Francis  D.  Rhodes,  in  fifty  days, 
made,  in  a  good,  workmanlike  manner,  seven  hundred  and 
ninety-two  pairs  of  ladies'  shoes,  at  twenty-two  cents  a  pair, 
thus  earning,  in  less  than  two  months,  $174.24.  They  were, 
of  course,  made  entirely  by  hand. 

On  the  evening  of  26  June,  a  Mrs.  Brazil,  visiting  at  the  house 
of  John  Regan,  South  Common  street,  attempted  to  fill  a  lamp 
with  burning  fluid,  when  an  explosion  took  place,  setting  fire  to 
her  clothes.  A  child  ran  toward  her,  the  fire  was  communicated 
to  its  garments,  and  it  was  so  much  burned  that  it  died.  Mrs. 
Brazil  was  not  fatally  injured.  This  was  one  of  many  accidents 
that  took  place  about  this  time  from  the  explosive  burning  fluid 
then  in  such  common  use. 

The  new  school  house  in  the  centre  district  of  Lynnfield  was 
dedicated  on  the  11th  of  July. 

On  the  16th  of  July,  Capt.  William  T.  Gale,  fell  down  a  flight 
of  stairs  in  the  Bay  State  Building,  Central  Square,  and  so  in- 
jured himself  that  he  died  the  next  day,  remaining  insensible 
during  the  mean  time.  He  was  for  a  number  of  years  commander 
of  the  Lynn  Artillery,  and  was  buried  with  military  honors. 

A  horse-mackerel,  nine  feet  in  length,  and  weighing  nearly  a 
thousand  pounds  was  captured  off  Nahant,  16  July. 

On  the  26th  of  July  the  thermometer  stood  at  from  ninety- 
seven  to  a  hundred  degrees,  in  the  shade,  in  different  parts  of 
Lynn ;  and  for  the  preceding  five  consecutive  days  it  had  stood 
above  ninety  during  some  part  of  the  day. 

A  colored  youth  named  Francis  P.  Haskell,  aged  20,  was 
drowned  in  the  Flax  pond,  on  the  3d  of  August.  He  rode  a 
horse  in  to  water,  and  not  loosening  the  martingale  the  animal 
became  restiff,  threw  his  rider  over  his  head,  and  with  his  fore 
feet  thrust  him  under  water. 

There  was  a  severe  drought  this  summer.  It  ended  on  the 
night  of  August  5,  when  a  copious  rain  commenced,  continuing 
in  almost  unbroken  torrents  till  Wednesday  noon.  On  the  next 
Friday  there  was  a  violent  thunder  storm.  The  house  of  Dr. 
Asa  T.  Newhall,  on  Olive  street,  was  struck  and  damaged  to  the 
amount  of  $250.  A  house  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  same 
street  was  also  struck;  likewise  a  brick  house  on  Sea  street, 
the  latter  having  every  pane  of  glass,  in  one  window,  broken. 


448  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1856. 

Two  gentlemen  were  riding  over  Long  Beach,  when  the  pole 
of  their  carriage  was  struck  and  shivered  into  innumerable 
splinters.  The  house  of  John  Blaney,  in  Swampscot,  was  also 
struck.  Indeed  the  lightning  struck  in  some  twenty  places, 
within  a  circuit  of  ten  miles.  The  storm  was  extraordinary  for 
its  -duration,  raging,  with  very  brief  intervals,  for  full  fourteen 
hours.  Between  five  and  eight  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  it  was 
very  severe ;  but  from  half  past  eleven  to  half  past  one  in  the 
night  it  was  really  appalling — the  thunder  jarring  the  most 
substantial  fabrics,  the  lighting  gleaming  with  blinding  intensity, 
the  rain  pouring  down  in  equatorial  torrents,  and  the  wind 
roaring  furiously. 

Out-door  services  were  held  in  Lynn,  this  3"ear,  by  several 
of  our  clergymen.  Dr.  Cooke,  of  the  First  Church,  preached 
his  first  field  sermon  on  Sunday,  7  September,  on  the  Common. 
But  the  experiment,  on  the  whole,  was  not  successful,  the  wea- 
ther often  interfering  with  the  arrangements.  The  groves  are 
indeed  beautiful  temples,  but  in  a  climate  so  variable  as  that  of 
New  England  not  so  convenient  for  fashionable  worshipers. 

Egg  Rock  light  was  shown,  for  the  first  time,  on  Monday, 
night,  15  September.  The  cost  of  the  building  was  $3,700. 
It  was  built  by  Ira  P.  Brown.  On  the  8th  of  July,  a  company 
of  gentlemen  from  Lynn  and  the  neighboring  places  visited  the 
rock  and  held  a  jovial  celebration. 

Patrick  Buckley,  the  "  Lynn  Buck,"  ran  five  miles  in  twenty- 
eight  minutes  and  thirty-eight  seconds,  at  the  Trotting  Park, 
September  19,  for  a  belt  valued  at  $50.  And  on  the  4th  of 
December,  William  Hendley  ran  the  same  distance  in  twenty- 
eight  minutes  and  thirty  seconds. 

The  schooner  Shark,  Captain  Carlisle  bound  from  Bristol,  Me. 
for  Boston,  with  wood,  was  wrecked  on  Long  Beach,  30  Sep- 
tember. The  cargo  was  strewed  along  the  shore  and  the  vessel 
went  to  pieces;  but  no  lives  were  lost.  The  disaster  was 
occasioned  by  the  Egg  Rock  light  being  mistaken  for  that  on 
Long  Island. 

Forest  Hill  Cemetery,  Lynnfield,  was  consecrated  October 
14.  Addresses  were  delivered  by  Rev.  E.  R.  Hodgman  and 
Rev.  A.  P.  Chute. 

Some  of  the  Swampscot  fishermen  were  very  successful 
about  the  close  of  the  3^ear.  During  the  week  ending  Decem- 
ber 13,  the  schooner  Flight,  Captain  Stanley,  w^ith  thirteen  hands, 
caught  62.700  pounds  of  cod  fish.  And  a  short  time  before,  the 
crew  of  the  Jane  caught  in  one  day,  among  a  large  quantity  of 
cod  fish  of  the  ordinary  size,  twelve  which  weighed  on  an  average 
fifty-six  pounds  each.  Captain  Nathaniel  Blanchard  caught  one 
cod  fish  which  weighed  ninetj^-four  pounds,  gross,  and  seventy- 
eight  pounds   dressed. 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1857.  449 


185  7 


A  very  violent  snow  storm  commenced  on  Sunday,  January 
18.  It  had  been  extremely  cold.  On  Friday,  the  thermometer 
sank  to  twenty-two  degrees  below  zero,  and  on  the  morning  of 
the  day  on  which  the  storm  began,  it  was  from  twelve  to 
twenty  below.  The  wind  was  high,  and  the  snow  drifted  furi- 
ously. So  great  a  quantity  fell  that  almost  all  travel  was  sus- 
pended for  one  or  two  days.  Three  powerful  engines  were 
required  to  force  the  formidable  snow  plough  along  the  rail-road 
track.  It  was  not  till  Tuesday  afternoon  that  trains  were  able 
to  reach  Lynn  from  Salem  and  Boston ;  at  which  time  one 
arrived  from  each  place,  drawn  by  four  engines.  The  way 
being  thus  opened,  other  trains  followed,  and  there  were  eleven 
engines  at  the  Lynn  station,  at  one  time.  Much  damage  was 
done  on  the  coast  and  the  beaches  bore  melancholy  evidence 
of  the  perils  of  the  sea. 

The  bark  Tedesco  was  totally  wrecked  in  the  terrible  storm 
spoken  of  in  the  foregoing  paragraph.  She  was  commanded 
by  Captain  Peterson,  of  Portland,  and  was  from  Cadiz,  with  a 
cargo  of  wine  and  salt.  She  was  driven  ashore  at  Long  Rock, 
Swampscot,  below  the  Ocean  House,  and  soon  went  to  pieces. 
All  on  board,  twelve  in  number,  perished.  Six  of  the  dead 
bodies  were  buried  from  the  Methodist  meeting-house  in  Swamp- 
scot, at  one  time.  The  vessel  was  valued  at  $15,000,  and  the 
cargo  at  the  same.  The  captain  had  been  married,  at  Cadiz, 
immediately  before  sailing,  but  his  wife  was  not  on  board. 

From  the  7th  day  of  January  to  the  20th,  Mercury,  Venus, 
Mars  and  Jupiter  were  all  visible  in  the  western  hemisphere, 
and  Saturn  in  the  eastern.  Uranus  was  also  visible  by  glasses. 
Such  an  occurrence,  it  is  said,  Copernicus  longed  to  witness, 
but  did  not.  Neptune  was  likewise,  at  the  same  time,  visible 
by  telescopic  aid. 

James  H.  Luscomb,  a  youth  of  the  age  of  fifteen,  while  driving 
a  cow  across  Long  Beach,  19  February,  fastened  one  end  of  a 
rope  around  her  neck  and  the  other  end  around  his  own  body. 
The  cow  suddenly  turned  and  rushed  back  toward  Little  Nahant, 
dragging  him  three  quarters  of  a  mile  and  killing  him.  His 
skull  was  fractured  and  his  back  broken  in  two  places. 

Goold  Brown,  aged  65,  died  at  his  residence  on  North  Com- 
mon street,  March  31,  after  an  illness  of  nine  days.  He  early 
directed  his  attention  to  studies  connected  with  the  science  of 
language  and  became  widely  known  as  a  grammarian.  Many 
years  ago  he  published  a  grammar  which  was  extensively  intro- 
duced into  the  schools  of  the  United  States.  And  he  taught  a 
seminary  in  New  York  city,  long  and  acceptably.  His  last  and 
great  work,  which  was  completed  but  a  short  time  before  his 
L2^  29 


450  ANNALS  'OF  LYNN—  1857. 

death,  was  entitled  the  Grammar  of  English  Grammars.  He 
was  a  native  of  Providence,  R.  I.,  and  a  descendant  of  the 
founder  of  Brown  University ;  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of 
Friends  and  a  much  respected  citizen.  He  left  a  widow  and 
two  adopted  daughters. 

Haddock  appeared  in  great  numbers,  at  times,  during  the 
early  part  of  the  year.  On  the  thirteenth  of  March,  about  one 
hundred  of  the  Swampscot  fishermen,  in  twelve  boats,  caught, 
in  some  six  hours,  1  GO. 000  pounds  of  fish,  almost  entirely  had- 
dock. 

Fisher  Kingsbury,  a  respectable  citizen  of  Saugus,  aged  70, 
was  instantly  killed  on  the  Saugus  Branch  Rail-road,  at  Maiden, 
17  March.  Both  his  legs  were  cut  off,  and  he  was  otherwise 
injured,  by  a  passing  train. 

A  number  of  respectable  shoe  manufacturers  early  this  year 
joined  in  forming  a  board  of  trade.  It  was  thought  that  bene- 
fits would  accrue  from  the  association,  particularly  through  the 
adoption  of  rules  regarding  credit  to  customers  and  for  the 
security  of  greater  uniformity  in  the  trade  generally.  But  all 
the  good  that  at  first  seemed  promised  was  not  realized,  owing 
perhaps  in  a  great  measure  to  the  diversity  of  interests  and  the 
unwillingness  of  some  to  yield  to  any  regulation  that  might 
appear  to  restrain  the  largest  freedom  in  trade.  The  associa- 
tion did  not  long  continue  in  active  operation. 

Trawl-fishing  began  to  be  practised  by  some  of  the  Swamps- 
cot fishermen  this  year. 

A  team  load  of  goods,  while  passing  over  Long  Beach,  from 
Nahant,  May  6,  took  fire,  and  was  damaged  to  the  amount  of 
sixty  dollars. 

On  the  evening  of  May  26,  the  shoe  manufactory  of  Albert  B. 
Ingalls,  on  Union  street,  was  burned,  with  a  considerable  amount 
of  stock. 

John  E.  Gowan,  a  native  of  Lynn,  arrived  at  Sebastopol, 
Russia,  June  3,  to  undertake  the  raising  of  the  ships  sunk  in 
that  harbor,  during  the  Crimean  war,  under  a  contract  with  the 
Russian  government.  His  enterprise  was  successful,  and  honors 
were  bestowed  upon  him. 

The  barn  of  Captain  Fuller,  in  Humfrey  street,  Swampscot, 
was  burned,  June  13.  The  fire  was  set  by  two  little  boys  who 
were  playing  with  matches,  in  the  barn.  One  of  the  boys,  a  son 
of  J.  A.  Knowlton,  aged  four  and  a  half  years,  was  burned  to 
death. 

The  color  of  Egg  Rock  light  was  changed  from  white  to  red, 
June  15. 

On  Sunday  morning,  21  June  a  dwelling-house  in  process  of 
completion  for  Mrs.  Raddin,  widow  of  George  W.  Raddin,  near 
the  Saugus  line,  was  burned.     Loss,  about  $1,200. 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1857.  451 

Widow  Mary  Wiggin,  died  June  20,  aged  95  —  the  oldest 
person  in  Lynn,  at  the  time. 

Independence  was  celebrated  in  Lynn,  tliis  year.  A  long 
procession  marched  through  the  streets,  consisting  of  a  caval- 
cade in  fancy  costumes,  fire  companies,  bands  of  music,  and 
numerous  carriages,  beautifully  decorated,  and  filled  with  school 
children,  bearing  mottos,  flags,  and  other  insignia.  An  enter- 
tainment was  provided,  on  the  Common,  for  the  children.  In 
the  evening  there  was  a  display  of  fireworks.  It  was  called  a 
juvenile  temperance  celebration. 

At  Swampscot,  July  4,  Henry  Scales  and  John  Draper  were 
seriously  injured  while  firing  a  salute.  Scales  was  badly  wound- 
ed in  the  bowels,  and  had  an  arm  broken ;  and  he  soon  after 
died,  at  the  Massachusetts  Hospital.  Draper  had  an  arm  broken, 
an  eye  destroyed,  and  was  otherwise  injured.  He  was  also 
taken  to  the  hospital,  and  in  about  two  months  died  of  lockjaw. 

On  the  15th  of  July,  a  pleasure  party  from  Nahant,  while 
fishing,  captured  a  shark  twelve  feet  in  length  and  weighing 
nearly  twelve  hundred  pounds. 

Much  excitement  took  place  this  summer,  in  many  places, 
concerning  the  discovery  of  pearls  in  fresh  water  muscles  and 
clams.  Many  small  ones  were  found  in  shell  fish  taken  from  the 
Floating  Bridge  and  Flax  ponds,  in  Lynn,  but  not  enough  to 
render  the  search  more  profitable  than  regular  labor.  It  was 
quite  amusing  occasionally  to  observe  some  venerable  and  de- 
mure citizen,  who  never  in  his  life  had  been  guilty  of  imagining 
that  there  was  such  a  thing  as  amusement  in  the  world,  wending 
his  way  toward  the  ponds,  and  fancying  his  real  object  entirely 
concealed  by  the  rod  and  line,  and  other  sporting  gear  with 
which  he  had  so  cunningly  encumbered  himself. 

The  African  Methodist  meeting-house,  on  Hacker  street,  was 
dedicated  on  the  1st  of  August. 

On  the  14th  of  August,  at  about  one  o'clock,  in  the  afternoon, 
while  the  thermometer  was  standing  at  ninety-eight  degrees,  in 
the  shade,  an  interesting  little  child  of  five  years,  a  daughter 
of  Nicholas  Mailey,  living  on  Green  street,  who  was  playing  in 
the  garden,  was  sun-struck,  and  died  the  next  day. 

On  Tuesday,  the  8th  of  September,  the  Fifth  Regiment  of 
Infantry,  Col.  Rogers,  went  into  camp,  at  Nahant,  remaining  till 
Thursday.  The  weather  was  fine,  and  the  attendance  of  spec- 
tators large. 

The  Franklin  Trotting  Park,  chiefly  in  Saugus,  was  laid  out 
this  year. 

A  small  comet  was  visible,  to  the  naked  eye^  in  September,  in 
constellation  Bootes. 

The  different  fire  engine  companies  of  Lynn  had  a  grand  trial 
of  power,  on  the  Common,  on  Saturday  afternoon,  September 


452  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1858. 

26.  A  great  multitude  assembled,  and  much  good-natured  rival- 
ry prevailed.  Money  prizes  were  contended  for,  the  highest 
being  twenty-five  dollars. 

Blue  fish  were  very  plenty  off  our  shores  in  the  early  part 
of  autumn.  They  are  great  enemies  to  the  menhaden  ;  and  for 
several  days  such  a  war  raged  that  the  beaches  were  strewn 
with  dead  fish,  chiefl}^  of  the  latter  species.  Mr.  Lewis,  the 
historian,  said  that  in  two  tides,  he  picked  up  nine  bushels,  and 
buried  them  in  his  garden,  for  manure. 

The  Congregational  meeting-house  in  Lynnfield,  south  village, 
was  dedicated  November  11. 

Great  financial  embarrassment  prevailed  throughout  the  coun- 
try this  year  and  affected  all  classes.  In  Lynn  there  was  a  larger 
amount  of  suffering  among  the  poor,  than  had  been  known  for  a 
long  period.  Numbers  were  out  of  employment,  and  many  of 
the  necessaries  of  life  were  dear.  Public  meetings  were  held, 
in  the  fall  and  winter,  to  devise  means  for  the  relief  of  the  des- 
titute. Many  benevolent  hearts  were  stirred,  and  individuals 
of  means  contributed  liberally ;  and  on  the  whole  the  cloud 
passed  awa}^  with  less  distress  and  disaster  than  might  reasonably 
have  been  anticipated.  Very  few  business  men  failed,  and  not 
many  of  the  poor  suffered  long. 

The  boundary  line  between  Lynnfield  and  North  Reading 
was  changed  this  year. 

The  number  of  marriages  in  Lynn  during  this  year  was  209. 

1858. 

The  first  Congregational  Methodist  meeting-house,  on  Ches- 
nut  street,  near  Broad,  was  dedicated  on  the  1st  of  January. 
It  afterward  became  the  property  of  the  Calvinistic  Society 
known  as  the  Chesnut  street  Congregational  Society. 

The  first  vessel  ever  built  at  Nahant  was  a  schooner  of  sixteen 
tons.  She  was  built  by  J.  and  E.  Johnson,  and  launched  on  the 
11th  of  February. 

Joseph  E.  Watts,  of  Marblehead,  froze  to  death  on  the  Eastern 
Rail-road  track,  near  Oak  Island,  on  the  night  of  the  16th  of 
Februar3^ 

On  the  morning  of  February  19,  the  rosin  oil  factory,  near 
the  Lynn  Common  Depot  was  destroyed  by  fire.  The  building 
was  of  brick,  and  the  loss  of  that,  together  with  the  stock,  amout- 
ed  to  $6,000.  On  the  evening  of  the  same  day  a  barn,  belong- 
ing to  Oliver  Ramsdell,  in  Gravesend  village,  was  burned. 

The  '*  Lynn  Buck,"  so  called,  walked  a  plank,  at  Lowell,  in 
February,  a  hundred  and  five  consecutive  hours  and  forty-four 
minutes,  without  sleep,  and  with  but  twenty-nine  minutes'  rest. 
A  strict  watch  was  kept  on  him. 

Joseph  L.  Hill,  aged  20,  while  at  Swampscot,  gunning,  on  the 


ANNALS  OP  LYNN — 1858.  453 

afternoon  of  March  3,  was  instantly  killed  by  the  accidental  dis- 
charge of  a  fowling  piece. 

The  sun-dial,  on  the  Common,  was  set  in  April.  The  granite 
pillar  was  furnished  by  the  city,  and  the  instrument  was  pro- 
cured by  private  subscription  and  adjusted  by  Cyrus  M.  Tracy. 

Telegraphic  communication  between  Lynn  and  Boston  was 
commenced  on  the  4th  of  May. 

On  the  5th  of  June,  two  small  boys,  while  fishing,  fell  into 
the  basin  above  Scott's  woolen  factory,  in  Saugus,  and  were 
drowned. 

On  the  afternoon  of  June  8,  the  schooner  Prairie  Flower,  Capt. 
Brown,  left  Salem  for  Boston,  with  a  party  on  board.  When 
off  Nahant,  she  suddenly  capsized  and  seven  were  drowned. 

Davis's  barn,  in  Saugus,  was  struck  by  lighting,  during  a  show- 
er, June  20. 

The  Eighth  Regiment  of  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Militia  para- 
ded in  Lynn,  on  the  23d  of  June,  in  compliment  to  Col.  Coffin. 
Eight  fine  companies  of  infantry  were  present,  and  many  guests 
of  dignity  ;  among  them  Gov.  Banks.  Dinner  was  served  in  a 
spacious  tent,  and  some  five  hundred  partook.  This  was  the 
celebrated  ''  Eighth "  that  gained  such  plaudits  in  the  early 
stages  of  the  war  of  the  Great  Rebellion. 

The  month  of  July  was  found,  by  observation,  to  be  the  cold- 
est that  had  occurred  for  fourteen  years. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  6th  of  August,  a  barn  in  Swampscot, 
belonging  to  Jonathan  F.  Phillips,  was  struck  by  lightning  and 
burned,  with  fifty  tons  of  hay.  The  well-known  trotting  mare 
Lady  Lawrence,  valued  at  a  thousand  dollars,  being  in  the  barn, 
was  killed  by  the  lightning. 

On  the  evening  of  the  14th  of  August  the  barn  of  Jacob  Jack- 
son, on  Essex  street,  was  burned,  with  sixteen  tons  of  hay.  One 
cow  perished,  and  another  was  so  badly  burned  that  it  was 
necessary  to  kill  her. 

There  was  an  impromptu  ^'  cable  celebration "  in  Lynn,  on 
the  17th  of  August  —  a  firing  of  guns,  waving  of  flags,  and  divers 
similar  demonstrations  —  on  the  occasion  of  the  transmission  of 
Queen  Victoria's  message  to  President  Buchanan  through  the 
Atlantic  cable,  the  instrument  of  high  hopes  that  were  to  be 
disappointed.  At  Federal  Square,  in  the  evening,  there  was 
quite  a  display. 

During  a  heavy  shower,  on  the  afternoon  of  September  11, 
two  schooners,  lying  at  the  west  part  of  the  town,  were  struck 
by  lightning.  The  whole  length  of  the  foremast  of  one  was 
splintered.     The  other  was  not  much  damaged. 

A  splendid  comet  appeared  in  the  autumn  of  this  year.  It 
was  one  of  the  most  striking  and  beautiful  celestial  objects  ever 
witnessed.     For  many  evenings  it  descended  in  the  northwest 


454  ANNALS    OP    LYNN 1858 

with  its  immense  tail  curving  toward  the  north.  The  tail  was 
determined  to  be,  on  Oct.  10,  fifty-one  milHons  of  miles  in  length  ; 
and  to  the  observer  it  appeared  clearly  delineated  for  a  length 
equal  to  something  more  than  half  the  distance  from  the  horizon 
to  the  zenith.  On  the  13th 
of  September  it  was  a  hun- 
dred and  twenty-two  mil- 
lions of  miles  from  the 
earth ;  and  on  its  nearest 
approach  it  was  fifty-two 
millions  of  miles  distant. 
It  is  known  as  the  comet 
of  Donati.  A  faithful  rep- 
resentation of  this  beauti-  comet  of  1858. 
ful  wanderer  is  here  given. 

The  meeting-house  of  the  Second  Baptist  Society,  on  High 
street,  was  dedicated  on  the  7th  of  October. 

On  Thursday,  the  13th  of  October,  the  completion  of  the  elec- 
tric telegraph  to  Swampscot  was  celebrated.  Flags  were  dis- 
played and  guns  fired  at  morning,  noon,  and  night. 

John  B.  Alley  was  elected,  November  2d,  Representative  to 
the  United  States  Congress,  from  this  district.  He  was  the  first 
Lynn  man,  who  received  the  honor  of  a  seat  in  that  august 
assemblage. 

The  Catholic  Cemetery,  was  consecrated  on  Thursday,  the 
4th  of  November,  by  Bishop  Fitzpatrick,  assisted  by  six  other 
clergymen.  On  account  of  the  violence  of  the  storm  the  ser- 
vices were  chiefly  held  at  the  church,  where  the  rite  of  con- 
firmation was  administered  to  about  two  hundred  persons.  The 
cemetery  contains  eight  acres. 

The  tide  rose  to  such  a  height  on  the  23d  of  November  that 
the  Lynn  and  Saugus  marshes  were  so  deeply  submerged  as  to 
occasion  detention  of  the  rail-road  trains.  All  the  trains  were 
for  a  time  forced  to  run  over  the  Saugus  Branch. 

Benjamin  Luscomb,  aged  46,  while  examining  his  fowling 
piece,  preparatory  to  going  on  a  gunning  excursion  the  next 
morning  was  instantly  killed  by  the  explosion  of  a  charge,  on 
Sunday  evening,  December  12.  Not  supposing  the  piece  to 
be  loaded  he  had  taken  the  barrel  from  the  stock  and  was 
blowing  in  it,  near  a  lighted  lamp. 

There  were  landed  in  Lynn,  during  the  year,  5.950.000  feet 
of  lumber;  16.034  tons  of  coal;  5.820  cords  of  wood;  5.877 
casks  of  lime  and  cement;  and  79.600  bushels  of  grain.  The 
number  of  vessels  bringing  the  same,  was  337.  What  was 
landed  on  the  Saugus  side  of  the  river  is  not  included  in  the 
statement.  And  it  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  Lynn  has  no 
back  country  to  look  to  her  for  supplies. 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1859.  455 

Cyrus  M.  Trac}^  tliis  3^ear  published  an  octavo  pamphlet  of 
eighty-eight  pages,  entitled  '^  Studies  of  the  Essex  Flora :  a 
Complete  Enumeration  of  all  the  Plants  found  growing  naturally 
within  the  limits  of  Lynn,  Mass.,  and  the  Towns  adjoining,  ar- 
ranged according  to  the  Natural  System,  with  copious  Notes 
as  to  Localities  and  habits."  The  title  fully  expresses  the  char- 
acter of  the  work,  and  Mr.  Tracy  performed  his  task  in  a  very 
creditable  manner.  As  it  will  be  interesting  to  those  who 
occupy  this  soil  in  the  far  future,  when  population  and  art  have 
driven  nature  from  her  present  footholds,  to  know  what  forest 
trees  grew  and  wild  flowers  bloomed  where  then  will  be  busy 
streets,  this  modest  work  will  be  valued  long  after  many  more 
pretentious  things  are  forgotten. 

There  was  very  little  cold  or  tempestuous  weather,  in  the 
winter  of  1858-9,  before  the  middle  of  February.  The  evenings 
of  January,  as  regarded  temperature,  were  generally  more  like 
those  of  April,  than  any  other  season.  The  cumulous  clouds, 
on  several  occasions,  like  immense  fleeces  of  wool,  rose  to  a 
great  height,  and  in  the  moonlight  made  a  very  beautiful  appear- 
ance. After  the  colder  weather  set  in,  one  of  the  chief  amuse- 
ments, not  only  of  the  school  boys  but  the  school  girls  and  not 
only  of  the  young,  but  of  the  mature,  of  both  sexes,  was  skating. 
On  moonlight  evenings,  the  ponds  were  vocal  with  the  merry 
voices  of  those  engaged  in  the  exhilarating  recreation. 

18  5  9. 

Judson  J.  Hutchinson  died,  January  11,  age  38.  He  was  one 
of  the  favorite  band  of  singers  known  as  the  Hutchinson 
brothers.  He  committed  suicide,  by  hanging,  at  the  wooden 
dwelling  on  the  west  of  the  stone  cottage,  at  High  Rock.  The 
act  was  no  doubt  done  while  he  was  laboring  under  mental 
aberration.  For  several  years  he  had  at  times  been  insane,  and 
his  mind  occasionally  seemed  to  incline  to  self-destruction.  Many 
months  before  the  melancholy  event  took  place,  he  very  pleas- 
antly and  as  was  supposed  jocosely  assured  the  writer  that 
nothing  but  lack  of  courage  had  for  a  long  time  prevented  his 
destroying  his  life.  He  was  an  enthusiast,  and  possessed  many 
eccentricities  in  manners  and  modes  of  thought;  but  he  was 
genial  in  disposition,  afiable  in  manners,  intelligent,  and  much 
beloved.  He  was  a  spiritualist,  and  could  see  no  evil  in  taking 
the  abrupt  road  that  he  did  to  join  his  friends  in  the  spirit  land. 

There  was  a  "  Cahco  Ball "  at  the  Sagamore  House,  on 
Wednesday  evening,  January  19.  All  the  ladies  appeared  in 
calico  dresses,  which  at  that  time  were  the  cheapest  style  of 
dress.  A  hundred  couples  were  present.  The  prize  of  a  gold 
bracelet  was  awarded  to  the  lady  who  in  the  judgment  of  a 
committee  was  arrayed  in  the  most  neat  and  becoming  manner, 


456  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1859. 

personal  charms  also  being  taken  into  account  —  and  Miss 
Nellie  Clapp  was  the  fair  winner  of  the  prize.  It  was  a  very 
pleasant  gathering;  and  the  prevalence  of  silks  and  satins  could 
not  have  added  to  its  attractiveness. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  2lst  of  January,  the  commodious 
grammar  school-house,  in  Woodend,  with  its  contents,  was 
totally  destroyed  by  fire.  The  building  was  valued  at  $6,000, 
and  was  built  in  1851. 

On  Wednesday  night,  Februar}^  2,  during  a  violent  storm,  the 
Vernon,  a  British  bark  of  265  tons,  bound  from  Messina  for  Bos- 
ton, with  a  cargo  chiefly  of  fruit,  was  driven  ashore  on  Long 
Beach.  The  wind  was  very  high  and  the  sea  in  terrific  commo- 
tion ;  but  by  great  courage  and  the  skillful  management  of  a 
life  boat  all  the  crew  were  saved.  Most  of  the  cargo  was  also 
saved.  At  low  tide  the  vessel  was  left  almost  out  of  water ; 
but  on  Sunday  morning,  13  February,  she  was  got  off  and  towed 
to  Boston,  in  a  crippled  condition.  A  spirited  lithographic  print, 
illustrating  the  scene  at  the  wreck,  was  soon  after   published. 

There  was  a  total  eclipse  of  the  moon  early  on  the  morning 
of  February  17.  The  sky  being  very  clear,  an  unusually  strik- 
ing effect  was  produced. 

On  Friday  morning,  February  25,  the  tin  ware  and  stove  store 
of  Brawn  and  Morrill,  on  Broad  street,  near  Newhall,  was 
burned.     Loss  $3,000. 

A  large  hump-back  whale  was  several  times  seen  near  the 
Swampscot  shore  in  the  latter  part  of  February. 

The  New  England  Mechanic,  a  weekly  newspaper,  of  good 
size,  was  commenced  on  the  19th  of  March,  by  Alonzo  G.  Dra- 
per as  an  advocate  for  the  interests  of  the  journeymen  shoe- 
makers. 

The  New  England  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Church  com- 
menced its  annual  session  in  Lynn,  on  Wednesday,  April  6, 
Bishop  Ames  presiding. 

On  Saturday  night,  28  May,  the  Catholic  church,  on  Ash 
street,  was  burned,  and  one  or  two  small  buildings  standing 
near,  were  considerably  damaged.  The  value  of  the  church 
property  destroyed  was  $6,500. 

William  F.  Mills  and  Charles  A.  Forbes,  while  on  a  pleasure 
sail  some  two  miles  outside  of  Egg  Rock,  on  Sunday,  May  29, 
were  overtaken  by  a  squall  which  overset  the  boat.  Mills  was 
drowned  and  Forbes  was  taken  up,  in  an  insensible  condition, 
by  a  passing  schooner,  and  carried  to  Boston. 

A  man  ran  round  Lynn  Common  on  the  evening  of  June  3, 
on  a  wager,  in  two  minutes  and  three  quarters. 

On  the  nights  of  the  4th  and  5th  of  June  there  were  severe 
frosts. 

Independence  was   celebrated  in  Lynn,  in  a  very  pleasant 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1859.  457 

manner.  A  long  procession,  consisting  of  military  and  fire 
companies,  city  officials  and  other  dignitaries,  with  numerous 
decorated  carriages  containing  the  pupils  of  the  public  schools, 
moved  through  the  principal  streets,  accompanied  by  bands  of 
music.  A  collation  was  prepared  on  the  Common,  and  short 
addresses  were  made  by  the  Mayor  and  others.  In  the  evening 
there  was  a  display  of  fireworks.  The  day  was  also  celebrated 
at  Svvampscot. 

On  Tuesday,  July  19,  Mr.  Fenno  went  out  from  Swampscot, 
in  a  boat,  to  fish ;  subsequently  the  boat  was  found  drifting  and 
Mr.  Fenno  was  missing,  though  his  hat  remained  in  the  boat. 
On  the  28th,  his  body  was  found  floating  a  short  distance  from 
the  Ocean  House. 

A  grand  regatta  took  place  at  Nahant,  on  the  22d  of  July. 
The  prize  contended  for  was  an  elegant  silver  pitcher. 

On  Sunday  evening,  July  31,  a  fire  occurred  in  Healey's  Ar- 
cade, at  the  west  end  of  the  Common,  damaging  the  same  to 
the  amount  of  some  $2,000.  The  stocks  in  the  stores  were 
likewise  considerably  damaged. 

A  horse  mackerel  was  taken  off  Bass  Point,  Nahant,  on  the 
3d  of  August,  measuring  between  nine  and  ten  feet  in  length 
and  six  feet  in  girth,  and  weighing  six  hundred  and  fourteen 
pounds. 

On  the  afternoon  of  August  12,  as  a  train  was  passing  on  the 
Eastern  Raihroad,  a  few  rods  east  of  the  Swampscot  depot,  it 
ran  into  a  herd  of  cows  which  were  feeding  on  the  track.  The 
engine,  tender,  and  a  baggage  car  were  thrown  from  the  track, 
down  an  embankment,  and  several  of  the  cows  were  killed. 

There  was  a  brilliant  display  of  the  northern  lights,  on  Sun- 
day evening,  August  28.     The  whole  heavens  were  overspread. 

Charles  Frost  was  run  over  by  a  fire  engine,  in  Market  street, 
on  the  evening  of  August  31,  and  instantly  killed,  one  of  the 
wheels  passing  over  his  head. 

In  the  early  part  of  September,  some  twenty  spots  were 
observed  on  the  surface  of  the  sun,  distributed  in  clusters. 

In  September,  a  lady  living  in  Lynn,  feeling  a  prickling  sensa- 
tion in  her  heel,  examined  and  found  protruding  a  needle,  which 
from  certain  circumstances  she  was  convinced  was  one  that  she 
ran  into  her  foot  eleven  years  before.  In  all  that  time  it  had 
not  proved  troublesome ;  and  when  extracted  was  as  bright  as 
when  new. 

On  the  morning  of  September  2,  the  heavens  were  tinged 
by  an  aurora  of  a  deep  red  hue.  In  the  southwest  it  appeared 
like  the  reflection  of  a  conflagration. 

The  engine  house,  corner  of  Ash  and  Elm  streets,  was  burned, 
together  with  nine  hundred  feet  of  hose,  the  hose  carriage,  and 
other  property,  on  the  night  of  Sunday,  October  2. 
M2 


458  ANNALS    OF    LYNN —  18G0. 

Two  barns  on  the  Hood  Farm,  Water  Hill,  were  det>troyed 
by  fire  on  the  morning  of  November  10,  together  with  fifty  tons 
of  hay,  and  a  large  quantity  of  vegetables.  And  on  the  night 
of  the  same  day,  the  barn  of  Daniel  Fairchild,  on  Boston  street, 
was  burned,  three  horses  perishing  in  the  flames. 

A  large  barn,  belonging  to  John  Mansfield,  in  the  south  village 
of  Lynnfield,  was  burned  on  the  18th  of  November.  Two  yoke 
of  oxen  and  two  horses  perished  in  the  fire. 

On  Sunday  evening,  November  20,  the  Union  street  Metho- 
dist meeting-house  was  totally  destroyed  by  fire.  A  Sunday 
school  concert  was  being  held  in  the  building  at  the  time,  and 
some  five  hundred  persons,  a  large  portion  of  whom  were  chil- 
dren, were  in  attendance  ;  iDut  all  safely  retired.  The  loss  was 
about  $8,000.  The  bell,  organ,  clock,  and  part  of  the  Sunday 
school  library  were  lost. 

The  church  bells  were  tolled  in  Lynn,  at  sunrise,  noon,  and 
sunset,  on  Friday,  December  2,  on  account  of  the  execution  of 
John  Brown,  at  Charlestown,  Va.,  on  the  charge  of  treason, 
growing  out  of  an  armed  attempt  to  free  slaves. 

So  many  fires  had  in  recent  years  occurred  in  the  woods, 
destroying  such  quantities  of  wood  wdiich  had  been  prepared 
for  fuel,  as  well  as  that  standing,  that  a  serious  depreciation  in 
the  value  of  wood  land  seemed  likely  to  ensue.  Several  large 
proprietors,  awakening  to  the  necessity  of  some  action,  made  a 
move  for  the  protection  of  their  interests.  .  Their  direct  efforts, 
perhaps,  secured  no  conspicuous  result ;  but  by  arousing  atten- 
tion and  operating  on  public  sentiment  some  good  was  effected. 
Rewards  have  been  offered  by  the  authorities,  from  time  to 
time,  for  the  detection  of  rogues  setting  such  fires.  In  the 
spring,  when  the  earth  has  become  dry,  and  before  the  new 
verdure  has  put  forth,  the  greatest  danger  exists ;  and  many  a 
boy,  by  carelessly  throwing  down  a  lighted  match  has  been  the 
instrument  of  great  mischief;  to  say  nothing  of  those  who  are 
so  abandoned  as  to  wantonly  destroy  the  property  of  others. 
The  fact  that  the  fires  most  frequently  occur  on  Sunday  is  sig- 
nificant. 

1860. 

On  the  afternoon  of  January  6,  three  young  men  walked 
across  the  harbor,  on  the  ice,  from  near  the  south  end  of  Com- 
mercial street,  to  Bass  Point,  Nahant.  No  one  had  before  so 
crossed  at  a  point  so  far  out,  for  some  twent}^  years. 

The  brick  school  house,  in  Woodend,  which  was  built  to 
supply  the  place  of  the  wooden  structure  destroyed  by  fire,  on 
the  21st  of  January,  1859,  was  dedicated  on  the  8th  of  February. 

The  Lynnfield  Agricultural  Library  Association  was  founded 
on  the  11th  of  February. 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1860.  459 

A  great  Shoemakers'  Strike  commenced  in  Lynn,  in  February. 
No  occurrence  of  the  kind  in  this  part  of  the  country  perhaps 
ever  before  created  such  a  sensation.  Processions  of  workmen 
paraded  the  streets,  day  after  day,  with  music  and  banners. 
Large  delegations  of  operatives  from  other  places  joined.  And 
in  several  instances  —  on  one  occasion  during  a  snow  storm  — 
large  bodies  of  females  appeared  in  the  ranks  ;  for  the  shoebind- 
ers  were  also  on  a  strike.  On  the  16th  of  March,  a  really  im- 
posing spectacle  was  presented.  Several  military  and  fire 
companies  belonging  to  Lynn  and  other  places,  numerous  de- 
tachments of  strikers  from  neighboring  towns,  and  hundreds 
of  women,  formed  in  grand  procession  with  the  Lynn  strikers 
and  marched  through  the  streets  with  bands  of  music,  flags,  and 
banners  with  devices.  They  moved  in  as  close  order  as  is 
common  with  such  bodies,  and  the  procession  was  something 
more  than  half  a  mile  in  length,  and  numbered,  at  different 
points,  from  three  thousand  to  five  thousand  individuals.  The 
day  was  very  pleasant,  and  the  demonstration  passed  off  in  an 
orderly  manner.  In  the  early  part  of  the  strike  there  was  a 
good  deal  of  excitement ;  and  the  city  authorities,  not  deeming 
themselves  sufficient  for  the  emergency,  sent  to  Boston  for  a 
detachment  of  police  officers  and  took  means  promptly  to  secure 
other  support  from  abroad  should  necessity  require.  After 
continuing  about  seven  weeks,  the  great  ferment  quietly  sub- 
sided. There  was  very  little  violence  —  a  wonderfully  small 
amount,  considering  the  magnitude  of  the  interests  supposed  to 
be  at  stake,  and  the  energy  with  which  the  war  of  words  was 
kept  up.  The  object  of  tlie  strikers  was  the  same  that  is  com- 
mon in  all  such  movements ;  namely,  the  obtaining  of  more 
adequate  remuneration  for  labor;  for  it  was  alleged  that  at  the 
current  rates  very  few  found  it  possible  to  obtain  a  decent 
livelihood.  On  the  other  hand,  the  manufacturers  maintained 
that  under  existing  circumstances,  it  was  not  in  their  power  to 
pay  higher  prices.  There  was  probably  a  misconception  of 
facts  on  both  sides.  The  whole  trade  had,  in  truth,  through 
the  instrumentality  of  some  who  had  made  heedless  haste  to 
be  rich,  and  others,  who  had  operated  in  ways  positively  dis- 
honest, been  brought  into  an  unhealthy  condition,  a  condition 
where  it  was  necessary  that  some  remedy  should  be  applied. 
But  whether  a  resort  to  such  means  as  a  general  strike  was  the 
most  expedient  remains  problematical.  Yet  the  result  did  not 
seem  to  be  mischievous.  The  energetic  discussions  that  took 
place  opened  the  way  for  a  better  understandmg.  Many  facts 
were  brought  to  light,  useful  to  employers  and  employed.  The 
suspension  of  labor  prevented  the  accumulation  of  large  stocks 
on  the  hands  of  the  manufacturers,  which  stocks,  no  doubt, 
would  in  many  cases  have  been  disposed  of,  on  credit,  to  south- 


460  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1860 

erii  dealers,  who,  judging  from  the  experience  of  some  Lynn 
people,  about  that  time,  touching  southern  integrity,  would  not 
have  been  over-anxious  that  the  spirit  of  rebellion  should  be 
curbed  till  they  had  time  to  discharge  their  obligations.  Though 
perhaps  no  definite  and  conspicuous  result  of  this  famous  Strike 
could  be  shown ;  yet  it  is  far  from  certain  that  it  was  not  bene- 
ficial. Each  party  saw  more  clearly  the  strength  and  weakness, 
the  wants  and  difficulties,  of  the  other,  and  the  friends  of  justice, 
on  both  sides,  had  the  means  furnished  for  a  more  intelligible 
view.  The  whole  country  seemed  to  have  their  eyes  momenta- 
rily turned  on  Lynn,  and  through  the  daily  journals  and  illustra- 
ted weeklies,  her  travail  was  magnified  to  an  extent  far  beyond 
what  was  dreamed  of  in  her  own  borders. 

On  Sunday  morning,  February  19,  Dr.  Ezekiel  P.  Eastman 
died,  aged  42.  He  had  practised  in  Lynn  for  a  number  of  years, 
was  a  skillful  physician,  and  possessed  attractive  manners. 

The  Mechanics'  Steam  Mill,  on  Broad  street,  near  the  foot  of 
Market,  was  burned  on  the  evening  of  March  12,  together  with 
one  or  two  other  frame  buildings,  occupied  for  mechanical 
purposes.     Loss,  about  $8,000. 

John  Whalley,  a  partially  deaf  man,  was  killed  on  the  rail-road 
track,  near  Market  street,  bein^g  struck  by  a  locomotive,  on 
the  23d  of  March. 

The  Third  Baptist  Society  in  Lynn,  was  formed  this  year; 
and  their  meeting-house,  near  Dye  House  village,  was  dedicated 
on  the  afternoon  of  Wednesday,  May  16. 

There  was  an  uncommon  drought  during  the  spring  of  this 
year.  The  first  rain  for  forty-one  days  fell  on  the  19th  of  May. 
Vegetation,  however,  did  not  materially  suffer,  the  dews  being 
heavy  and  the  sun  not  in  its  summer  position. 

The  Universalist  meeting-house  in  the  centre  village  of  Sau- 
gus  was  dedicated  on  Thursday,  the  24th  of  May.  The  Univer- 
salists  had  succeeded  to  the  first  Calvinistic  church  property, 
and  having  disposed  of  the  old  meeting-house,  which  stood  in 
the  Square,  and  which  was  built  in  1738,  erected  their  new 
edifice.  The  ancient  house  was  steepleless,  and  certainly  not  a 
very  elegant  specimen  of  architecture;  but  its  history  is  interest- 
ing. It  was  there  that  the  celebrated  Parson  Roby  preached,  so 
many  years.  The  spot  where  it  stood  was  purchased  by  the 
town  to  be  retained  as  a  public  ground. 

St.  Andrew's  Episcopal  Chapel,  in  the  ancient  Gothic  style, 
was  built  this  year,  on  Ontario  Court,  and  first  opened  for  service 
on  Sunday,  June  10. 

Rev.  Sumner  Ellis  was  installed  pastor  of  the  First  Universal- 
ist Society,  in  Lynn,  on  the  afternoon  of  June  13. 

A  comet  was  just  visible  to  the  naked  eye,  in  June.  Its  tail 
was  about  four  degrees  in  length,  and  pointed  upward. 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1860.  461 

On  Friday,  June  29,  a  severe  thunder  storm  occurred.  It 
commenced  about  six  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  continued 
till  nine,  with  scarcely  an  intermission.  There  was  some  hail ; 
the  wind  blew  with  great  fury,  and  torrents  of  rain  fell.  The 
house  of  Stephen  Lewis,  on  Fayette  street,  w^as  struck  by  the 
lightning',  and  slightly  damaged.  The  meeting-house  in  the 
south  village  of  Lynnfield  was  also  struck. 

The  Methodist  meeting-house,  in  Saugus,  east  village,  was 
entered  on  Sunday  night,  July  8,  and  robbed  of  a  hundred  yards 
of  carpeting.  This  was  the  second  time  that  the  carpets  of  this 
house  were  stolen. 

There  was  a  muster  of  the  fire  companies  of  Essex  county,  at 
Lynnfield,  on  the  18th  of  July.  Many  firemen  from  Lynn  at- 
tended, though  the  authorities  would  not  suffer  the  engines  to 
be  carried. 

An  extraordinary  meteor  appeared  in  the  heavens  at  about 
ten  o'clock,  on  the  evening  of  Jul}^  20.  It  moved  slowly,  in  a 
southeasterly  direction,  leaving  a  luminous  train  which  w^as 
visible  for  about  a  minute.  The  meteor  resembled  two  bright 
balls  as  large  as  full  moons. 

A  turtle,  weighing  thirtj^-five  pounds  and  measuring,  on  the 
shell,  thirteen  by  seventeen  inches,  was  taken  from  Stacey's 
brook,  in  Woodend,  in  July. 

The  jewelry  store  of  George  H.  Moore,  on  Market  street, 
was  robbed  at  noon,  August  16,  of  some  twenty  watches  and 
other  articles,  of  the  value  of  about  $400. 

On  the  afternoon  of  August  8,  the  barn  of  Henry  Clay,  in 
Lynnfield,  was  struck  by  lightning,  set  on  fire,  and  entirely 
consumed,  together  with  a  large  quantity  of  hay  and  other  farm 
property. 

John  Denier,  a  tight  rope  performer,  walked  upon  a  single 
rope  a  distance  of  fourteen  hundred  feet,  at  Nahant,  on  the 
afternoon  of  August  16.  The  rope  was  stretched  high  above 
Canoe  Beach,  in  the  rear  of  Nahant  House.  A  ver}^  large  con- 
course witnessed  the  dangerous  feat.  And  on  the  afternoon  of 
the  27th,  he  walked  up  a  rope  one  inch  and  three  quarters  in 
diameter,  stretched  from  the  top  of  a  three  story  building  on 
the  southwest  side  of  Exchange  street,  in  Lynn,  to  a  derrick 
erected  near  the  entrance  of  Mount  Vernon  street,  and  per- 
formed sundry  astonishing  feats  —  among  them  hanging  by  one 
foot,  head  downward  —  while  on  the  rope,  many  feet  above  the 
heads  of  the  crowd  of  spectators. 

On  the  22d  of  August  a  swing-tail  shark  was  captured  in  a 
net,  by  Chandler  Lewis,  of  Swampscot,  a  short  distance  from 
the  beach.  He  measured  ten  feet  in  length.  This  species  is 
very  rare  on  our  coast. 

The  new  light  house  on  Minot's  Ledge  was  lighted  for  the  first 
M2^ 


462  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1860. 

time  on  the  nig-lit  of  Wednesday,  August  22.  The  light,  how- 
ever, was  only  shown  toward  the  shore,  it  being  merely  an 
experimental  h'ghting.  It  began  to  be  regularly  lighted  on  the 
night  of  Thursday,  November  15. 

A  sun-fish  was  caught  near  Egg  Rock,  in  August,  weighing 
about  two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds. 

A  small  encampment  of  the  Penobscot  tribe  of  Indians  erected 
their  wigwams  on  Phillips's  Point,  Swampscot,  in  the  latter  part 
of  the  summer,  and  pursued  their  trade  of  basket  making. 

On  the  night  of  the  7th  of  September,  a  fire  occurred  on 
Beach  street,  at  the  wood  and  coal  wharf  of  Breed  and  Thing. 
A  heap  of  about  three  thousand  tons  of  coal  took  fire  and  con- 
tinued to  burn  two  days,  notwithstanding  the  efforts  of  the  firo 
department  to  extinguish  it,  aided  by  a  steam  fire  engine  from 
Salem.  The  coal  and  hay  sheds,  were  destroyed,  and  a  large 
portion  of  the  coal  and  wood  either  burned  or  thrown  overboard. 
Loss,  about  $9,000. 

Early  on  Sunday  morning,  September  16,  the  baking  estab- 
lishment of 'Nathaniel  Holder,  on  Pine  Hill,  was  burned.  Four 
valuable  horses  perished  in  the  flames.     Loss,  about  $4,000. 

The  carpenter  shop  of  N.  P.  Boynton,  on  Broad  street,  was 
destroyed  by  fire,  September  30.     Loss,  about  $1,200. 

The  planet  Venus  was  distinctly  visible  to  the  naked  eye,  at 
about  eleven  o'clock  on  the  forenoon  of  October  11.  The  sun 
was  shining  brightly. 

The  Lynn  post  office  was  broken  into  on  Sunday  night,  Octo- 
ber 14,  and  robbed  of  a  quantity  of  postage  stamps,  a  small 
amount  of  money,  and  a  large  number  of  letters.  Many  of  the 
letters  were  afterward  found,  broken  open  and  rifled,  some  near 
the  High  School  house,  and  some  at  Oak  Island. 

A  slight  shock  of  an  earthquake  was  felt  on  the  morning  of 
Oct.  17.     There  was  a  rumbling  sound  and  the  earth  trembled. 

The  Prince  of  Wales  passed  through  Lynn  at  about  ten  o'clock 
in  the  forenoon  of  Saturday,  October  20.  The  special  train  in 
which  the  august  youth  journeyed,  made  a  slight  pause  at  the 
Central  Station,  and  he  stepped  upon  the  platform  of  his  car, 
thus  vouchsafing  to  some  of  the  anxious  crowd  gathered  in  the 
Square  a  glimpse  of  his  royal  person.  Some  preparations  had 
been  made  to  receive  him,  and  divers  of  the  city  officials  were 
present,  but  he  did  not  appear  to  appreciate  the  honor. 

The  Republicans  had  a  grand  torch-light  procession  on  the 
evening  of  the  30th  of  October.  Music,  illuminations,  fireworks, 
and  bonfires  abounded.  Brilliant  lights  were  placed  upon  the 
stone  posts  that  surround  the  Common,  making  a  fine  show. 
The  procession  numbered  from  twelve  to  fifteen  hundred.  The 
demonstration  was  in  favor  of  Mr.  Lincoln  then  a  candidate  for 
the  presidencv.    The  other  parties  also  had  their  demonstrations. 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1860.  463 

On  Saturday  niglit,  N"ovember  3,  the  severest  storm  of  the 
season  occurred.  There  was  a  strong  easterly  wind  and  a  high 
sea.  The  Grazelle,  a  small  vessel  belonging  to  Gloucester,  broke 
from  her  moorings  at  Swampscot  and  was  driven  ashore  at 
King's  Beach,  where  she  went  to  pieces. 

On  the  6th  of  November,  Micajah  Burrill  of  Woodend,  aged 
96,  was  at  the  polls  and  voted  for  Mr.  Lincoln  for  president. 
He  voted  for  Washington  at  the  time  of  his  election. 

Captain  Ammi  Smith,  of  Lynn,  was  master  of  the  ship  Oliver 
Putnam,  which  foundered  at  sea,  this  year.  After  the  ship 
went  down  the  men  remained  eleven  days  in  an  open  boat,  sub- 
subsisting  on  two  biscuits  and  a  pint  of  water  a  day.  A  Dutch 
bark,  bound  for  Rotterdam,  finally  picked  them  up  and  carried 
them  to  St.  Helena. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  Saturday,  November  24,  a  severe 
southeasterly  gale  set  in,  which  was  particularly  disastrous  to 
the  shipping  at  Swampscot ;  more  so  than  any  other  that  had 
occurred  for  many  years. 

In  the  latter  part  of  November,  Zachariah  Phillips,  of  Lynn, 
during  four  days'  fishing  from  his  dory,  in  the  bay,  experienced 
in  a  singular  manner  the  vicissitudes  of  a  fisherman's  luck.  His 
first  day's  catch  sold  for  25  cents.  That  of  one  of  the  other 
days  sold  for  $2 LOO.  And  taking  the  whole  four  days  together 
he  realized  $46.50.  The  fish  sold  for  three  cents  a  pound,  on 
the  beach,  and  were  chiefly  cod. 

The  cars  began  to  run  on  the  horse  rail-road,  through  Lynn, 
on  the  29th  of  November. 

Market  street  was  lighted  by  gas,  for  the  first  time,  on  Friday 
evening,  December  7. 

Cars  commenced  running  over  the  Cliftondale  horse  rail-road, 
from  East  Saugus  to  Boston,  December  26. 

The  sessions  of  the  Probate  Court  in  Lynn  were  discontinued 
this  year. 

There  was  a  very  large  crop  of  fruit  this  year ;  particularly 
of  apples  and  pears;  and  the  quality  was  superior. 

The  fire  department  was  called  out  fifty-six  times  during  the 
year,  seventeen  of  which  were  from  false  alarms.  The  whole 
loss  by  fire  was  about  $32,000. 

By  the  census  taken  this  vear,  Lynn  was  found  to  contain 
19.087  inhabitants;  Lvnnfield,  .866;  Nahant,  .380;  Saugus, 
2.024;  Swampscot,  1.530. 

The  valuation  of  real  estate  in  Lynn,  this  year,  was  $6,291,460; 
personal,  $3.357.605  — total,  $9,649,065.  The  rate  of  taxation, 
was  $8.80  on  $1,000.  Number  of  ratable  polls,  3.933.  City 
debt,  $107,600.  By  turning  to  date  1850,  the  increase  of  ten 
years  may  be  determined.  But  it  should  be  borne  in  mind  that 
Nahant  and  Swampscot  were  set  off  during  the  period. 


464  ANNALS    OF   LYNN — i.861. 


1861. 

Friday,  4  January,  was  observed  as  a  national  fast,  in  view 
of  the  threatening  aspect  of  public  affairs. 

An  extraordinary  change  in  the  weather  took  place  during  a 
few  hours  preceding  sunrise,  on  Friday,  the  8th  of  February. 
On  Thursday  the  air  was  mild,  the  thermometer  standing  at 
forty-five  degrees,  at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  About  that 
time  a  change  commenced,  the  cold  increasing  rapidly,  till  Friday 
morning,  when  the  thermometer  stood  at  twenty-one  degrees 
below  zero.  Thus,  between  two  o'clock  on  Thursday  afternoon 
and  eight  on  Friday  morning,  the  thermometer  fell  sixty-six 
degrees. 

On  the  night  of  18  February,  a  barn,  on  Howard  street,  be- 
longing to  James  E.  Barry,  was  burned.  Two  horses  perished 
in  the  flames. 

A  severe  storm  occurred  on  Saturday  evening,  9  March.  Con- 
siderable damage  was  done  to  the  shipping  at  Swampscot.  And 
again  on  the  22d  of  March  there  was  a  heavy  blow,  and  while 
the  sea  was  running  high  a  vessel  was  discovered  some  two 
miles  off  the  eastern  point  of  Nahant,  rolling  heavily  at  anchor, 
with  all  her  masts  gone  excepting  a  portion  of  the  mizzen.  She 
proved  to  be  the  bark  Nonpareil,  Capt.  F]3'nn,  from  Palermo,  for 
Boston.  She  was  finally  taken  safely  to  Boston,  by  a  steam 
tug.     No  lives  were  lost. 

A  snow  storm  commenced  1  April,  during  which  eighteen 
inches  of  snow  fell. 

The  brick  Catholic  Church,  at  the  eastern  end  of  South  Conv- 
mon  street,  was  built  this  year.  It  was  the  finest  and  most 
costly  church  edifice  that  had  been  built  in  the  place. 

Fort  Sumpter,  in  the  harbor  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  was  attacked 
by  the  South  Carolina  forces  on  Friday,  12  April.  And  this 
was  the  commencement  of  the  terrible  civil  war  which  will 
forever  remain  a  marked  point  in  American  history.  Presi- 
dent Lincoln  immediately  issued  a  proclamation  calling  out  a 
portion  of  the  militia  of  the  several  states.  Lynn  was  instantly 
aroused  to  a  high  pitch  of  patriotic  fervor.  In  five  hours  after 
the  requisition  arrived,  two  full  companies  were  armed  and 
ready  for  duty.  And  in  the  eleven  o'clock  train  of  the  next 
forenoon  —  Tuesday,  16  April  —  they  departed  for  the  south, 
amid  the  cheers  and  sobs  of  the  immense  concourse  who  had 
gathered  in  Central  Square.  These  two  companies  —  the  Lynn 
Light  Infantry  and  Lynn  City  Guards — formed  a  part  of  the 
Eighth  Regiment  of  Massachusetts  troops,  which  became  so 
celebrated  in  the  early  part  of  the  war,  for  discipline,  prompt- 
ness and  heroism.  These  troops  were  called  for  three  months' 
service.     And  just  before  their  departure  it  was  announced  to 


ANNALS    OP    LYNN — 1861. 


465 


them  that  six  hundred  dollars  had  been  contributed  for  each  of 
the  companies.  The  names  of  those  who  so  promptly  responded 
to  their  country's  call,  in  the  day  of  her  peril,  are  worthy  of  re- 
membrance, and  are  here  inserted.  Others  would  have  gone  had 
there  been  time  for  equipment,  as  is  shown  by  the  terse  des- 
patch sent  to  head  quarters  —  "  We  have  more  men  than  guns  — 
what  shall  we  do  ?  "  The  names  of  such  of  the  regtmental  officers 
as  belonged  to  Lynn,  are  also  given. 

Timothy  Munroe,  Colonel. 

Edward  W.  Hinks,  Lieutenant  Colonel. 

Ephraim  a.  Ingalls,  Quartermaster. 

Roland  G.  Usher,  Paymaster. 

Bowman  B.  Breed,  Surgeon. 

Warren  Taplet,  Assistant  Surgeon. 

Horace  E.  Munroe,  Quartermaster  Sergeant. 

Company  D  —  Lynn  Light  hifantry. 
George  T.  Newhall,  Captain  —  Thomas  H.  Berry,  First  Lieutenant  —  El- 
bridge  Z.  Saunderson,  Second  Lieutenant  —  Charles  M.  Merritt,  Fourth  Lieu- 
tenant-^ William  A.  Fraser,  Henry  C.  Burrill,  William  H.  Merritt,  and  George 
E.  Palmer,  Sergeants  —  Daniel  Raymond,  Henry  C.  Conner,  Henry  H.  Good- 
ridge,  and  Horatio  E.  Macomber,  Corporals 


Alley,  James  D. 
Andrews,  Oscar  D. 
Atkinson,  Charles  O. 
Bailey,  George  W. 
Bartlett,  Alonzo  W. 
Bates,  Lewis  H. 
Berry,  William  H. 
Besse,  Francis  E. 
Carpenter,  Henry  A. 
Caswell,  William 
Cilley,  John  W. 
Clement,  Oscar  H 
Coe,  John  T. 
Curtis,  George 
Dudley,  Alonzo  G. 
Elder,  Josiah  L. 
Emerton,  William  W. 
Fales,  Charles 
Foss,  William  H. 
Foster,  George  W. 


PRIVATES. 

Foster,  Samuel 
Foxcroft,  George  A. 
Foye,  John 
Fraser,  Joshua  H. 
Hills,  Edwin  T. 
Hixon,  E.  Oswell 
Hoyt,  Wheelwright 
Jones,  James  E. 
Keene,  William  H. 
Keith,  Friend  H. 
Kelley,  James  D. 
Kimball,  Edwin  H. 
Lambert,  Daniel 
Lock,  James 
Lougee,  John  E. 
Martin,  John  M. 
Merrill,  Arthur  T. 
Merritt,  George  G. 
Mudgett,  Isaac  N. 


James  O.  Clarrage,  Musician. 


Nichols,  John  H. 
Nichols,  N.  A. 
Noonan,  Daniel 
Oliver,  Harrison 
Oliver,  Stephen  A. 
Patten,  John  B. 
Patten,  Thomas  P. 
Pierce,  Levi  M. 
Pousland,  Thomas  J. 
Reed,  Samuel  A. 
Remick,  Samuel  D. 
Sanborn,  Joseph  R. 
Smith,  Frank  M. 
Sweetser,  Charles  H. 
Tarr,  John  S. 
Trask,  Israel  A. 
Tuttle,  Lyman  M. 
Wentworth,  Rufus  O 
Whitney,  J.  A.  P. 
Williams,  J.  Henry 


Newhall,  Henry  A. 
Company  F  —  Lynn  City  Guards. 

James  Hudson,  jr..  Captain  —  Edward  A.  Chandler,  First  Lieutenant  — 
Henry  Stone,  Second  Lieutenant  —  Matthias  N.  Snow,  Third  Lieutenant  — 
Hanson  H.  Pike,  George  Watts,  George  E.  Stone,  and  Timothy  Newton, 
Sergeants — James  R.  Downer,  George  Harris,  Joseph  W.  Johnson,  and 
Jeremiah  Towlin,  Corporals  —  Edward  D.  Clarrage,  Musician. 


Alley,  James  E. 
Alley,  Richard 
Bailey,  William  E. 
Barker,  Patrick  W. 
Baxter  John  B. 


PRIVATES. 

Black,  James  O. 
Boynton,  Benjamin  F.  jr 
Brown,  Ezra  W. 
Brown,  James  W. 
Brown,  William  B. 


Caldwell,  William 
Campbell,  George 
Chase,  Charles  H. 
Chase,  John  C. 
Cryon,  Thomas 

30 


466 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN 


1861. 


Laborda,  James  S. 
Lake,  Charles  H. 
Luscomb,  Murray 
Mahoney,  Dennis 
3Iartin,  'Robert  P. 
McDavitt,  William  S. 
Mead,  Samuel 
Mellen,  Andrew 
Millar,  Andrew  W. 
Moulton,  Edward 
Moulton,  James  F. 
Murray,  James  W. 
Newton,  William  S. 
Orr,  Charles 
Owen,  Joseph 
Peabody,  Benjamin  W 
Phillips,  Daniel 
Pike,  William  J. 
Pratt,  Daniel  W. 
Rand,  Benjamin 


Reed,  Orson  R. 
Reynolds,  Andrew  T. 
Reynolds,  John  W. 
Rhodes,  Isaac  N. 
Rowe,  George  W. 
Rowe,  William  B. 
Sargent,  Albert 
Sargent,  George  W. 
Snow,  Warren 
Sparks,  Uriel 
Swan,  George  W. 
Sweetser,  George  W. 
Taylor,  Henry 
Thompson,  Samuel 
Tufts,  William  F. 
Tutt,  Benjamin 
Webster,  Samuel 
White,  Georire  H. 
Wilson,  William  B. 
Young,  Hugh 


Dalton,  Frank 
Davenport,  Charles 
Davis,  Henry  S. 
Donelly,  James  E. 
Dougherty,  James  B. 
Edwards,  George 
Estes,  Jacob  S. 
Flanders,  Augustus  B. 
Foster,  John  F. 
Gilbert,  John 
Griffin,  William  H. 
Grover,  Benjamin  P. 
Harriden,  Oscar 
Harris,  Edward 
Hiller,  Edward 
Hunnewell,  Francis 
In  galls,  Abner 
Johnson,  Nathaniel 
Kelley,  Daniel 
Kimball,  Josiah  F. 
Kimball,  Moses 

And  many  of  the  foregoing  were  soon  in  higher  positions  than 
they  at  first  occupied.  But  with  their  departure  the  zeal  of  the 
citizens  by  no  means  subsided.  Meetings  were  held,  funds  were 
subscribed  by  individuals  and  appropriated  by  the  city  govern- 
ment, new  companies  were  raised,  and  every  thing  was  done 
that  could  be  expected  of  a  loyal  and  patriotic  people.  A  mass 
meeting  was  held  at  Lyceum  Hall,  on  the  afternoon  of  Monday, 
22  April,  at  which  a  considerable  sum  was  subscribed  for  the 
benefit  of  volunteers,  stirring  speeches  were  made,  and  divers 
animating  pieces  played  by  a  band  of  music.  The  following 
preamble  and  resolutions  were  passed  by  acclamation. 

Whereas,  The  country  has  been  plunged  into  civil  war,  by  the  rash,  tritor- 
ous,  and  unjustifiable  action  of  the  leaders  in  the  so-called  Confederate  States; 
therefore, 

1.  Resolved,  Tliat  we,  in  the  hour  of  peril  to  the  nation,  to  free  institutions, 
to  life,  liberty,  and  social  well-being,  unite  as  one  man  to  uphold  our  govern- 
ment, and  to  defend  our  country. 

2.  Resolved,  That  as  our  fathers  pledged  to  each  other  their  "lives,  their 
fortunes,  and  their  sacred  honor,"  to  establish  the  institutions  under  which 
we  have  lived,  so  we  now  renew  this  pledge,  to  maintain  those  institutions, 
and  to  hand  them  down,  intact,  to  our  children. 

3.  Resolved,  That  the  present  crisis  has  been  forced  upon  us,  lovers  of 
peace  and  of  the  Union  ;  and  that  there  is  left  for  us  nothing  but  to  rally  about 
the  government,  which  has  shown  itself  forbearing,  and  whose  efforts  for  a 
peaceful  settlement  have  been  met  with  bravado,  insolent  contempt,  and  war- 
like opposition. 

4.  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  every  citizen  to  stand  ready  for  the 
performance  of  every  work  which  the  government  requires  at  his  hand,  till 
the  traitors  shall  desist  from  their  unhallowed  purpose,  and  peace  be  restored 
to  our  distracted  land. 

5.  Resolved,  That  Governpr  Audj-ew,  General  Schouler,  and  the  civil  and 
military  authorities  of  the  state,  have  acted  in  an  able,  prompt,  and  patriotic  man- 
ner, in  this  trying  crisis ;  and  that  their  efficient  action  is  desen'ing  of  all  praise. 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 1861.  467 

6.  Resolved,  That  the  action  of  our  City  Government,  hi  making  an  appro- 
priation for  the  support  of  the  families  of  our  brave  and  devoted  volunteers, 
meets  the  exigency  of  the  hour,  and  receives  our  hearty  approval. 

7.  Resolved,  That  the  prompt  response  of  the  Eighth  Massachusetts  Reg- 
iment, to  which  so  many  of  our  citizen  soldiers  are  attached,  together  with  the 
dispatch  "We  have  more  men  than  guns  —  what  shall  we  do?"  proves  the 
loyalty  of  our  citizens,  and  inspires  us  with  the  belief  that  the  glorious  old  flag 
shall  not  be  trailed  in  the  dust,  nor  be  wrested,  by  traitor  hands,  from  its  right- 
ful guardians,  an  acknowledged  majority  of  American  citizens. 

Enlistments  now  went  rapidly  on.  The  whole  community 
seemed  fully  awake  to  the  demands  of  the  calamitous  exigency. 
The  ladies  applied  themselves  diligently  in  the  preparation  of 
clothing  and  other  things  necessary  and  convenient  for  the 
departed  and  the  constantly  departing  soldiers.  Flags  were 
kept  flying  in  every  direction,  and  drums  were  beating  at  all 
hours.  And  those  other  places,  the  offspring  of  good  old 
Lynn,  which  are  named  in  the  title-page  of  this  work,  manifested 
the  same  zealous  and  patriotic  spirit.  It  would  be  an  exceed- 
ingly agreeable  task  to  give  in  these  pages  a  circumstantial 
history  of  events  here,  as  connected  with  the  war,  and  to 
record  the  name  of  every  one  who  went  out  from  among  us  to 
battle  for  the  honor  of  his  country.  But  it  will  be  at  once 
seen  that  such  a  thing  would  be  impossible.  The  most  that  can 
be  done  will  be  to  note  the  more  prominent  occurrences.  God 
grant  that  all  who  survive  may  have  a  reward  here  commensu- 
rate with  their  labors  and  sacrifices,  and  that  all  who  perish 
may  receive  a  reward  in  the  better  land. 

On  the  morning  of  May  4th,  the  grocery  store  of  Robert 
Collins,  corner  of  Franklin  street  and  the  Turnpike,  was  con- 
sumed by  fire,  with  all  its  contents.  The  adjacent  out  buildings 
were  also  consumed,  and  the  dwelling  of  Mr.  Collins  was  some- 
what damaged.     Loss,  about  $2,500. 

The  ship  Abaelino,  Capt.  Ammi  Smith,  of  Lynn,  was  captured 
by  a  rebel  privateer,  20  May,  while  on  her  passage  from  Boston 
to  New  Orleans,  with  a  cargo  of  ice.  This  was  one  of  the  first 
of  such  seizures  in  the  war.  The  officers,  crew,  and  vessel, 
were,  however,  soon  released. 

On  the  first  day  of  June,  the  Lynn  horse  cars  began  to  run  to 
Boston. 

On  Sunday,  2  June,  Julia,  aged  ten  years,  a  daughter  of  John 
Fitzpatrick,  an  overseer  in  one  of  the  Saugus  woollen  factories, 
died  of  the  terrible  disease  of  hydrophobia.  She  was  slightly 
bitten  by  a  small  dog  with  which  she  was  familiar ;  but  little  or 
nothing  was  thought  of  it  at  the  time.  Six  weeks  after,  while 
at  school,  she  was  taken  with  spasms  and  soon  died,  in  great 
agony. 

The  brick  school-house,  on  the  west  side  of  Franklin  street, 
was  dedicated  on  Monday  afternoon,  24  June. 


468  ANNALS    OF   LYNN — 1861. 

A  great  comet  suddenly  appeared  in  Jnl3\  It  was  first  seen 
on  I^uesday  evening,  the  2d,  and  was  very  bright.  I  was  stand- 
ing on  the  slope  of  the  hill,  near  Sadler's  Rock,  at  dusk,  con- 
versing with  a  friend.  On  looking  up,  as  one  or  two  of  the 
brighter  stars  began  to  appear,  he  remarked,  "  Why,  there  is  a 
strange  looking  star."  As  the  darkness  increased,  the  propor- 
tions of  a  magnificent  comet  became  developed.  On  the  follow- 
ing evening  the  celestial  stranger  made  a  still  more  imposing 
appearance.  Its  position  was  a  very  little  west  of  north  and  it 
was  finely  delineated,  from  the  tail  which  spread  out  into  a 
silvery  light  at  the  zenith,  to  the  bright  nucleus  at  the  horizon. 
Observation  determined  that  it  was  moving  with  extraordinary 
rapidity ;  and  it  was  soon  beyond  the  vision  of  the  unassisted 
eye.  One  remarkable  fact  about  this  comet  is  that  its  tail,  which 
was  upwards  of  ninety  degrees  in  length,  actually  came  in  con- 
tact with  the  earth.  In  the  report  of  the  visiting  committee  of 
the  Cambridge  observatory  to  the  overseers  of  the  college  — 
which  report,  by  the  way,  was  signed  by  our  eminent  townsman, 
William  Mitchell,  as  chairman  —  it  is  stated  that  the  comet  was 
subjected  to  a  rigorous  examination  and  its  path  marked  with 
great  care,  its  position  being  determined  at  forty-nine  periods. 
And  the  report  adds  that  as  soon  as  its  real  motion  was  ascer- 
tained, it  became  evident  that  its  train  had  swept  the  earth  : 
and  subsequent  observations,  both  in  this  country  and  Europe 
showed  that  only  three  days  previous  to  its  sudden  apparition 
in  our  heavens  a  part  of  the  train  must  have  been  in  actual  con- 
tact with  the  earth.  It  is 
an  ancient  superstition  that 
comets  portend  dire  calam- 
ities to  mankind  ;  particu- 
larlv  wars.  And  that  of 
1858  and  this  of  1861,  com- 
ing so  opportune  for  the 
terrible  civil  war,  will  be 
likely  to  confirm  the  appre- 
hensions of  some  unculti-  Comet  of  186J. 
vated  minds. 

The  Lynn  soldiers  who  so  promptly  responded  to  the  call  of 
the  President,  and  on  the  16th  of  April  hastened  southward, 
returned  on  the  first  of  August,  their  three  months  terra  of  ser- 
vice having  expired.  And  they  had  a  very  enthusiastic  and 
gratifying  public  reception.  The  City  appropriated  $500,  and 
individual  liberality  contributed  a  large  additional  sum,  to  make 
the  occasion  one  of  uncommon  display.  Not  a  man  of  the  whole 
regiment  had  died  during  its  absence.  Col.  Munroe  had  re- 
signed, 12  May,  and  returned  home,  and  Lieut.  Col.  Hinks  had 
succeeded   him.     The    reception   was    quite   imposing.     There 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1861.  469 

was  a  large  escort  of  military  and  fire  companies,  and  public 
and  private  places  were  profusely  decorated,  business  was  sus- 
pended, and  the  large  body  of  the  population  were  in  the  streets. 
The  procession  was  something  more  than  an  eighth  of  a  mile  in 
length,  and  moved  through  the  principal  neighborhoods,  the 
bands  playing,  church  bells  ringing,  and  guns  firing.  At  about 
seven  o'clock  a  collation  was  had  at  Exchange  Hall ;  and  when 
the  hungry  stomachs  had  been  supplied  the  patriotic  tongues 
were  loosed.  And  the  whole  furnished  a  notable  instance  of 
the  liberal  bestowment  of  well-earned  honors. 

The  Union  street  Methodist  meeting-house  (St.  Paul's)  was 
dedicated  on  Thursday  afternoon,  1  August. 

On  Thursday  night,  12  September,  the  spacious  building 
known  as  Nahant  Hotel,  was  destroyed  by  fire.  It  was  an 
immense  structure  of  wood,  with  the  exception  of  the  small  part 
built  in  1819,  which  was  of  stone ;  was  in  some  parts  three  and 
in  others  four  stories  in  height;  was  something  more  than  four 
hundred  feet  in  length,  and  contained  three  hundred  rooms.  It 
was  sufficient  for  the  accommodation  of  a  thousand  visitors  at  a 
time  ;  six  hundred  could  be  seated  together  in  the  dining  hall ; 
magnetic  telegraph  wires  connected  it  with  Boston  ;  and  it  had 
every  appliance  of  a  first  class  public  house.  The  conflagration 
made  a  striking  display  as  seen  from  Lynn  and  the  adjacent 
places.  And  it  was  observed  from  vessels  a  great  distance 
at  sea. 

In  September  the  little  green  in  Washington  Square,  at  the 
junction  of  Nahant  street  and  Broad,  was  enclosed  by  a  neat 
iron  railing,  and  otherwise  improved.  The  ladies  held  a  fair,  on 
May-day,  to  raise  funds  to  defray  the  expense.  The  cost  was 
$550. 

An  encampment  was  formed  at  Lynnfield,  at  which  a  number 
of  regiments  were  drilled,  preparatory  to  leaving  for  the  seat 
of  war. 

Thursday,  26  September,  was  observed  as  a  national  fast. 

In  October,  Miss  Mitchell,  whose  astronomical  observations 
and  discoveries  at  Nantucket  had  made  her  name  familiar  to  the 
scientific  world,  removed  with  her  accomplished  father,  William 
Mitchell,  to  Lynn.  Besides  several  smaller  instruments,  used 
at  her  former  residence,  she  brought  with  her  a  beautiful  equa- 
torial telescope,  which  she  has  since  constantly  applied  to  vari- 
ous original  researches,  the  principal  and  perhaps  the  most 
important  of  which  are  observations  on  the  phenomena  of  the 
double  stars  or  binary  systems.  The  telescope  was  the  gift  of 
a  few  friends  of  both  sexes,  and  no  pains  were  spared  in  its 
construction.  It  was  made  by  Alvan  Clark  and  Sons,  of  Cam- 
brigeport,  and  is  unquestionably  among  their  best  productions. 
The  telescope  is  furnished  with  all  the  appliances  belonging  to 
N2 


470  AIJNALS    OF    LYNN — 1862. 

the  largest  class  of  instruments,  measuring  circles  of  right  as- 
cension, and  declination,  has  clock-work,  and  micrometer.  It 
has  six  eye-pieces  of  powers  from  fifty  to  three  hundred.  The 
telescope  and  equatorial  apparatus  are  connected  to  a  heavy 
iron  tripod  resting  on  a  firm  piece  of  solid  masonry,  whose  base 
is  sufficiently  below  the  surfoce  of  the  ground  to  be  secure 
from  the  effects  of  frost  and  the  tremor  of  passing  carriages  in 
the  street  at  a  distance  of  two  hundred  feet.  The  observatory 
is  a  circular  building  of  great  simplicity,  with  an  ordinary  root 
revolving  by  means  of  iron  balls  running  in  grooved  circular 
plates,  thus  enabling  a  narrow  scuttle  in  the  roof  to  be  turned 
to  any  part  of  the  heavens. 

On  Tuesday  afternoon,  26  November,  Phipps  Munroe,  a  mas- 
ter carpenter,  and  much  respected  citizen,  aged  fifty-one,  was 
instantly  killed  by  a  revolving  shaft,  at  the  morocco  factory  of 
Souther  and  Blaney,  on  Market  steet.  The  shaft  was  making  a 
hundred  and  eighty  revolutions  a  minute,  and  it  was  supposed 
his  clothing  was  caught,  and  he  dashed  against  the  beams,  which 
were  but  about  fourteen  inches  above  the  shaft. 

1862. 

On  Saturday  morning,  22  March,  the  dry  goods  store  of  S.  J. 
Weinburg,  on  Market  street,  w^as  a  good  deal  damaged  by  fire. 

On  Monday  morning,  7  April,  Sagamore  Cottage,  which  had 
been  the  home  of  Mr.  Lewis,  for  nearly  twenty  of  the  last  years 
of  his  life,  was  partially  burned.  It  was  at  the  time  occupied 
by  Mrs.  Lewis  and  her  little  boy  of  four  years.  They  were 
aroused  in  time  to  make  their  escape,  by  a  dog  kept  on  the 
premises.  Most  of  the  movable  property  was  saved.  The 
building,  though  much  damaged,  was  soon  repaired. 

At  Pranker's  factory,  in  Saugus,  8  April,  a  steam  copper  cyl- 
inder, weighing  about  two  hundred  pounds  and  being  a  foot 
and  a  half  in  diameter  and  four  feet  in  length,  used  for  drying, 
suddenly  burst,  while  revolving  with  great  rapidity.  Mr.  Tobin, 
the  man  in  charge,  was  thrown  some  ten  feet  and  considerably 
injured.  The  force  of  the  explosion  was  so  great  that  several 
large  windows  were  broken,  and  the  iron  frame  that  supported 
the  cylinder  was  snapped  to  pieces,  and  thrown  about  with 
great  violence. 

Capt.  Henry  Bancroft's  barn,  in  Lynnfield,  was  burned  early 
on  Sunday  morning,  4  May,  together  with  his  carriage-house 
and  other  out  buildings.  A  horse  and  several  cows,  were 
burned.     Loss,  about  $4,000. 

On  Monday  evening,  14  July,  a  large  and  enthusiastic  war 
meeting  was  held  at  Lyceum  Hall.  And  on  the  evening  of 
Tuesday,  22  July,  another  was  held  on  the  Common.  And  on 
Saturdav,  26  July,  still  another  was  held  on  the  Common.     Sim- 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN  —  1862.  471 

ilar  meetings  were  likewise  held  in  August.  The  places  of  busi- 
ness were  closed  at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  Tuesday, 
26  August,  and  on  each  day  for  the  remainder  of  the  week,  that 
the  afternoons  might  be  devoted  to  obtaining  recruits. 

On  the  afternoon  of  30  July,  during  a  thunder  storm,  George 
L.  Hanson  of  Portland  street,  was  seated  near  a  window,  in  his 
house,  when  he  was  suddenly  thrown  a  distance  of  nearly  tea 
feet,  receiving  such  a  shock  as  rendered  him  apparently  lifeless. 
His  wife  immediately  closed  his  nostrils  and  breathed  into  his 
mouth ;  other  restorative  means  were  applied,  and  he  sood 
returned  to  consciousness.  It  was  not  known  that  the  lightning- 
struck  any  where  in  the  vicinity.  And  Mr.  Hanson  neither  saw 
lightning  nor  heard  thunder. 

On  Sunday  afternoon,  31  August,  an  enthusiastic  war  meeting 
was  held  on  the  Common.  Religious  services  were  omitted  at 
all  the  churches  excepting  the  First  Baptist,  and  the  clergy 
very  generally  attended  and  took  part  in  the  meeting.  The 
day  was  pleasant,  and  a  very  great  crowd  assembled,  including 
a  body  of  soldiery.  Stirring  speeches  were  made,  and  national 
pieces  sung  and  played  by  the  military  band.  There  was  like- 
wise an  interspersion  of  religious  exercises.  During  the  latter 
part  of  the  evening,  there  was  a  large  gathering  in  front  of  the 
City  Hall.  And  the  result  of  the  movements  of  the  day  was 
the  securing  of  a  considerable  number  of  enlistments. 

On  Thursday,  4  September,  a  grand  pic-nic  party  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Spiritualists,  was  held  at  Dungeon  Rock.  Some 
two  thousand  persons  of  both  sexes  and  all  ages  were  present. 
There  was  speaking,  music,  and  dancing.  Mediums  were  in 
attendance,  and  divers  revelations  made.  The  day  was  pleaa 
ant,  and  the  proceedings  went  forward  with  spirit.  No  more 
delightful  or  romantic  place  could  be  found  for  such  a  gathering. 
This  was  the  first  of  a  number  of  similar  assemblages  in  that 
attractive  locality. 

The  8th  of  October  was  the  warmest  October  day  since  1807, 
the  thermometer  reaching  ninety  degrees,  in  the  shade. 

On  Sunday  afternoon,  19  October,  the  funerals  of  two  de- 
ceased soldiers  —  John  C.  Dow  and  Solomon  Martin  —  both 
victims  of  the  battle  of  Antietam  —  took  place;  that  of  the  first 
named  from  the  Christian  Chapel,  on  Silsbe  street,  and  that  of 
the  last  from  the  Second  Universalist  meeting-house.  They 
w^ere  attended  by  a  large  concourse,  including  the  principal 
city  authorities. 

The  house  of  William  Cheever,  in  Saugus  was  burned  on  the 
night  of  3  November. 

The  Swampscot  Library  Association  was  formed  this  year. 

On  the  5th  of  November,  the  bodies  of  two  brothers  —  Charles 
J.  Batchelder  and  George  W.  Batchelder.  were  buried  from  the 


472  ANNALS    OF    LYNN —  1863. 

First  Metlioclist  meeting-hoiise.  Both  were  in  the  service  of 
their  country.  Charles,  who  was  a  heutenant,  died  at  New 
Orleans,  of  fever,  and  George,  who  was  a  captain,  was  killed  at 
the  battle  of  Antietam.  There  was  a  very  large  attendance, 
ecabracing  the  city  authorities  and  a  considerable  body  of  mil- 
itary ;  and  the  services  were  peculiarl}^  impressive  and  affecting. 
This,  and  the  other  military  funerals  mentioned  under  this  date 
were  the  first  of  a  large  number,  which  would  be  separately 
noticed  did  space  permit. 

There  was  an  extraordinary  yield  of  fruit  this  year,  in  this 
vicinity,  and  it  was  more  than  usually  excellent. 

During  the  autumn  of  this  year,  a  Soldiers'  Burial  Lot  was 
laid  out  in  Pine  Grove  Cemetery.  The  City  appropriated  five 
hundred  dollars  for  the  object.  The  lot  is  on  the  corner  of  Lo- 
cust and  Larch  avenues,  is  square,  contains  three  thousand  and 
six  hundred  square  feet,  and  is  surrounded  by  a  border  of  twelve 
feet,  for  trees,  shrubs,  and  flowers. 

As  evidence  of  the  patriotism  of  some  of  our  families,  it  may 
be  mentioned  that  Otis  Newhall,  superintendent  of  Pine  Grove 
Cemetery,  and  Edmund  Waitt,  of  Strawberry  avenue,  each  had 
five  sons  in  the  war,  this  year;  and  John  Alley,  4th,  had  four. 

The  most  atrocious  murder  ever  committed  in  Lynn  was 
perpetrated  early  in  the  evening  of  23  December.  Nathan 
Breed,  jr.,  an  estimable  citizen,  aged  thirty-eight,  who  kept  a 
grocery  store  on  Summer  street,  corner  of  Orchard  Court,  was 
killed  by  terrible  blows  from  a  small  axe,  inflicted  chiefly  on 
the  head.  The  horrid  deed  was  consummated  in  a  most  daring 
and  merciless  manner.  He  was  in  his  store,  and  it  was  an  hour 
when  customers  were  especially  liable  to  call.  The  murderer 
must  have  watched  his  opportunity,  and  done  the  deed  with 
fearful  expedition.  The  assault  was  made  between  six  and 
seven  o'clock,  and  Mr.  Breed  lingered  till  three  in  the  morning. 
He  had  his  senses,  and  declared  that  his  murderer  was  a  young- 
man  named  Horace  L.  Davis,  wdio  lived  in  the  neighborhood, 
and  whose  age  was  about  seventeen.  Davis  was  arrested  and 
tried  for  the  murder,  but  the  jury  could  not  agree  on  a  verdict, 
being  divided  on  the  question  of  mental  capacity ;  but  he  sub- 
sequently pleaded  guilty  to  the  charge  of  manslaughter,  and  was 
sentenced  to  the  state  prison  for  twenty  years. 

1863. 

Rev.  Charles  W.  Biddle  was  installed  pastor  of  the  First  Uni- 
versalist  Society,  on  Thursday  afternoon,  5  February. 

On  the  morning  of  12  February,  the  Sash  and  Blind  Factory, 
on  Essex  street,  near  the  Swampscot  line,  was  destroyed  by  fire, 

The  little  fishing  schooner  Flying  Dart,  of  Swampscot,  with  a 
crew  of  twelve  men,  on  the  25th  of  February  brought  in  14.000 


ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1863.  473 

pounds  of  lislj,  caught  by  them  that  day.     The  fish  were  readily 
sold  at  an  average  rate  of  two  cents  a  pound. 

There  was  an  interval  of  severe"  cold,  near  the  middle  of 
March.  On  the  14th,  the  thermometer  reached  twelve  de- 
grees below  zero.  The  winter  had  been  quite  open,  hereabout, 
but  it  was  judged  to  have  been  very  severe  at  the  north,  from 
the  number  of  arctic  birds  that  visited  us.  Four  large  arctic 
owls  were  shot  during  one  week,  at  Nahant  and  on  the  beaches, 
and  several  eagles  appeared  on  the  marshes. 

The  Kerosine  Oil  Factory  of  Berry  and  Hawkes,  on  Hawkes's 
Hill,  in  East  Saugus,  was  burned,  20  March. 

Capt.  John  B.  Hubbard,  of  Gen.  WeitzePs  staff,  was  killed  in 
battle  at  Port  Hudson,  in  May.  He  was  principal  of  the  Lynn 
High  School  at  the  time  of  his  enlistment.  He  was  a  son  of 
a  former  governor  of  Maine,  a  graduate  of  Bowdoin  College, 
and  highly  esteemed,  while  here,  as  a  teacher  and  a  man. 

The  large  steam  bakery  of  Thomas  Austin  and  Company,  on 
Water  Hill,  was  burned  on  the  morning  of  29  May. 

The  Boston  and  Lynn  Horse  Rail-road  commenced  running 
cars  to  Chelsea  Beach,  on  the  1st  of  June. 

Extraordinary  numbers  of  caterpillars  appeared  in  the  summer 
of  this  year.  So  numerous  were  they  that  in  many  instances 
trees  had  to  be  abandoned  to  their  ravages.  Canker  worms 
were  also  very  abundant  and  destructive. 

The  barn  of  Nathan  Breed,  on  Broad  street,  was  burned, 
June  2,  the  fire  being  occasioned  by  attempts  to  destroy,  by 
fire,  the  caterpillars  on  the  fruit  trees  near  by. 

Lieut.  Col.  Charles  Redington  Mudge  was  killed  at  the  battle 
of  Gettysburg,  3  July.  He  was  the  eldest  son  of  E.  R.  Mudge, 
of  Swampscot,  and  twenty-three  years  of  age ;  was  an  officer 
of  great  promise,  and  at  the  time  he  was  killed  was  in  command 
of  the  regiment,  gallantly  leading  on  a  charge.  He  graduated 
at  Harvard,  with  the  1860  class. 

The  church  bells  were  rung,  cannon  fired,  and  bonfires  lighted^ 
on  the  7th  of  July,  in  rejoicing  over  the  fall  of  Vicksburg. 

Liberty  Hose  House,  on  Willow  street,  was  burned  30  July. 

An  enthusiastic  reception  of  the  Lynn  soldiers  belonging  to 
the  Eighth  Regiment,  took  place  on  the  30th  of  July,  on  the 
return  from  their  nine  months'  service.  There  was  a  very  long 
procession  of  military,  firemen  and  citizens ;  bells  were  rung, 
cannon  fired,  and  welcoming  speeches  made  ;  many  dwellings 
and  public  places  were  decorated  ;  and  a  collation  was  served 
on  the  Common. 

Thursday,  August  6,  was  observed  as  a  day  of  national  thanks- 
giving, in  view  of  the  successes  of  our  arms. 

The  dwelling  house  of  Frank  Fiske,  in  Cliftondale,  was  burned, 
September  15. 
N2* 


474  ANNALS  OF  LYNN — 1864. 


1864 


A  war  meeting  was  held  at  Lyceum  Hall,  od  Sunday  evening, 
January  3,  which  was  largely  attended  and  enthusiastic. 

Frederic  Tudor  died  at  his  residence,  in  Boston,  on  Saturday 
afternoon,  February  6,  aged  80.  He  was  born  in  Boston,  in  a 
house  which  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  Tudor's  Building, 
in  Court  street,  on  the  4th  of  September,  1783.  His  grandfather, 
John  Tudor,  emigrated  from  Devonshire,  England,  to  Boston, 
and  his  father,  William  Tudor,  was  born  in  Boston,  and  served 
during  the  Eevolution  as  Judge  Advocate  General  of  the  army 
under  Washington.  Daniel  Henchman,  who  planted  the  cele- 
brated old  elm  on  Boston  Common,  was  his  maternal  ancestor, 
and  perhaps  from  him  he  inherited  that  taste  for  the  culture  of 
trees  which  is  evidenced  by  the  groves  now  flourishing  on  Na- 
hant.  And  this  Daniel  Henchman,  by  the  way,  was  grandfather 
of  Rev.  Mr.  Henchman  who  was  settled  over  the  Lynn  church 
from  1720  to  1761. 

Mr.  Tudor  married,  in  1834,  Miss  Euphemia  Fenno,  a  native 
of  New  York  city,  and  left  six  children,  the  eldest  of  whom  was 
born  in  1837,  and  the  youngest  in  1854.  Their  names  are  as 
follows  :  Euphemia,  now  a  naturalized  French  lady,  the  Countess 
Kleezkowska;  Frederick;  Delia  J.;  William ;  Eleonora;  Henry. 

Mr.  Tudoi-  is  justly  entitled  to  be  called  the  father  of  the 
great  New  England  Ice  Trade,  which  was  commenced  as  early 
as  1805.  In  1834,  he  sent  his  first  cargo  to  the  East  Indies, 
and  soon  found  himself  in  a  highly  lucrative  business.  He  early 
became  charmed  by  the  beauties  of  Nahant,  and  in  1825  built 
his  stone  cottage  and  laid  out  his  picturesque  grounds  there. 
And  he  continued,  from  year  to  year  to  reside  there  during  the 
warm  season,  and  expend  large  sums  in  beautifying  the  peninsula 
and  adding  to  his  possessions.  There  is  unquestionable  autho- 
rity foi-  stating  that  during  the  last  thirty  years  of  his  life 
he  expended  not  less  than  $30,000  dollars  annually  —  making 
$900,000  foi-  that  period  alone.  Previously  he  had  spent  large 
sums  in  building,  improving  roads,  and  planting  trees.  He  was 
a  man  of  great  decision  of  character,  promptness  in  action,  and 
impatience  of  interference  with  his  plans.'  Towards  strangers 
he  manifested  great  courtesy  and  did  much  to  render  their 
visits  to  Nahant  agreeable.  The  inhabitants,  at  their  annual 
town  meeting,  12  March,  1864,  unanimously  adopted  resolutions 
expressive  of  their  sense  of  loss  and  appreciation  of  his  worth 
and  generosity. 

On  the  evening  of  February  8,  Henry  Neil),  aged  49,  was 
killed  at  the  Central  Rail-road  Station.  He  jumped  from  the 
platform  of  a  car  and  fell  in  such  a  manner  that  the  wheels 
passed  over  his  neck,  nearly  severing  his  head. 


ANNALS    OF   LYNN — 1864.  475 

Rev.  Parsons  Cooke,  D.  D.,  minister  of  the  First  Church  of 
Lynn,  died  on  Friday  afternoon,  l2  February.  He  was  born 
in  Hadley,  18  February,  1800,  was  the  son  of  Solomon  Cooke,  a 
respectable  farmer,  and  a  descendant  from  Capt.  Haron  Cooke, 
conspicuous  among  the  early  settlers  of  that  vicinity. 

Mr.  Cooke  graduated  at  Williams  College,  in  1822,  and  studied 
theolog}^  under  Dr.  Griffin,  president  of  that  institution.  In 
June,  1826,  he  was  installed  over  the  East  Evangelical  Church 
in  Ware,  which  was  his  first  settlement.  There  ho  remained 
till  April,  1835,  and  then  accepted  a  call  from  a  society  in  Ports- 
mouth, N.  H.  In  the  latter  place  he  continued  about  six 
months,  and  in  1836  accepted  the  call  of  the  church  at  Lynn, 
and  remained  its  pastor  to  the  end  of  his  life.  On  the  5th  of 
June,  1826,  he  married  Hannah  Starkweather,  who  died  July  2, 
1852,  and  by  whom  he  had  no  children.  His  second  wife,  whom 
he  married  July  20,  1853,  was  Mary  Ann  W.  Hawley,  of  Bridge- 
port, Ct.,  and  by  her  he  had  one  son,  born  27  October,  1855. 

Mr.  Cooke  early  displayed  a  love  of  controversy,  which  it 
may  be  said  grew  with  his  growth  and  strengthened  with  his 
strength ;  so  his  life  was  not  distinguished  by  that  pacific 
course  which  many  believe  is  most  strongly  inculcated  in  the 
gospel  of  peace.  His  mind  was  of  such  an  order  that  he  rapidly 
arrived  at  conclusions,  tenaciously  held  to  them,  and  was  not 
remarkble  for  his  gentle  bearing  toward  those  who  differed  from 
him.  His  perceptions  were  quick,  and  he  had  an  abundance  of 
natural  wit,  which,  unfortunately,  was  liable  to  exhibit  itself  in 
the  degenerate  form  of  sarcasm.  His  reasoning  powers  were 
evidentl}^  good ;  but  yet  he  possessed  such  an  unaccountable 
vein  of  credulity,  that  their  best  fruits  seemed  sometimes  never 
to  ripen.  A  reference  to  his  work  entitled  ''  A  Century  of 
Puritanism  and  a  Century  of  its  Opposites,''  will  be  sufficient 
to  satisfy  any  one  acquainted  with  our  history,  of  the  truth  of 
these  remarks.  Some  of  the  honest  individuals  who  supplied 
him  with  information  would,  doubtless,  have  been  more  guarded 
in  their  expressions,  had  they  observed  this  peculiarity  of  his 
mind.  But  it  is  difficult  not  to  conclude  that  others  deliberately 
imposed  upon  him.  It  cannot  be  supposed  that  he  made  any 
of  the  remarkable  statements  without  a  full  belief  of  their  truth  ; 
and  it  is  surprising  that  he  forbore  the  slight  examination  neces- 
sary for  the  detection  of  some  of  the  more  patent  errors.  He 
was  often  boldly  charged,  in  the  newspapers,  with  wilful  misrep- 
resentation ;  but  I  see  no  necessity  for  the  charge  of  wilfulness, 
and  apprehend  that  he  was  simply  ensnared  in  the  way  indicated. 
His  style  of  composition  was  not  what  rhetoricians  call  elegant, 
but  was  well  adapted  to  controversial  purposes.  The  sentences 
were  short,  direct,  and  without  any  waste  of  words.  He  evi- 
dently thought  more  of  what  he  was  saying  than  how  he  spoke. 


476  ANNALS    OF    LYNN — 186 J:. 


Dr.  Cooke  was  a  high  Caivinist,  and   often   cast  a  fond 
,ckward,  upon  the  '^  old  p'aths,"  sighino-  that  there  had 


look 
backward,  upon  the  '^  old  paths/'  sighing-  that  there  had  been 
such  a  general  departure  from  them.  He  was  an  industrious 
and  faithful  minister,  so  far  as  pulpit  preparations  were  con- 
cerned; but  he  visited  little  among  the  people  of  his  charge.  His 
power  and  dehght  lay  rather  in  the  use  of  the  pen  than  in  per- 
sonal intercourse.  His  ministry  here  was  successful ;  his  pari- 
sioners  were  much  attached  to  him,  and  regarded  him  as  one 
of  more  than  ordinary  power.  And  had  it  not  been  for  his 
unfortunate  disposition  to  controversy,  there  is  little  doubt  that 
his  abilities  would  have  commended  him  to  the  favorable  regard 
and  respect  of  the  theological  world  in  general.  It  may  readily 
be  admitted  that  he  thought  it  a  duty  to  always  have  his  pungent 
pen  ready  dipped  for  the  defence  of  the  truth  and  the  demolish- 
ing of  error,  as  he  deemed  them  ;  but  the  way  in  which  things 
are  attempted  often  has  great  influence  on  the  result.  The 
severity  with  which  he  speaks,  in  his  '*  Centuries,"  of  some  of 
his  predecessors  in  the  pastorate  of  the  First  Church,  and  the 
little  respect  he  seems  to  have  entertained  for  their  memories, 
lead  to  the  conclusion  that  he  did  not  consider  that  church 
one  that  had  been  conspicuously  blessed  in  her  ministry.  With 
some  of  his  estimates  I  cannot  agree,  and  think  that  in  other 
parts  of  this  volume  may  be  found  such  authenticated  state- 
ments as  will  show  that  he  labored  under  mistakes.  And  it  is, 
further,  a  matter  of  regret  that  he  should  have  taken  occasion 
to  give  what  is  believed  to  be  an  undeservedly  dark  coloring  to 
the  morals,  intelligence,  and  manners  of  the  people  of  Lynn. 

The  pulpit  oratory  of  Mr.  Cooke  was  not  pleasing  to  those 
unaccustomed  to  it;  the  delivery  was  rapid,  in  a  high  tone,  and 
with  very  little  intonation  ;  but  his  appearance  was  dignified. 
He  was  not  an  adept  in  music,  and  took  no  part  in  the  choral 
portion  of  the  service.  In  person  he  was  commanding,  being 
considerably  above  the  ordinary  stature,  but  symmetrical.  His 
habits  were  sedentary,  and  in  part,  no  doubt,  the  occasion 
of  his  last  protracted  and  painful  sickness.  He  suffered  greatly 
for  t\vo  years,  but  with  the  resignation  that  always  character- 
izes the  good  man.  Immediately  before  his  death,  in  a  still 
watchful  anxiety  for  the  souls  of  his  charge,  he  dictated,  and 
with  a  tremulous  hand  signed,  the  following  —  the  ever-Hving 
testimony  of  a  dying  Christian. 

Lynn,  Feb.  8th,  1864. 
As  I  am  about  to  close  my  ministry  and  ray  life,  I  have  one  thin^  to  say  to 
my  people  —  That  all  the  sivpport  that  I  find  in  a  dying  liour,  are  the  doctrines 
of  grace  I  have  preached,  which  centre  in  Jesus  Christ  and  him  crucified,  and 
are  to  my  heart  a  faithful  saying  and  worthy  of  all  acceptation,  that  Christ 
Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners,  of  whom  I  am  chief;  and  that  these 
I  would  commend  to  the  acceptance  of  all,  witii  my  dying  breath. 

Parsons  Cooke. 


ANNALS    OF    LYNN  — 1^64.  477 

The  publications  of  Mr.  Cooke  were  numerous.  The  titles 
of  his  books,  in  brief,  may  be  given  as  follows. 

1.  Modern  Universalism  Exposed. 

2.  A  History  of  German  Anabaptism. 

3.  The  Divine  Law  of  Beneficence. 

4.  Recollections  of  Dr.  GrifBn. 

5.  A  Century  of  Puritanism  and  a  Century  of  its  Opposites. 
The  foregoing  were   all   in  book  form,  and  besides  them  he 

published  some  twenty  pamphlets  —  sermons,  addresses,  tracts, 
&c.  And  in  speaking  of  his  industry  with  the  pen  it  should 
likewise  be  mentioned  that  for  about  twenty  years  he  was  one 
of  the  regular  editors  of  the  Puritan  newspaper,  which  publi- 
cation was  commenced  at  Lynn  and  afterward  removed  to  Bos- 
ton.    See  under  date  1840. 

Mr.  Cooke  was  the  first  minister  who  died  while  settled  over 
the  First  Church,  for  a  little  more  than  a  century,  Mr.  Hench- 
man, who  died  in  1761,  having  been  the  last  one  before  him  who 
died  in  the  pastorate.  And  it  may  be  noted  as  a  coincidence 
that  Mr.  Henchman  was  born  in  the  first  year  of  century  1700, 
as  Mr.  Cooke  was  in  the  first  year  of  century  1800 ;  and  they 
attained  very  near  the  same  age. 

A  great  easterly  storm  commenced  on  the  29th  of  March,  and 
continued  till  the  2d  of  April.  The  wind  blew  with  great  vio- 
lence, and  the  sea  came  in  furiously.  The  beacon  on  Dread 
Ledge,  an  obelisk  of  granite,  twenty-five  feet  in  height  and 
three  feet  square  at  the  base,  was  broken  off  near  the  centre. 

The  fine  summer  residence  of  Benjamin  T.  Reed,  at  Red  Rock, 
was  destroyed  by  fire  on  the  night  of  April  8. 

The  school-house  on  Howard  street  was  destroyed  by  fire  on 
the  morning  of  June  8. 

Saturday,  June  25,  was  the  warmest  day  in  Lynn,  of  which 
there  is  any  record.  The  thermometer  reached  a  hundred  and 
four  degrees  in  the  most  shady  places.  At  five  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  it  stood  above  a  hundred.  The  next  day,  Sunday, 
was  nearly  as  warm.  .  The  same  remarkable  degree  of  heat 
was  experienced  in  other  parts  of  New  England. 

The  extensive  soap  manufacturing  establishment  of  George 
E.  Emery,  on  Chesnut  street,  near  Gravesend  village  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire  on  the  night  of  June  26. 

A  severe  drought  prevailed  this  summer,  and  destructive  fires 
took  place  in  the  woods  in  the  latter  part  of  July. 

A  threatening  fire  occurred  on  Federal  Square,  near  Water 
Hill,  on  the  afternoon  of  July  22.  It  commenced  in  the  bakery 
of  Isaac  H.  Tarbox,  consumed  four  frame  buildings  and  injured 
several  others. 

The  first  steam  fire  engine  owned  by  the  city  arrived  in  town 
on  the  11th  of  August.     It  received  the  name  ''City  of  Lynn.'^ 


478  AJSttiALS    OP   LYNN — 1864. 

Mackerel  appeared  on  the  coast,  in  great  abundance,  during 
the  early  part  of  the  autumn.  The  crew  of  the  little  fishing 
schooner  Minnehaha,  of  Swampscot,  on  the  18th  of  S^^tember, 
ofif  Boon  Island,  caught  three  hundred  and  fifty  barre  s.  And 
the  crew  of  the  Flying  Dart,  of  the  same  place,  at  another  point, 
took  a  hundred  and  thirty  barrels  in  some  four  hours. 

At  about  five  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  Thursda}',  October 
6,  the  City  Hall,  on  South  Common  street,  head  of  Blossom, 
was  discovered  to  be  on  fire,  and  was  soon  destroyed.  It  was 
of  wood,  and  not  a  very  comely  structure.  A  good  representa- 
tion of  it  may  be  found  on  page  591,  accompanied  by  a  brief 
historical  sketch.  In  the  northeast  corner  of  the  building,  on 
the  first  floor,  was  the  Lock-up,  a  place  for  the  temporary  con- 
finement of  offenders,  and  on  the  same  floor  were  the  City 
Clerk's  oflSce,  the  Mayor  and  Aldermen's  room,  and  the  offices 
of  the  Police  Justice  and  City  Marshal.  On  the  upper  floor 
were  the  Police  Court  rOom,  the  office  of  the  Clerk  of  the 
Police  Court,  and  the  Common  Council  room.  In  the  Lock-up 
an  unfortunate  man,  named  Joseph  Bond,  aged  about  forty  years, 
was  confined,  and  being  unable  to  extricate  himself  and  no  help 
seasonably  arriving,  though  his  shrieks  were  heard,  he  was 
burned  to  death.  It  appeared  that  he  was  a  man  of  generally 
correct  habits,  but  on  the  occasion  of  his  arrest  had  from  some 
cause  become  turbulent. 

On  Thursday  evening,  October  27,  the  Female  Benevolent 
Society  celebrated  their  fiftieth  anniversary,  by  a  gathering  and 
an  entertainment  at  Armory  Hall.  This  society  was  formed  in 
1814,  by  benevolent  ladies  belonging  to  the  different  religious 
societies,  and  has  ever  continued  to  flourish,  dispensing,  in  an 
unostentatious  way,  blessings  to  thousands. 

On  the  2d  of  November  the  two  Lynn  companies  of  the 
Eighth  Regiment  returned  from  three  months'  service,  and 
were  welcomed  by  a  public  parade  and  an  entertainment ;  in 
the  former  of  which  the  fire  department  joined,  and  in  the  latter 
of  which  the  good  old  Yankee  dish  of  baked  beans  held  a  prom- 
inent position. 

There  was  no  Indian  summer  this  year;  a  thing  hardly  ever 
known  within  the  memory  of  man. 

On  the  10th  of  December  the  schooner  Lion,  from  Rockland, 
Me.,  loaded  with  granite,  was  wrecked  off  Long  Beach,  and  all 
on  board  —  six  in  number  —  perished.  A  violent  storm  prevailed, 
and  it  was  very  cold.  Though  the  cries  of  the  hapless  mariners 
were  heard  upon  the  Beach,  they  could  not  be  rescued. 

The  Franklin  Trotting  Park  Hotel,  in  Saugus,  (Cliftondale,) 
was,  with  its  contents,  destroyed  by  fire,  on  the  night  of  Dec.  19. 

And  here,  loitli  the  year  1864,  loe  dose  our  Chapter  of  Annals ^ 
embracing  the  record  of  two  hundred  and  thirty  five  years. 


^Untic  oct^^ 


Miniature  Town  Map. 

The  above  is  a  map  of  Lynn  as  it  was  at  the  time  of  the  opening  of  the  Eastern  Railroad, 
in  1838.  (See  page  404.)  A  marked  change  soon  followed  the  opening  of  the  road.  The 
principal  depot  being  established  where  it  now  is,  in  Central  sqnare,  business  rapidly  tended 
hitherward  from  the  westerly  sections  where  it  had  especially  been  located  from  early  times. 


*ohnson 
Beach 


West 
\CUVr 


Haas 


"K/XiitnwlB  ridge 
Pulpit  Rock 
'Sltppfio.sBoi.'k 

"g  Beach 
rS:^Shag  Rocks 
and 


l)oUedline8']bQM.Ftnelin€i!-Sundy6fm7i0{s.Bfarklme»~'RockycLirfs. 


Miniature  Map  of  Naiiant. 
The  above  little  map  clearly  shows  the  natural  and  unchangeable  features  of  Nahant. 
t  was  drawn  by  Mr.  Lewis,  to  whom  we  are  so  largely  indebted  for  suggestive  local  names, 
erambulators  of  the  breezy  peninsula  have  much  to  thank  him  for.     See  page  58  et  seq. 


i 


Jedediah  Newhall  House.     Rand  House.     Sargent  House. 


The  above  represents  three  of  the  historic  houses  of  Lynn.  They  stand  on  Boston  street, 
just  east  of  the  corner  of  Kirtland.  And  aside  from  any  individual  consideration,  they  are 
interesting  as  showing  the  different  styles  of  architecture  prevalent  in  earlier  times.  Tastes 
differed  then  as  well  as  now ;  but  it  was  not  common  to  see  these  different  styles  of  dwelling 
side  by  side. 

The  gambrel  roofed  one  was  known,  seventy  years  ago,  as  the  "Uncle  Jed"  house,  and 
was  then  old  and  shabby.  "  Uncle  Jed,"  as  he  was  called,  was  a  marked  character,  and  appa- 
rently quite  old  as  the  writer  remembers  him,  as  far  back  as  1816.  He  was  energetic  and 
fearless,  and  in  consequence  of  his  recklessness  met  with  many  mishaps.  It  used  to  be  an 
exaggerated  saying  that  every  bone  in  his  body  had  been  broken  exccjjting  his  neck.  He  was 
accustomed  to  hobble  about  with  a  long  staff  or  kind  of  crutch.  But  notwithstanding  his 
infirmities,  he  once  caught  a  huge  rattlesnake  in  the  woods,  managed  to  extract  his  fangs, 
brought  him  home  alive,  and  took  him  about,  as  evidence  of  his  prowess. 

The  next  house,  that  with  the  hipped  roof,  was  at  about  the  same  period  known  as  the 
Rand  house.  One  of  the  chambers  was  used  as  a  public  hall,  was  called  Massey's  hall,  and  is 
believed  to  have  been  the  first  public  hall  in  l>ynn.  It  was  used  for  political  caucuses,  for 
some  of  the  first  meetings  of  the  freemasons,  and  for  various  other  purposes.  The  first 
dancing  school  was  opened  there  in  iSoo.     This  house  was  built  in  1795. 

The  house  on  the  right,  that  with  the  pitch  roof,  is  the  "  Sargent  house."  It  was  one  of 
the  best  houses  of  the  time  of  its  erection.  'I'he  Sargent  family,  who  long  held  possession, 
was  of  good  reputation  ;  and  John  Jenks  Sargent,  one  of  the  later  occupants,  was  a  man  of 
intelligence,  and  took  much  interest  in  matters  pertaining  to  our  local  history.  He  furnished 
some  pleasant  sketches  and  reminiscences  for  the  Bay  State  newspaper.  His  name  Jenks 
came  from  his  ancestor,  the  remarkably  ingenious  Joseph  Jenks,  of  the  ancient  iron  works. 

We  are  unable  to  state  just  when  the  "  Uncle  Jed "  and  the  "  Sargent "  houses  were 
built ;  but  they  date  far  back  from  the  present  century. 


Old  Tavern. 

This  ancient  building  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  First  Methodist  Church, 
near  the  head  of  Franklin  street,  and  faced  toward  Market  street.  It  appears  to 
have  been  built  before  1675,  and  was  once  occupied  as  a  tavern.  It  was  removed 
to  the  southeast  side  of  Liberty  street,  near  Cambridge,  but  is  now  nowhere  to 
be  seen  in  its  integrity. 


Nahant  Hotel. 

In  contrast  with  the  old  house  represented  at  the  top  of  this  page,  we  give 
a  view  of  the  grand  Nahant  Hotel,  as  it  was  at  the  time  of  its  destruction  by 
fire  on  the  night  of  September  12,  1861.  (See  page  469.)  The  original  part  of 
the  edifice  was  built  in  1819,  the  year  in  which  the  sea-serpent  courteously 
made  his  first  appearance  in  these  waters,  coming  at  the  juncture  when  extra 
attractions  for  visitors  were  most  needed.  The  building  was  picturesque,  the  sur- 
roundings charming,  and  it  soon  became  an  admired  resort  of  the  elite. 


Residence  of  James  R.  Newhall,  Walnut  Street,  Lynn. 


One  of  the  illustrations  that  precede  the  title-page  of  the  present  volume  is  entitled 
"  View  in  Lynn,  from  the  residence  of  James  R.  Newhall,  Walnut  Street,  base  of  Sadler's 
Rock."  The  dwelling  itself  does  not  appear  in  the  "View;"  but  the  above  picture, 
engraved  from  a  photograph,  is  very  correct.  That/;w«  the  house  was  taken  in  1864; 
this  of  the  house  in  1884.  See  foot  of  page  439.  .  .  .  By  referring  to  the  indexes 
of  this  and  our  other  volume  much  may  be  found  concerning  Mr.  Sadler,  who  settled  at  this 
point  in  1635.  In  the  land  allotments  of  1638,  two  hundred  acres  were  granted  to  him,  and 
"the  Rock  by  his  House"  — hence  the  name  Sadler's  Rock.  .  .  .  Mr.  Sadler  was 
doubtless  a  man  of  education,  as  he  received  priestly  orders  in  the  Church  of  England  on 
his  return,  in  1646  or  '7.     He  was  appointed  to  a  good  living,  but  ejected  at  the  Restoration. 

A  modest  stone,  commemorative  of  the  worthy  old  settler,  was  some  years  since 
erected  by  the  writer,  near  the  road-side. 


CHAPTER    III 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

Introductory  Remarks,  page  479  —  Biographical  Sketch  of  Thomas  Newhall, 
482  — John  Burrill,  489  — Ebenezer  Burrill,  492  — Jacob  Newhall,  494  — 
William  Gray,  496  — Micajah  Collins,  500  — Solomon  Moulton,  502  — 
Maria  Augusta  Fuller,  505  — Charles  F.  Lumraiis,  511  — Elijah  Downing, 
519  — Ebenezer  Breed,  519  — Enoch  Curtin,  528— Josiah  Newhall,  533  — 
Edward  L.  Coffin,  533  — Enoch  Mudge,  536  — Asa  T.  Newhall,  537  — 
Ezra  Mudge,  538  —  Francis  S.  Newhall,  539  —  Isaac  Newhall,  540  —  Isaiah 
Breed,  541  —  George  Hood,  542  —  Alonzo  Lewis,  544  —  Daniel  C.  Baker, 
566  — Benjamin  F.  Newhall,  567. 

INTRODUCTORY   REMARKS. 

It  is  too  often  the  case  that  those  individuals  whom  a  com- 
munity delight  to  laud  and  magnify,  are  those  who,  through 
some  fortuitous  circumstance,  unsupported  by  anything  beyond 
a  common  share  of  talent  or  virtue,  have  become  conspicuous. 
And  if  a  cotemporary  historian,  perceiving  the  deficiency,  and 
in  the  honest  desire  to  deal  justly,  does  not  place  them  in  the 
popular  light,  he  is  liable  to  be  charged  with  prejudice  or  lack 
of  discernment.  But  he  must  not  be  troubled  at  this  ;  remem- 
bering that  his  duty,  in  a  great  degree,  pertains  to  the  future, 
to  the  time  when  the  meretricious  mantle  of  an  unsound  popu- 
larity has  fallen.  His  duty  is  to  celebrate  deeds  of  virtue  and 
usefulness,  however  humble  in  their  generation  may  be  the 
instruments  who  performed  them.  But  if  the  historian  be  not 
cotemporary,  he  must  depend  on  recorded  and  traditionary 
accounts ;  in  which  case,  though  safer  from  criticism,  he  may 
not  be  so  successful  in  developing  the  truth  or  deducing  the 
proper  lesson,  for  he  must  be  governed  by  what  may  be  the 
mistakes,  prejudices,  or  whims  of  others. 

^479) 


480  HISTORY    OF   LYNN. 

The  few  Biographical  Sketches  which  follow,  relate  only  to 
natives  of  Lyno.  In  the  pages  of  Annals  numerous  notices  of 
prominent  individuals  from  other  places,  who  took  up  their 
abode  here,  may  be  found ;  but  it  was  thought  proper  to  make 
a  distinction  between  them  and  those  who  were  born  on  our 
soil.  I  have  endeavored  to  present  such  characters  as  on  the 
whole  seemed  best  calculated  to  make  useful  and  agreeable 
impressions ;  but  that  many  others  who  have  passed  away  were 
deserving  of  honorable  mention  is  most  certainly  true;  and 
nothing  but  the  imperative  requirements  of  limited  space  pre- 
vented a  large  extension  of  the  list.  And  then  there  is  the  great 
body  of  those  of  whom  no  record  remains.  Beneath  the  sods 
of  the  Old  Burying  Ground  repose  an  innumerable  company 
of  those  whose  names  will  stand  high  in  a  better  book  than  this, 
but  who  lived  in  retirement  and  departed  in  silence. 

Men  who  are  themselves  destitute  of  principle  usually  find  it 
hard  to  believe  that  others  act  from  principle.  And  most  people 
live  on,  almost  exclusively  with  a  view  to  the  present,  the  pass- 
ing time ;  thinking  only  of  their  position  in  the  community  by 
which  they  are  surrounded,  of  their  possessions,  of  the  many 
eyes  that  are  turned  upon  them  in  admiration  or  envy.  But 
there  are,  happily  for  our  race,  some  with  more  comprehensive 
minds;  some  who  realize  their  dignity  as  men;  with  concep- 
tions not  circumscribed  by  time  and  place,  but  recognizing  their 
duty  to  mankind  in  general,  and  their  responsibility  to  their 
Maker.  And  it  is  refreshing  to  contemplate  the  lives  of  such 
though  their  companionship  may  have  been  with  the  most  lowly. 
When  men  seriously  reflect  on  their  ways,  they  seldom  fail 
to  come  to  the  conclusion  that  they  are  capable  of  better  things 
than  they  have  ever  accomplished  ;  and  conceited  as  it  may 
seem,  of  most  people  it  is  true.  These  reflections  make  them 
restless  and  discontented ;  and  they  should  see  to  it  that  their 
better  energies  be  put  forth.  And  how  many  of  us  pass  our 
whole  lives  in  an  atmosphere  of  pure  selfishness,  never  realizing 
that  our  obligations  extend  beyond  ourselves  and  those  immedi- 
ately dependent  on  us.  It  were  better,  perhaps,  that  the  sordid 
and  vicious  should  pass  recluse  lives ;  but  the  virtuous  and 
wise  should  bestir  themselves  among  men,  that  others  may  be 
benefited  by  their  good  examples  and  superior  wisdom.     I  am 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES  —  INTRODUCTORY    REMARKS.        481 

persuaded  that  in  former  times  the  public  position  of  a  man  was 
a  much  surer  index  of  his  real  merits,  than  it  is  at  present ;  and 
think  that  in  the  following  pages  something  will  appear  to 
sustain  the  view. 

Who  does  not  love  to  contemplate  the  character  of  a  true 
man.  And  the  nearer  his  position  in  life  may  have  been  to  ours, 
the  more  direct  the  lesson  taught  by  his  history ;  for  we  may 
be  animated  by  similar  hopes,  struggling  with  similar  difficulties, 
beset  by  similar  temptations,  quickened  by  similar  affections. 
But  there  can  be  little  benefit  in  contemplating  the  characters 
of  others,  however  good  or  great,  unless  we  strive  to  follow  the 
exemplar. 

It  is  thought  that  the  reader  will  at  once  recognize  the  pro- 
priety  of  excluding  from  this  Chapter  of  Biographies  all  who  are 
not  natives.  There  certainly  should  be  some  distinction  pre- 
served. Mr.  Lewis  often,  and  at  times  with  asperity,  complained 
that  Lynn  was  not  true  to  her  own  children ;  that,  for  instance, 
those  from  other  places  were  generally  called  to  fill  her  positions 
of  honor  and  emolument.  And  there  was  more  truth  and  sa- 
gacity in  many  of  his  tart  observations  on  the  subject  than 
some  were  willing  to  admit.  She  has  not,  in  this  particular, 
done  the  best  for  herself;  for  it  cannot  be  expected,  in  the 
ordinary  course  of  events,  that  those  from  abroad  should  feel 
the  same  interest  in  her  honor  and  prosperity  that  her  own  sons 
would.  The  adopted  child  is  not  apt  to  take  that  lively  interest 
in  the  welfare  of  a  household  which  the  native  born  does.  Many 
of  her  children,  driven  away,  as  it  were,  have  become  eminent 
abroad,  and  employed  for  the  benefit  of  others  those  talents 
which  should  have  enriched  her. 

Our  task  is  undertaken  for  more  than  one  purpose.  It  is 
desirable  to  perpetuate  the  names  of  some  of  the  worthy  ones 
who  have  adorned  our  history ;  and  if  we  can  present  a  little 
something  that  will  profit  or  entertain,  there  will  a  pleasure  in 
the  labor.  There  will  be  a  constant  endeavor  to  pursue  a 
course  free  from  prejudice  or  unmerited  adulation.  Truth  is 
a  thing  exterior  to  man ;  and  whatever  he  may  do  cannot 
change  its  nature  ;  and  we  hope  to  keep  the  fact  in  view,  though 
it  is  so  difficult,  in  religion,  in  politics,  in  any  thing,  to  avoid 
acting  as  if  mere  belief  were  truth  itself 

02  .  31 


482  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

THOMAS  NEWHALL  — 1630-1687. 

Perliaps  the  most  notable  circurastaDce  regarding  tins  indi- 
vidual is  that  he  was  the  first  white  child  horn  in  Lynn.  His 
father,  who  also  bore  the  christian  name  of  Thomas  was  one  of 
the  earliest  settlers,  and  lived  on  the  east  side  of  Federal  street, 
a  few  rods  sonth  of  the  mill  brook,  owning  all  the  lands,  on  that 
side,  between  the  Turnpike  and  Marion  street.  The  elder 
Thomas  had  another  son,  John,  who  was  born  in  England. 
He  likewise  had  two  daughters,  Susanna  and  Mary.  The  former 
married  Richard  Haven,  and  became  maternal  ancestor  of  one 
of  the  most  respectable  of  American  families.  See  page  186. 
Mary  married  Thomas  Brown,  and  had  several  children. 

Thomas  Newhall,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  1630, 
and  was  baptized  by  Rev.  Mr.  Bachiler,  the  first  minister  of 
Lynn,  on  the  first  Sunday  after  his  arrival,  being  June  8,  1632. 
A  rather  comical  scene  occurred  at  the  baptism.  Christopher 
Hussey,  who  was  a  son-in-law  of  Mr.  Bachiler,  and  who  proba- 
bly induced  the  reverend  gentleman  to  come  here,  had  a  child, 
named  Stephen,  to  be  baptized  at  the  same  time  ;  and  ^Ir.  Bach- 
iler, as  Thomas  was  first  presented  for  the  holy  rite,  unceremoni- 
ously put  him  aside,  declaring  that  he  should  baptize  Stephen, 
who  appears  to  have  been  named  for  his  reverend  grandfather, 
first.  Mr.  Lewis  seems  to  have  thought  a  sort  of  family  pride 
induced  this  movement,  which  struck  him  as  an  indignity  toward 
Thomas  :  but  it  should,  perhaps,  be  viewed  in  the  light  of  a  com- 
pliment. It  may  have  been  that  Stephen  was  noisy  and  turbu- 
lent, insomuch  that  the  old  gentleman  was  ashamed  of  him  and 
anxious  to  hurry  him  out  of  sight,  while  Thomas  was  quiet  and 
well-behaved.     But  it  is  not  important  to  pursue  the  inquiry. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-two  Mr.  Newhall  married  Elizabeth 
Potter,  who  I  think  was  a  daughter  of  Nicholas  Potter,  a  man 
concerned  in  the  Iron  Works,  but  who  afterward  resided  at 
Salem  and  was  called  a  bricklayer.  It  is,  however,  I  believe, 
somewhere  stated  by  Mr.  Lewis,  that  she  was  a  daughter  of 
Robert  Potter,  who  was  here  for  a  short  time  among  the  very 
first  settlers ;  but  I  am  confident  this  is  a  mistake.  For  some 
facts  concerning  this  Robert  Potter,  see  page  126. 

No  striking  events  appear  in  the  life  of  Mr  Newhall.  Indeed, 
seated  here,  in  a  little  forest  opening,  amid  a  population  that 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES  —  THOMAS    NEWHALL.  483 

could  almost  be  numbered  in  an  hour,  with  no  stirring  incidents 
to  mark  the  years  as  they  rolled  by,  there  was  little  opportunity 
for  one  to  make  himself  conspicuous,  whatever  his  talents  or 
ambition.  But  from  the  frequency  with  which  his  name  appears 
on  the  records,  connected  with  trustworthy  transactions,  it  must 
be  inferred  that  he  was  a  man  of  integrity,  and  one  in  whose 
judgment  much  reliance  was  placed.  And  he  seems  to  have 
had  a  very  fair  education.  On  page  126,  is  a  fac-simile  of  his 
signature.  And  it  is  there  stated  that  the  two  last  letters  were 
supplied.  Since  the  engraving  was  made  I  have  seen  one  or 
two  other  signatures  of  his,  which  correspond  in  a  remarkable 
degree ;  and  it  is  hardly  possible  to  discover  any  difference 
between  the  supplied  letters  and  those  made  by  his  own  hand 
It  seems  appropriate  and  con-  ^ 

venient  to  have  the  fac-simile        J  t^O^Tnc^    /CiM^dci^'^ 
likewise  introduced  in  this  con-  signatud-e  of  Thomas  Newhall. 

nection. 

Mr.  Newhall  died  in  March,  1687,  his  wife  having  died  a  few 
weeks  before.  He  was  the  father  of  ten  children ;  and  for 
many  years,  if,  indeed,  not  to  the  present  time,  the  Newhall 
family  has  certainly  been  deserving  of  commendation  for  its 
fecundity  if  for  nothing  else. 

I  now  propose  to  give  a  genealogical  view  of  the  principal 
branches  of  the  great  Newhall  family  descending  from  this  our 
common  ancestor.  It  would,  however,  be  impossible  here  to 
follow  the  blood  in  all  its  windings.  A  large  volume  would 
scarcely  afford  sufficient  space  for  that.  But  enough  will  be 
given,  it  is  thought,  to  enable  any  one  of  the  family  to  trace 
Jiis  connection.  Great  pains  have  been  taken  to  have  the  record 
correct;  but  still  the  most  patient  investigation  and  diligent 
inquiry  amid  so  many  entanglements  and  positive  contradictions 
may  not  meet  with  the  reward  of  entire  success.  Numerous 
records  and  documents,  besides  those  in  the  meagre  archives 
of  Lynn,  have  been  examined.  Indeed,  if  Lynn  alone  had  been 
depended  on,  the  information  w^ould  have  been  most  imperfect 
and  unreliable.  If  all  our  public  records  were  as  defective  as 
the  few  that  survive,  their  loss  is  not  much  to  be  deplored,  for 
they  must,  at  some  periods  at  least,  have  abounded  with  obscu- 
rities and  ridiculous  errors.     Some  years  ago  several   of  the 


484  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

old  books  were  copied,  at  some  cost.  And  an  opportunity  was 
thus  afforded  to  multiply  the  errors ;  an  opportunity  which,  1 
am  sorry  to  say,  did  not  pass  unimproved. 

Though  the  great  progenitor  of  the  Newhall  family,  was 
Thomas,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  yet  there  was  an 
Anthony  Newhall  here,  in  1636,  who,  in  the  division  of  lands, 
in  1638,  had  a  grant  of  thirty  acres.  He  was,  however,  for  a 
time  a  resident  of  Salem.  He  died  31  Januar}",  1657  ;  had  a  son 
John,  who  married  Elizabeth  Normanton,  31  December  1656, 
and  probably  other  children,  as  in  his  will  are  found  the  names 
of  Richard  and  Elizabeth  Hood,  grandchildren.  But  it  does  not 
appear  that  any  of  the  present  Newhall  families  of  L^^nn  can 
trace  their  origin  to  him.  I  thought  that  John  might  have 
been  his  only  male  child,  and  that  he,  perhaps,  had  no  male  issue  ; 
but  Farmer  seems  to  make  him  progenitor  of  Dr.  Horace  and 
Rev.  Ebenezer  Newhall,  who  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1817  and 
1818 

In  what  follows,  the  numerals  placed  before  the  names  indicate 
the  generation  to  which  the  individuals  belonged. 

I.  Thomas.  As  just  observed,  this  individual,  the  great  progenitor  of  the 
Newhalls  of  Lynn,  came  over  in  1630,  and  located  on  the  east  side  of  Federal 
street. 

II.  Thomas.  This  is  the  personage  whose  name  stands  at  the  head  of 
this  sketch  —  a  son  of  the  preceding,  and  the  first  white  person  born  in  Lynn. 
He  married,  29  December,  1652,  Elizabeth  Potter,  and  became  the  father 
of  ten  children,  viz :  Thomas,  born  18  November,  1653 ;  John,  b.  14  Feb- 
ruaiy,  1656 ;  Joseph,  b.  22  September,  1658 ;  Nathaniel,  b.  17  March,  1660 ; 
Elizabeth,  b.  21  March,  1662,  and  living  but  three  years;  Ehsha,  b.  3  Novem- 
ber, 1665;  Ehzabeth  again,  b.  22  October,  ]667;  Mary,  b.  18  February,  1669; 
Samiiel,  b.  J9  January,  1672;  Rebecca,  b.  17  July,  1675. 

III.  Joseph.  This,  the  third  son  of  II.  Thomas,  was  born  22  September, 
1658.  He  married  Susanna,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Farrar,  in  1678,  and  settled 
in  Lynnfield.  He  had  eleven  children,  viz :  Jemima,  born  31  December,  1678 ; 
Thomas,  b.  6  January,  1681;  Joseph,  b.  6  February,  1684;  Elisha,  b.  20  No- 
vember, 1686;  Ephraim,  h.  20  February,  1689;  Daniel,  b.  5  February,  1691; 
Ebenezer,  b.  3  June,  1693;  Susanna,  b.  19  December,  1695;  Benjamin,  b.  5 
April,  1698;  Samuel,  b.  9  March,  1700;  Sarah,  b.  11  July,  1704.  This  is  the 
Joseph,  without  doubt,  who  perished  in  a  great  snow  storm. 

IV.  Benjamin,  son  of  HI.  Joseph,  born  5  April,  1698,  married  Elizabeth 
Fowle,  1  Januaiy,  1722,  and  had  fourteen  children,  viz:  Bridget,  born  30  No- 
vember, 1722 ;  Mary,  b.  11  November,  1724  ;  Benjamin,  b.  6  September,  1726 ; 
Ruth,  b.  13  January,'  1729;  James,  b.  11  July,  1731 ;  Isaiah,  b.  24  March,  1734 ;  — 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES  —  THOMAS   NEWHALL.  485 

(though  this  last  name  is  plainly  .Tosiah  on  the  ancient  town  recorn,  I  am 
confident  that  Isaiah  is  right)  —  Joel,  b.  22  December,  1735,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  nine ;  Aaron,  b.  23  October,  1737,  who  died  in  infancy;  Aaron  again,  b.  26 
March,  1740;  Susainia  and  Elizabeth,  twins,  b.  22  December,  1741;  Martha, 
b.  23  February,  1743;  Catharine,  b.  27  April,  1744;  Joel,  again,  b.  17  Febru- 
ary, 1746. 

IV.  Samuel,  born  9  March,  1700,  son  of  III.  Joseph,  was  adopted  by  his 
uncle,  Thomas  Farrar,  jr.,  who  was  a  farmer,  living  on  Nahant  street,  and  who 
by  will  gave  him  all  the  lands  lying  between  Broad,  Nahant,  Sagamore,  and 
Beach  streets.  This  Samuel  married  Keziah,  daughter  of  Ebenezer  Breed, 
who  lived  in  Breed's  End,  so  called,  8  December,  1724,  and  had  ten  children, 
viz:  Anne,  born  27  October,  1725,  who  married  Matthew  Estes;  Elizabeth,  b. 
7  Marcli,  1728 ,  Sarah,  b.  20  August,  1730,  who,  at  the  age  of  seventy  married 
Abner  Jones,  of  Amesbury ;  Lydia,  b.  14  January,  1733,  who  married  Nehe- 
miah  Johnson;  Farrar,  b.  15  February  1735;  —  (who,  singularly  enough,  has 
always  been  known  as  Pharaoh ;  and  indeed  he  himself,  in  writing  his  name 
as  I  perceive  by  some  old  bills,  adopted  the  Egyptian  orthography)  —  Abijah, 
b.  15  February,  1737,  who  married  Abigail  Bassett:  Abigail,  b.  4  March,  1739, 
who  married  Samuel  Purinton ;  Daniel,  b.  4  February,  1741 ;  Rebecca,  b.  28 
October,  1743,  who  married  Abner  Chase  of  Salem ;  Ruth,  b.  12  October,  1746, 
who  married  John  Bassett. 

V.  James.  This,  the  second  son  of  IV.  Benjamin,  being  a  magistrate, 
was  long  known  as 'Squire  Jim  —  (see  under  date  1781)  —  he  married  Lois 
Burrill,  daugliter  of  Ebenezer,  called  Esquire,  and  granddaughter  of  Hon. 
Ebenezer  Burrill,  17  September,  1756,  and  had  ten  children,  viz:  Lois, 
born  9  July,  1757 ;  Lydia,  b.  21  August,  1759 ;  Elizabeth,  b.  23  June,  1761 ; 
James,  b.  2  June,  1763 ;  Martha,  b.  25  February,  1765 ;  Benjamin,  b.  27  Feb- 
ruary, 1767;  Joel,  b.  14  May,  1769;  Mary,  b.  7  September,  1771 ;  James  again 
and  Benjamin  again,  twins,  b.  19  January,  1774  —  and  these  twins,  the  former 
of  whom  was  uncle  and  the  latter  father  of  the  writer  lived  to  the  respective 
ages  of  80  and  83. 

V.  Farrar,  (or  Pharaoh),  the  first  son  of  IV.  Samuel,  born  15  February, 
1735,  married  his  cousin  Theodate,  daughter  of  Jabez  Breed,  of  Nahant  street, 
24  April,  1764,  and  had  six  children,  viz :  Samuel,  born  9  March,  1765 ;  Abner, 
b.  24  September,  1767,  and  died  in  infancy ;  Winthrop,  b.  6  June,  1769 ;  Ab- 
ner again,  b.  19  July,  1771,  who  died  unmarried  at  the  age  of  thirty-two ;  Syl- 
vanus,  b.  18  July,  1773 ;  Theodate,  b.  6  February,  1776,  who  married  Manuel 
Austin ;  Francis,  b.  23  September,  1778,  who  died  at  the  age  of  nine. 

V.  Daniel,  born  4  February,  1741,  son  of  IV.  Samuel,  and  younger  brother 
of  Pharaoh,  married  Hannah  Estes,  and  had  four  children,  viz :  Estes,  born 
9  September,  1770,  and  who  died  in  1857,  at  the  age  of  eighty  seven  ;  Deborah, 
b.  5  December,  1772,  who  died  young ;  Lydia,  b.  16  March,  1775 ;  Daniel,  b. 
21  November,  1778. 

V.  JosiAH,  whose  father's  name  was  John,  and  which  John  was  doubtless 
a  grandson  of  11.  Thomas,  married  Hannah  Newhall,  24  December,  1740,  and 
had  thirteen  children,  viz :  Daniel,  b.  15  November,  1741 ;  John,  b.  29  October, 
02^ 


486  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

1743;  Josiah,  b.  5  November,  1745;  Hannah,  b.  28  August,  1747 ;  Lynia,  1). 
25  September,  1749 ;  William,  b.  22  May,  1751 ;  Joel,  b.  19  February,  1753 ; 
Nathaniel,  b.  25  November,  1754;  Micajah,  b.  18  October,  1756;  Jacob,  b.  16 
September,  1758 ;  James,  b.  26  May,  1760 ;  Hannah,  b.  30  July,  1762 ;  Susan, 
b.  3  August,  1764,  who  married  a  Welman. 

VI.  Samuel,  eldest  son  of  V.  Pharaoh,  married  Sarah  Phillips  and  had  seven 
children,  viz:  Thomas  F.,  Phillips,  Abner,  Rebecca,  Edward,  Francis,  and 
Theodate. 

VI.  WiNTHROP,  second  son  of  V.  Pharaoh,  married  Betsey  Farrington,  and 
had  six  children,  viz :  Francis  S.,  Henry,  Eliza,  Sophia,  Lydia,  Horace. 

VI.  Stlvanus,  youngest  son  of  V.  Pharaoh,  raariied  Lydia,  daughter  of  Ste- 
phen Gove,  of  Seabrook,  N.  H.,  and  had  five  children,  viz :  Huldah  B.,  Anne 
M.,  Mary,  Daniel  Wendall,  and  Abigail  C. 

VI.  EsTES,  eldest  son  of  V.  Daniel,  was  for  some  fifty  years  an  elder  of  the 
Friends'  meeting.  He  was  twice  marrieri,  his  first  wife  being  Hepsabeth  Wing, 
and  his  second  Miriam  Philbrick.  By  his  first  wife  he  had  children,  Paul 
W.  and  Abba ;  by  his  second,  two  daughters  who  died  young,  and  Joseph  P. 

VI.  Daniel,  youngest  son  of  V.  Daniel,  married  Mary,  daughter  of  John 
Bailey,  of  Hanover,  Mass.,  and  had  seven  children,  viz:  John  B.,  George,  Hep- 
sabeth, Joseph,  Isaac,  Mary,  Lucy. 

VI.  WiLLiA3r,  son  of  V.  Josiah,  married  Martha  Mansfield,  2  September, 
1773,  and  had  ten  childi-en,  viz :  Mary,  born  22  May,  1774 ;  Martha,  b.  28  Jan- 
uary, 1778;  Hannah,  b.  6  September,  1780;  Elizabeth,  b.  31  August,  1782; 
Nathaniel,  b.  18  July,  1784;  William,  b.  3  August,  1786;  Robert,  b.  17  Feb- 
ruary, 1788 ;  Josiah,  b.  7  January,  1790 ;  Sally,  b.  17  January,  1792 ;  Fredei'ic, 
b.  1  August,  1795. 

VI.  Joel,  born  19  February,  1753,  also  son  of  V.  Josiah,  married  Lucy 
Mansfield,  24  December,  1778,  and  had  nine  children,  viz :  Joel,  b.  12  October, 
1779 ;  Isaac,  b.  24  August,  1782 ;  Samuel,  b.  6  March,  1785 ;  Cheever,  b.  13 
March,  1788;  Lucy,  b.  4  April,  1790;  George,  b.  10  August,  1792:  Edward, 
b.  9  December,  1795 ;  Horatio ;  John  M. 

VI.  Micajah,  born  18  October,  1756,  likewise  son  of  V.  Josiah,  married 
Joana  Farrington,  10  June,  1779,  and  had  twelve  children,  viz:  Josiah,  b. 
10  November,  1780;  Nathaniel,  b.  2  July,  1782;  Micajah,  b.  25  July,  1784; 
Paul,  b.  17  February,  1786;  Otis,  b.  6  January,  1788;  Sarah,  b.  17  August, 
1789;  Ellis,  b.  17  August,  1791,  who  died  in  infancy;  Ellis  again,  b.  7  March, 
1793;  Joana,  b.  8  February,  1795;  Hannah,  b.  8  April,  1797;  Susanna,  b.  25 
October,  1799;  William,  b.  13  January,  1802,  who  died  in  infancy. 

The  way  is  now  prepared  to  give  the  lineage  of  certain  indi- 
viduals of  the  Newhall  family  at  present  among  us. 

Aaron  Newhall  —  dealer  in  coal  and  wood,  south  end  of  Market  street,  was 
son  of  Aaron,  who  was  born  9  November,  1777,  and  was  son  of  Aaron,  who 
was  son  of  IV.  Benjamin,  who  was  son  of  III.  Joseph,  who  was  son  of 
II.  Thomas. 

Abner  Newhall  —  who  resides  on  Newhall  street,  was  son  of  VI.  Samuel, 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES  —  THOMAS    NEWHALL.  487 

who  was  son  of  V.  Farrar,  (Pharaoh,)  who  was  son  of  IV.  Samuel,  who 
was  son  of  III.  Joseph,  who  was  son  of  11.  Thomas. 

Daniel  Wendall  Newhall  —  who  lives  on  Broad  street,  opposite  Ex- 
change, was  son  of  Sylvanus,  who  was  son  of  V.  Pharaoh,  who  was  son  of 
rV.  Samuel,  who  was  son  of  III.  Joseph,  who  was  son  of  II.  Thomas. 

Harrison  Newhall  —  shoe  manufactm-er,  at  the  east  end  of  the  Common, 
was  son  of  Josiah,  who  was  son  of  VI.  William,  who  was  son  of  V.  Josiah, 
who  was  sou  of  John,  of  whom,  in  consequence  of  the  difficulty  of  identifying 
him  among  several  of  the  name,  I  shall  venture  to  assert  nothing  further 
than  that  he  was  a  grandson  of  II.  Thomas. 

Henry  Newhall  —  president  of  Laighton  Bank,  was  son  of  VI.  Winthrop, 
who  was  son  of  V.  Pharaoh,  who  was  son  of  IV.  Samuel,  who  was  son  of 
III.  Joseph,  who  was  son  of  II.  Thomas. 

Jsaac  Newhall  —  shoe  manufacturer,  residence  near  corner  of  Chatham 
and  Marianna  streets,  was  son  of  VI.  Daniel,  who  was  son  of  V.  Daniel, 
who  was  son  of  IV.  Samuel,  who  was  son  of  HI.  Joseph,  who  was  son  of 
II.  Thomas. 

James  R.  Newhall  —  whose  name  appears  in  the  title  page  of  this  volume, 
was  son  of  Benjamin,  who  was  son  of  V.  James,  who  was  son  of  IV.  Benja- 
min, who  was  son  of  III.  Joseph,  who  was  son  of  II.  Thomas. 

John  M.  Newhall  —  shoe  manufacturer,  on  Union  street,  was  son  of  VI. 
Joel,  who  was  son  of  V.  Josiah,  who  was  son  of  John,  who  was  grandson 
of  II.  Thomas.     See  remark  under  "  Harrison  Newhall." 

Joseph  P.  Newhall  —  shoe  manufacturer.  Exchange  street,  was  son  of 
VI.  Estes,  who  was  son  of  V.  Daniel,  who  was  son  of  IV.  Samuel,  who 
was  son  of  III.  Joseph,  who  was  son  of  11.  Thomas. 

Josiah  Newhall,  (Gen.  of  Lynnfield)  —  was  son  of  Jacob,  who  was  son  of 

V.  Josiah,  who  was  son  of  John,  who  was  grandson  of  11.  Thomas.  See 
remark  under  "Harrison  Newhall." 

Otis  Newhall  —  superintendent  of  Pine  Grove  Cemetery,  was  son  of  Allen, 
who  was  born  6  March,  1771,  and  was  son  of  Hanson,  who  married  Hepsa- 
beth  Breed,  6  February,  1766,  and  was  son  of  Joseph,  born  in  1715.  who  was 
son  of  Joseph,  who  was  son  of  III.  Joseph,  who  was  son  of  II.  Thomas. 

Paul  Newhall  —  shoe  manufacturer.  South    Common   street,  was   son  of 

VI.  Micajah,  who  was  son  of  V.  Josiah,  who  was  son  of  John,  who  was 
grandson  of  II.  Thomas.     See  remark  under  "Harrison  Newhall." 

Thomas  B.  Newhall  —  Justice  of  Lynn  Police  Court,  was  a  son  of  Asa  T., 
of  Lynnfield,  who  was  born  28  June,  1779,  and  was  son  of  Asa,  who  was 
born  5  August,  1732,  and  was  son  of  Thomas,  who  was  son  of  III.  Joseph, 
who  was  son  of  II.  Thomas. 

William  M.  Newhall  —  dealer  in  hard  ware,  in  Exchange  Building,  Mar- 
ket street,  was  son  of  Jacob,  of  Saugus,  who  was  born  1  November,  1780, 
and  married  Abigail  Makepeace,  22  September,  1801,  and  was  son  of  Jacob, 
known  as  Landlord  Newhall,  born  3  May,  1740,  who  was  son  of  Locker, 
born  12  November,  1708,  and  was  son  of  Jacob,  born  27  March,  1686.  who 
was  grandson  of  11.  Thomas. 


488  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

The  foregoing  is  perhaps  sufficient  to  enable  any  one  of  the 
family  to  trace  his  own  pedigree,  as  it  is  hardly  probable  that 
any  can  be  found  who  do  not  claim  near  relationship  to  some 
one  at  least  of  tliose  named.  The  perplexities  in  preparing  the 
list  were  great,  and  the  navigation  among  the  many  Jameses, 
Johns,  Josephs,  and  Thomases,  particularly  difficult.  Double 
names  began  commonly  to  be  used  about  the  beginning  of  the 
present  century.  My  grandfather,  who  died  in  1800,  had  ten 
children,  not  one  of  whom  had  a  middle  name.  And  m}^  father, 
who  was  born  in  1774,  had  nine  children,  not  one  of  whom  was 
destitute  of  a  middle  name.  And  this  leads  to  a  remark  con- 
cerning the  bestowal  of  nicknames,  which  has  been  considered 
an  evil  habit  of  our  fathers.  But  the  custom  arose  rather  from 
necessity.  At  one  period  there  were  eight  persons  here  of  the 
name  of  James  Newhall,  not  one  of  whom  had  a  middle  name. 
They  were  therefore  distinguished  as  'Squire  Jim,  Phthisicy 
Jim,  Silver  Jim,  Bully  Jim,  Increase  Jim,  President  Jim,  Na- 
than's Jim,  and  Doctor  Jim.  'Squire  Jim  received  his  appella- 
tion from  the  circumstance  of  his  holding  a  magistrate's  commis- 
sion. Phthisicy  Jim  was  afflicted  with  the  disease  indicated 
by  the  name.  And  probably  the  other  nicknames  arose  from 
similarly  adventitious  circumstances.  While,  however,  we  ad- 
mit the  necessity  for  distinguishing  appellations,  it  must  be 
granted  that  the  nicknames  were  often  more  expressive  than 
elegant. 

It  is  not  easy  to  attain  entire  correctness  in  dates  of  birtns, 
marriages,  and  deaths,  so  loosely  were  most  of  the  records  for- 
merly kept.  And  there  are  constant  disagreements  between 
public  and  private  records.  I  have  usually,  in  cases  of  doubt, 
followed  the  public,  for  the  private,  though  often  found  in  the 
Bible,  experience  has  shown  to  be  most  frequently  erroneous. 
Many  disagreements  occur  from  an  intermixture  of  the  old  and 
new  styles,  some  using  one,  some  the  other,  and  some  both, 
indiscriminately.  Intermarriages  between  those  of  the  same 
surname  likewise  occasionally  intervene,  to  enhance  the  per- 
plexity. 

But  our  remarks  must  be  drawn  to  a  close.  As  before  ob- 
served, no  striking  events  appear  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Newhall, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch ;  yet,  inasmuch  as  he  was  the  first 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES  —  JOHN   BURRILL.  489 

person  of  European  parentage  born  within  our  borders,  and  was, 
withal,  the  ancestor  of  such  a  goodly  family,  he  was  worthy  of 
the  first  place.  Could  he  return,  and  sound  the  multitude  who 
sprang  from  his  loins,  of  which  of  us  would  he  have  cause  to  be 
proud,  and  of  which  ashamed?  I  can  think  of  nothing  that 
would  be  more  likely  to  astonish  him  than  the  diversity  in  reli- 
gious profession.  Even  among  the  small  number  of  those  now 
living,  who  have  been  named,  he  would  find  the  Unitarian,  the 
Universalist,  the  Methodist,  the  Quaker,  the  Episcopalian;  and 
the  Congregationalist  of  his  own  order,  with  doctrines  far  more 
temperate  than  harsh  Shepard  or  even  placid  Whiting  taught. 


JOHN   BURRILL. —  J  658-1721. 

The  individual  whose  name  is  placed  above,  was  one  of  the 
most  eminent  men  in  the  colony,  for  many  years.  He  was  born 
at  Lynn,  on  the  18th  of  November,  1658,  and  was  the  eldest  son 
of  John  Burrill,  distinguished  as  Lieutenant  John,  who  was  a  son 
of  George  Burrill,  who  came  to  Lynn  in  1630.     See  page  115. 

Mr.  Burrill  lived  on  the  south  side  of  Boston  street,  on  the 
western  slope  of  Tower  Hill.  On  the  28th  of  July,  1680,  a 
few  months  before  he  arrived  at  the  age  of  twenty-two,  he 
married  Mary  Stowers,  of  Chelsea.  Mr.  Lewis  says,  "  He  gained 
a  reputation  which  few  men  who  have  since  filled  his  stations, 
have  surpassed.  The  purity  of  his  character  and  the  integrity 
of  his  life,  secured  to  him  the  warmest  friendship  of  his  acquaint- 
ance, and  the  unlimited  confidence  of  his  native  town.  He  was 
affable  in  his  manners,  and  uniformly  prudent  in  his  conduct. 
His  disposition  was  of  the  most  charitable  kind,  and  his  spirit 
regulated  by  the  most  guarded  temperance.  He  willingly  con- 
tinued in  the  House  many  years,  when  he  might  have  been 
raised  to  a  more  elevated  office  ;  and  his  thorough  acquaintance 
with  the  forms  of  legislation,  the  dignity  of  his  deportment,  and 
the  order  which  he  maintained  in  debate,  gave  to  him  a  respect 
and  an  influence,  which  probably  no  other  Speaker  of  the  House 
ever  obtained.  Governor  Hutchinson,  in  his  History  of  Massa- 
chusetts, compares  him  to  the  celebrated  William  Pitt,  Speaker 
of  the  English  House  of  Commons." 

This  is  an  honest  tribute  to  a  really  valuable  character.     But 


490  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

it  is  not  easy  to  see  what  induced  Mr.  Lewis  to  give  Pitt  as  the 
Speaker  to  whom  Hutchinson  compared  Mr.  Burrill.  The  Gov- 
ernor does  not  give  a  name,  but  simply  refers  to  the  individual 
as  "the  right  honorable  person  who  so  many  years  filled  the 
chair  of  the  House  of  Commons  with  such  applause."  Did  Pitt 
ever  fill  the  chair  with  applause?  He  was  eminent  as  a  states- 
man, but  not  as  a  presiding  officer.  The  "  right  honorable  " 
alluded  to  was  undoubtedly  Sir  Arthur  Onslow,  who  had  the 
reputation  of  being  the  most  accomplished  Speaker  the  House 
ever  had.  The  following  extract  from  a  letter  of  Hon.  Timothy 
Pickering,  dated  Washington  City,  28  February,  1809,  and  ad- 
dressed to  Ebenezer  Burrill,  at  New  York,  is  sufficient  on  this 
point.  And  it  will  be  perceived  that  the  distinguished  writer 
of  the  letter  himself  alludes  to  his  relationship  to  the  Lynn 
Burrills.  ..."  I  received,  last  evening,  your  favor  of  the  25th. 
If  you  are  from  Ly^nn,  in  Massachusetts,  no  doubt  we  are,  on 
one  side  descended  from  the  same  stock.  My  paternal  grand- 
mother was  Sarah  Burrill,  whose  brothers  were :  1st.  John,  of 
whom  Governor  Hutchinson,  in  his  History  of  Massachusetts, 
takes  distinguished  notice ;  he  was  Speaker  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  and  is  compared  with  the  celebrated  Sir  Arthur 
Onslow,  the  most  eminent  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Commons. 
2d.  Theophilns,  who,  I  believe,  had  no  children.  3d.  Ebenezer, 
from  whom  you  may  be  lineally  descended."  Besides  the  three 
brothers  named  by  Mr.  Pickering,  there  were  Thomas  and 
Samuel. 

Mr.  Burrill  was  a  Representative  in  the  General  Court,  for 
twenty-two  years,  was  Speaker  of  the  House  ten  years,  and 
Counsellor  in  1720,  remaining  in  the  office  till  his  death.  He 
was  also  Town  Clerk  thirty-one  years.  These  facts  are  quite 
sufficient  to  show  that  the  public  had  an  abiding  confidence  in 
his  ability  and  integrity.  He  was  likewise  a  man  whose  advice 
and  assistance  was  much  sought  for  among  his  neighbors.  He 
was  ever  ready  to  counsel,  and,  if  need  be,  assist  in  a  more  sub- 
stantial way,  as  he  was  blessed  with  considerable  means. 

He  died  of  the  small-pox,  on  the  10th  of  December,  1721, 
leaving  no  children.  His  grave  stone  may  still  be  seen  in  the 
Old  Burying  Ground  near  the  west  end  of  the  Common;  and  it 
bears  these  lines : 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES  —  JOHN    BURRILL.  401 

Alas !  our  patron  's  dead !     The  country  —  courr  — 

The  church — in  tears,  all  echo  the  report; 

Grieved  that  no  piety,  no  mastering  sense, 

No  counsel,  gravity,  no  eloquence, 

No  generous  temper,  gravitating  to 

Those  honors,  which  they  did  uj)on  him  throw, 

Could  stay  his  fate,  or  their  dear  Burrill  save 

From  a  contagious  sickness,  and  the  grave. 

The  adjacent  towns  this  loss  reluctant  bear. 

But  widowed  Lynn  sustains  the  greatest  share ; 

Yet  joys  in  being  guardian  of  his  dust 

Until  the  resurrection  of  the  just. 
The  Boston  News  Letter  of  Monday,  December  18,  1721, 
contained  the  following  notice,  under  date  Lynn,  December  11 : 
''  The  last  night  the  Honorable  John  Burrill,  Esq.,  one  of  His 
Majesty's  Council  and  one  of  the  Judges  of  the  Inferior  Court 
of  Common  Pleas  for  the  County  of  Essex,  died  of  the  small-pox, 
in  the  sixty-second  year  of  his  age.  He  had  been  for  many 
years  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  behaved 
himself  in  that  chair  with  great  integrity,  modesty,  and  skill; 
having  a  just  and  equal  regard  to  the  honor  of  the  government 
and  the  liberty  of  the  people ;  so  that  he  was  highly  esteemed 
and  beloved  by  both.  He  was  a  man  of  true  and  exemplary 
piety  and  virtue,  endowed  with  a  very  clear  understanding, 
solid  judgment,  and  sound  discretion.  And  God  made  him  a 
great  blessing  not  only  to  his  town  and  county,  but  to  the  whole 
province.  Isaiah  iii.  1 :  '  For  behold,  the  Lord  God  of  hosts 
doth  take  away  from  Judah  the  stay  and  the  staff — the  judge  — 
and  the  prudent — the  honorable  —  and  the  counsellor.'" 

Hutchinson  graphically  observes  that  the  House  were  as  fond 
of  Mr.  Burrill  ''as  of  their  eyes."  And  he  adds,  in  a  note,  "  I 
have  often  heard  his  cotemporaries  applaud  him  for  his  great 
integrity,  his  acquaintance  with  parliamentary  forms,  the  dignity 
and  authority  with  which  he  filled  the  chair,  the  order  and  de- 
corum he  maintained  in  the. debates  of  the  House,  his  self  denial 
in  remaining  in  the  House,  from  year  to  year,  when  he  might 
have  been  chosen  into  the  Council,  and  saw  others,  who  called 
him  their  father,  sent  there  before  him."  And  then  follows 
the  comparison  with  "the  right  honorable  person,"  before  al- 
luded to. 

Mr.  Burrill  was  an  active  member  of  the  old  church  of  Lynn. 


492  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

His  early  years  were  passed  under  the  teachings  of  the  godly 
Whiting,  and  through  the  long  pastorate  of  Mr.  Shepard,  his 
serene  presence  adorned  the  sanctuary.  He  was  liberal  in  his 
contributions;  and  in  his  will,  made  four  days  before  his  death, 
occurs  this  item :  "  I  give  and  bequeath  to  the  Church  of  Christ 
in  Lynn,  forty  pounds  towards  y*^  furnishing  of  y®  table  of  the 
Lord."  And  upon  several  articles  of  the  consecrated  plate  may 
be  seen  engraved  the  Burrill  coat-of-arms ;  rather  an  ostenta- 
tious display,  to  be  sure,  but  one  for  which  the  deceased  donor 
is  not  to  be  held  responsible. 


EBENEZER  BURRILL.  —  1679-176L 

This  Mr.  Burrill  was  a  younger  brother  of  "the  beloved 
Speaker,"  was  quite  eminent  in  his  day,  and  distinguished  as 
Honorable  Ebenezer.  He  was  born  at  Lynn,  on  the  18th  of  July, 
1679,  was  a  son  of  John  Burrill,  known  as  Lieutenant  John,  who 
was  a  son  of  George  Burrill,  the  first  of  the  name  who  settled 
here,  and  who  came  in  1630. 

Mr.  Burrill  married  Martha  Farrington,  and  settled  at  Swamp- 
scot,  on  an  estate  given  him  by  his  father.  The  house  in 
which  he  lived  is  still  standing,  on  the  beautiful  grounds  of  E. 
R.  Mudge,  Esq.,  a  few  rods  from  his  stone  villa.  And  the  writer 
may  be  pardoned  for  remarking  that  his  inquiries  regarding  the 
Burrill  family  have  been  somewhat  minute,  partly  from  an  indi- 
vidual pleasure  in  tracing  family  connections,  as  both  his  grand- 
mothers were  granddaughters  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  — 
one  a  daughter  of  his  son  Ebenezer,  and  the  other  a  daughter 
of  his  son  Samuel. 

Mr.  Burrill  had  ten  children,  viz:  Ebenezer,  (called  Esquire,) 
born  6  February,  1702,  who  married  Mary,  daughter  of  General 
Mansfield,  and  had  eleven  children  ;  John,  b.  24  February,  1705  ; 
Martha,  b.  21  April,  1707;  Theophilus^  born  21  May,  1709  ;  Mary, 
b.  31  July,  1711;  Eunice,  b.  27  October,  1713;  Lois,  b.  7  Au- 
gust, 1715;  Samuel,  b.  1  April,  1717;  Sarah,  b.  15  April,  1719; 
Lydia,  b.  25  February,  1721. 

It  would  be  interesting  to  follow  somewhat  at  large  the  family 
connections  of  Mr.  Burrill,  did  space  permit.  It  was  his  sister 
Sarah,  who  married  John  Pickering  of  Salem,  and  became  grand- 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  —  EBENEZER    BURRTLL.  493 

mother  of  Hon.  Timothy  Pickering.  His  son  Ebenezer,  distin- 
guished as  Ebenezer,  Esquire,  was  Town  Clerk  seventeen  years, 
and  a  Representative  twelve ;  he,  the  son,  lived  in  the  house 
still  standing  at  the  northeast  corner  of  Boston  and  Federal 
streets,  and  there,  it  is  related,  on  one  occasion,  had  the  honor 
of  the  Governor's  presence  at  dinner,  while  a  couple  of  iron 
cannon,  oa  Water  Hill,  continued  to  belch  forth  their  respects. 
His  son  Samuel  was  a  Representative  during  the  Revolution, 
and  a  member  of  the  Convention  for  forming  the  State  Consti- 
tution. His  grandson  James,  son  of  Ebenezer,  Esquire,  while  a 
young  man  set  up  business  as  a  tin-plate  worker  at  Providence, 
R.  I.,  became  a  prominent  citizen,  and  was  one  of  the  original 
members  of  the  Providence  Association  of  Mechanics  and  Man- 
ufacturers, an  association  which  still  continues  to  flourish,  and 
was  chosen  its  president,  in  1797,  holding  the  office  till  1809.  He 
likewise  represented  Providence  in  the  General  Assembly,  in 
1797.  And  this  James  was  father  of  the  Hon.  James  Burrill, 
who  was  appointed  Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Rhode 
Island,  in  1816,  and  who  was  soon  afterward  distinguished  as  a 
United  States  Senator  for  that  state,  dying  at  Washington,  on 
Christmas-day,  1820.  Joseph,  another  son  of  Ebenezer,  Esquire, 
and  grandson  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  settled  at  Newport, 
R.  I.  He  was  a  tin-plate  worker,  and  it  was  of  him  that  his 
brother  James  learned  his  trade  preparatory  to  commencing 
business  for  himself  at  Providence.  And  the  family  of  this  Jo- 
seph was  one  of  great  respectabilit3^  The  wife  of  Hon.  Henry 
Wheaton,  LL.  D.,  was  a  granddaughter  of  his.  One  or  two  of 
the  leading  Salem  families  were  connected  with  the  Burrills, 
who  were  facetiously  styled  the  royal  family  of  Lynn.  Micajah 
Burrill,  who  resided  on  Essex  street,  and  died  near  the  close 
of  1863,  having  been  buried  on  the  10th  of  December,  the  very 
day  on  which  he  would  have  entered  his  hundredth  year,  was 
a  grandson  of  Theophilus,  the  third  son  of  the  patriarch  whom 
this  sketch  commemorates. 

Mr.  Burrill  died  on  the  6th  of  September,  1761.  The  inscrip- 
tion on  his  modest  grave-stone  is  unassuming,  compared  with 
many  on  the  tablets  of  that  day,  which  are  too  often  airy  and 
high-sounding.  But  the  dead  should  not  be  held  responsible 
for  the  falsehoods  and  absurdities  that  are  written  above  them. 
P2 


494  HISTORY    OF   LYNN. 

He  was  a  man  remarkable  for  sound  jnrlgment,  benevolence, 
and  activity  in  all  useful  enterprises,  was  six  times  chosen 
Representative,  and  was  a  Counsellor  in  1731  and  1746.  In 
1732  he  was  entrusted  with  the  settlement  of  important  busi- 
ness with  the  Indians  at  Casco  Bay.  He  possessed  a  large 
estate  in  lands,  and  was  able  to  provide  well  for  his  numerous 
family.  The  inventory  of  his  estate  indicates  that  he  lived  in 
very  respectable  style,  and  among  his  personal  property  may 
be  found  enumerated  one  Negro  Slave,  named  Cesar. 

In  looking  up  the  facts   regarding   the  Burrills,  I  found  that 
many  of  the  family  themselves  had  but  a  confused  idea  of  their 
ancestry  —  a  kind  of  confusion,  however,  by  no  means  peculiar 
to  this  family  —  arising,  perhaps,  in  a  great  measure,  from  the 
intermingling   of  names.     A  recapitulatory  line   or    two   may, 
hence,  be  given.     Lieutenant  John,  or  John,  sen^or,  was  the  first 
Burrill  born  in  Lynn,  and  was  a  son  of  George,  the  early  settler. 
Honorable  John,  or  John, y?mzor,  and  Honorable  Ebenezer,  (the 
subject  of  this  sketch,)  were  brothers,  and  sons  of  Lieut.  John. 
Ebenezer,  Esquire,  was  a  son  of  Hon.  Ebenezer.  .  .  .  George, 
Lieut.  John,  and  Hon.  John  lived  at  Tower  Hill ;  Hon.  Ebene- 
zer lived  at  Swampscot;  Ebenezer,  Esq.  lived  on  Boston  street, 
corner   of  Federal.  .  .  .  James,  who   settled  in  Rhode  Island, 
and  was  father  of  the  United  States  Senator,  was  a  son  of  Ebe- 
nezer, Esq.     John,  another  son  of  Ebenezer,  Esq.,  was  father 
of  Ebenezer  who  settled  in  New  York,  and  died  there  in  1839, 
and   whose  body,  in  accordance  with   his  dying  request,  was 
brought  to  Lynn  and  buried  in  our  Old  Burying  Ground ;  he, 
the  last  named  John,  was  also  father  of  Thompson,  who  died 
here   in   1842.     The   grave-stones   of  these   worthies   together 
with  those  of  several  other  old  members  of  the  family,  may  be 
found  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  burial  place  just  named. 
Considering  what  has  been  said  in  this  brief  sketch  regarding 
family  connections,  a  single  remark,  of  a  general  nature,  in  clos- 
ing' may  not  be  inappropriate.     How  few  realize  the  important 
effect  of  marriage   upon  the  destinies  of  a  family,  much  less 
its  effect  upon  the  destinies  of  mankind.     The  greatest  results, 
social,  political,  and  religious,  flow  from  the  quiet  operation  of 
the  matrimonial  connection.     In  the  history  of  the  world  may 
be  found  instance   on  instance  wherein  the  union  of  a  young 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. — JACOB    NEWHALL.  495 

man  and  young  woman  has  accomplished  momentous  results, 
results  which  years  and  years  of  war  and  bloodshed  could  not 
effect.  The  genius  of  marriage  is  democratic ;  it  favors  no 
conventional  distinctions  ;  but  through  the  most  thorough  ming- 
ling of  classes  works  out  the  happiest  results.  It  was  long 
since  remarked  in  the  French  Academy  that  when  a  nation  is 
on  the  decline,  its  strength  and  energy  are  to  be  found  in  the 
lower  classes;  and  a  true  remark  it  was.  The  jaded  mental 
faculties  of  the  higher  and  educated  class,  need  the  physical 
stamina  and  latent  mental  power  of  the  unpampered  hewer  of 
wood  and  drawer  of  water.  And  the  doom  of  a  nation  is 
sealed  if  God's  great  laws  for  the  government  of  his  human 
family  are  disregarded. 


JACOB  NEWHALL.  —  1740-1816. 

This  worthy  member  of  one  of  our  oldest  families  was  for  many 
years  extensively  and  favorably  known  as  Landlord  Newhall. 
He  was  born  in  that  part  of  Lynn  now  constituting  Saugus,  on 
the  third  of  May,  1740,  and  was  the  son  of  Locker,  a  lineal 
descendant  of  Thomas  Newhall,  the  first  white  person  born  in 
Lynn. 

A  part  of  the  early  manhood  of  Mr.  Newhall  was  spent  in 
Cambridge,  where  he  pursued  the  occupation  of  a  husbandman, 
to  which  he  was  bred.  But  in  or  about  the  year  1774,  he  be- 
came proprietor  of  the  celebrated  tavern  which  stood  on  the 
old  Boston  road,  a  short  distance  west  of  Saugus  river.  This 
tavern  was  commenced  at  a  very  early  period,  and  at  one  time 
flourished  under  the  sign  of  an  anchor,  painted  in  blue,  with 
the  inscription  ''  Blew  Anchor."  Many  interesting  facts  con- 
cerning its  history  may  be  found  in  this  volume.  He  succeeded 
Josiah  Martin,  a  very  eccentric  individual,  of  whom  something- 
is  said  under  date  1782,  and  who  by  his  irregularities  had  some- 
what damaged  the  reputation  of  the  house;  but  who,  though 
alleged  to  be  an  Englishman,  being  providentially  seized  by  a 
burning  desire  to  serve  the  country,  enlisted  and  went  off  to 
the  war,  from  which  he  never  returned. 

Mr.  Newhall  kept  the  tavern  during  the  Revolution ;  and  it 
was  conducted  on  that  Hberal  scale  which  rendered  it  a  i^eal 


496  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

public  benefit.  He  was  an  exceilent  provider,  social  in  his 
habits,  neat  in  his  arrangements,  and  unwearied  in  his  eflPorts  to 
make  his  house  an  attractive  traveler's  home.  The  poor  of 
bis  neighborhood  and  the  indigent  wayfarer  he  freelv  relieved  ; 
and  to  the  sick  and  wounded  soldier,  his  door  was  always  open. 
In  connection  with  the  tavern,  he  carried  on  a  farm ;  and  his 
business,  on  the  whole,  was  quite  extensive.  It  was  not  uncom- 
mon for  an  entire  company  of  hungry  soldiers,  and  not  unknown 
for  even  a  regiment  to  suddenly  make  their  appearance  and  halt 
for  a  meal.  To  provide  for  such  emergencies  he  kept  on  hand 
fatted  oxen  from  which  a  sufficient  number  might  be  promptly 
slaughtered,  the  beef  being  at  once  disposed  of  in  great  boilers 
prepared  expressh^  for  the  cooking,  his  large  garden,  which 
is  represented  to  have  comprised  some  six  acres,  furnishing  the 
vegetable  accompaniments.  The  whole  establishment  \Tas  kept 
under  his  immediate  supervision ;  and  for  some  years  he  is  said 
hardly  ever  to  have  retired  to  a  bed  to  rest,  but  to  have  slept 
in  an  arm  chair. 

Under  the  administration  of  Mr.  Martin,  and  down  to  the 
commencement  of  the  Revolution,  a  pictured  lion  and  unicorn 
decorated  the  sign-board  that  swung  from  the  ponderous  oaken 
arm  in  front  of  the  house.  But  Mr.  Newhall,  being  an  ardent 
patriot,  substituted  the  more  genial  and  hopeful  emblem  of  a 
rising  sun.  And  there,  beneath  that  hospitable  roof,  counte- 
nanced by  the  benevolent  spirit  that  presided,  were  enacted 
many  and  many  a  pleasant  scene.  The  sleghing  party  on  the 
winter  night  found  blazing  fires  and  smoking  viands,  afnd  a  clean 
upper  room  for  the  sly  dance ;  and  on  all  occasions  of  great 
parade  the  most  ample  provision  was  found.  And  the  good 
cheer  and  cordial  hospitality  induced  many  a  guest  to  linger  on 
his  way.  It  has  been  said,  however,  that  there  was  one  occasion 
on  which  the  landlord's  usual  courtesy  was  not  exemplified,  an 
occasion  when  he  manifested  unwonted  impatience  for  the  de- 
parture of  a  considerable  body  of  callers,  mostly  young  men, 
armed  with  fowling  pieces,  and  bound  up  the  westward  road. 
He  freely  supplied  their  wants,  but  refrained  from  any  motion 
that  might  cause  a  moment's  delay.  It  was  on  the  morning  of 
the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill. 

Mr.  Newhall  married  Elizabeth  Hodgkins,  of  Ipswich,  on  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  —  WILLIAM    GRAY.  497 

2 1st  of  August,  1766,  and  had  four  sons  and  four  daughters, 
viz:  William,  born  21  June,  1767,  and  dying  in  infancy;  EHza- 
beth,  b.  21  May,  1768  ;  William  again,  b.  10  December,  1769  ; 
Sarah,  b.  7  August,  1777;  Lydia,  b.  24  December,  1778;  Jacob, 
I).  1  November,  1780;  Lucy,  b.  26  July,  1782;  Joseph,  b.  28 
November,  1783. 

Landlord  Newhall  kept  the  tavern  till  1807;  and  notwith- 
standing the  business  was  remarkably  successful,  his  benevo- 
lence prevented  any  great  accumulation  of  property,  and  he 
continued  to  labor  industriously,  as  a  farmer,  till  old  age.  He 
died  on  the  18th  of  June,  1816,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six.  The 
late  Benjamin  F.  Newhall,  for  many  years  one  of  the  most  active 
and  prominent  citizens  of  Saugus,  and  well  known  for  his  nume- 
rous contributions  to  the  public  journals  was  a  grandson  of  his. 


WILLIAM  GRAY.  —  1750-1825. 

Perhaps,  taking  all  things  into  view,  the  most  widely  known, 
highly  accomplished,  and  successful  merchant  that  New  England 
ever  produced,  was  WiHiam  Gray,  almost  univerally  known  un- 
der the  familiar  though  rather  inelegant  contraction  of  '^  Billy  " 
Gray.  He  was  born  at  Lynn,  on  that  part  of  Water  Hill  now 
called  Marion  street,  on  the  27th  of  June,  1750.  The  house  in 
which  he  was  born  is  still  standing,  and  known  by  our  older 
people  as  the  Dr.  Flagg  house,  being  the  one  at  the  eastern  end 
of  the  street,  directly  opposite  where  it  bends  into  Boston 
street. 

The  family  of  Mr.  Gray  settled  here  at  an  early  period,  though 
his  ancestors  were  not  among  the  first  comers.  At  the  time 
William  was  born,  his  grandfather,  whose  name  was  likewise 
William,  was  one  of  the  only  three  individuals  in  Lynn  who 
carried  on  the  shoe  business  so  extensively  as  to  employ  jour- 
neymen. (See  under  date  1750.)  His  father,  whose  name  was 
Abraham,  was  a  shoemaker,  and  frequently  visited  Salem,  where 
he  had  numerous  customers  to  whom  he  took  the  products 
of  his  handicraft,  in  saddle-bags.  The  family  of  Mr.  Derby, 
into  whose  counting-room  William  subsequently  entered,  were 
among  the  customers. 

Abraham  Gray  afterward  removed  to  Salem,  where  he  was  for 
F2*  32 


498  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

many  years  deacon  of  the  First  Church.  He  took  WiHiam,  who 
was  then  quite  young,  with  him :  and  that  was  the  termination 
of  his  residence  in  Lynn,  though  he  ever  retained  an  interest  in 
his  native  place,  and  maintained  business  connections  with  her 
people.  For  forty  years  he  supplied  the  manufacturers  and 
dealers  here  with  large  quantities  of  Russia  sheeting,  which 
was  at  the  time  much  used  in  the  manufacture  of  shoes. 

His  constitution  was  naturally  feeble,  and  he  inherited  the 
melancholy  trait  of  consumption.  Salem,  at  that  time,  had  the 
reputation  of  being  a  very  unfavorable  locality  for  those  having 
a  tendency  to  the  insidious  disease  just  named ;  but  the  tem- 
perate life  and  active  habits  of  young  Gray  protected  him  from 
the  destroyer.  Although  perhaps  every  feature  of  his  face, 
taken  separately,  would  be  pronounced  homely,  yet  his  whole 
countenance  glowed  with  such  an  invariable  and  attractive 
smile,  and  his  bright  gray  eyes  expressed  such  integrity  of  soul 
and  goodness  of  heart,  that  he  was  usually  considered  handsome. 
No  one  who  has  contemplated  the  perfect  portrait  of  him  by 
Stuart,  can  fail  to  recognize  the  likeness  of  one  of  dignity  and 
fine  presence;  it  is  indeed  a  picture  that  might  well  immortalize 
both  artist  and  subject.  In  stature,  he  was  rather  below  than 
above  the  medium  size,  but  symmetrical. 

The  precocity  of  young  Gray,  soon  after  his  removal  to  Salem 
attracted  the  notice  of  Samuel  Gardner,  then  a  prominent  mer- 
chant of  the  place,  who  ofi*ered  to  receive  him  as  an  apprentice. 
His  father  asked  what  compensation  would  be  allowed,  and  to 
his  surprise  was  answered  that  six  guineas  could  be  taken  with 
the  best  apprentice  in  the  country,  but  that  William  would  be 
taken  without  a  bonus.  He  very  soon  found  himself  in  the  best 
graces  of  Mr.  Gardner;  a  trivial  incident,  happening  soon  after 
the  apprenticeship  began,  doing  much  to  effect  this.  He  had 
broken  the  store  window  by  his  ball,  and  very  ingenuously  con- 
fessed the  fact,  proving,  at  the  same  time,  that  his  apparent  ne- 
glect to  repair  was  attributable  to  the  broken  promise  of  a  glazier. 
His  truthfulness  was  warmly  applauded,  and  a  new  suit  of  clothes 
given  as  a  reward.  And  the  good  merchant  continued  to  clothe 
him  as  long  as  he  remained.  A  rigid  adherence  to  Truth  was 
one  of  the  most  prominent  characteristics  of  Mr.  Gray.  He 
worshiped  her.     After  leaving  Mr.  Gardner  he  entered  the  em- 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  —  WILLIAM    GRAY.  499 

ploy  of  Richard  Derby,  another  eminent  merchant  of  Salem ; 
and  there  he  perfected  himself  in  all  that  was  necessary  for  the 
commencement  of  his  own  illustrious  mercantile  career.  So  far 
as  school  education  was  concerned,  however,  he  never  received 
any  thing  beyond  what  the  district  school  afforded. 

Mr.  Gray  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Chipman,  of 
Marblehead,  though  not,  as  I  was  many  years  ago  informed  by 
an  old  lady  who  w^as  intimate  in  the  family,  without  some  oppo- 
sition from  her  friends,  his  prospects,  at  the  time,  not  appearing 
sufficient  to  satisfy  their  expectations. 

The  enterprise  and  good  fortune  of  Mr.  Gray  did  much  to 
promote  the  general  prosperity  of  Salem,  though  Lynn  was  not 
barren  of  benefits.  The  following  epigram,  which  I  believe  was 
the  production  of  John  Prince,  the  lawyer,  very  pleasantly 
touches  the  matter  of  a  good-natured  rivalry. 

Salem  and  Lynn  for  Gray's  birth  now  contest ; 
Lynn  gains  the  palm,  but  Salem  fares  the  best. 

Though  sometimes  interesting,  it  is  in  a  degree  profitless, 
while  considering  the  life  of  an  individual,  high  or  low,  to  spec- 
ulate as  to  what  he  might  have  been,  under  other  circumstances  ; 
yet  it  seem  worthy  of  remark  that  had  Mr.  Gray's  constitution 
been  a  healthy  one,  it  is  not  unlikely  that  he  would  have  spent 
his  days  as  a  shoemaker,  at  Lynn,  for  I  am  assured  by  one  who 
knew  him  well,  that  his  father  attempted  to  learn  him  the  trade, 
but  gave  it  over  on  perceiving  that  it  wore  upon  his  health. 

In  or  about  the  year  1808,  Mr.  Gray  removed  to  Boston,  and 
there  greatly  enlarged  his  business ;  and  in  a  few  years  he  was 
reckoned  the  wealthiest  man  in  the  Commonwealth,  if  not  in 
all  New  England.  He  possessed  the  manners  of  a  gentleman, 
and  was  highly  respected  for  his  many  virtues.  Toward  all 
those  in  his  employ,  who  served  him  faithfully,  he  was  accus- 
tomed to  act  with  the  utmost  generosity.  The  masters  of  some 
of  his  vessels  were  retained  from  twenty  to  thirty  years.  And 
during  the  continuance  of  the  embargo,  many  had  reason  to  be 
grateful  for  his  efficient  aid  in  procuring  employment  when 
their  legitimate  calling  could  not  be  pursued.  And  a  few  of  his 
cotemporaries  yet  remaining  in  Lynn,  cherish  a  grateful  remem- 
brance of  his  friendly  acts.  He  was  liberal  to  the  poor,  and 
made  large  donations  for  charitable  purposes. 


500  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

But  it  must  not  be  supposed  that  the  life  of  Mr.  Gray  was  one 
of  uniform  success.  He  met  with  reverses  ;  but  bore  them  with 
a  fortitude  commensurate  with  his  dignity  as  a  man,  and  furnish- 
ing a  most  excellent  example  for  others  in  similar  circumstances. 
Under  the  Decrees  of  Bonaparte  he  lost  many  vessels  ;  but  it  is 
to  be  presumed  that  his  heirs  received  some  remuneration 
from  the  French  government,  under  the  energetic  administration 
of  General  Jackson. 

Mr.  Gray  was  elected  Lieutenant  Governor,  in  1810  and  con- 
tinued in  office  two  years.  He  also  held  divers  other  offices, 
wherein  his  promptness  and  sound  judgment  rendered  his  ser- 
vices of  great  value.  He  was  a  Federalist  in  political  sentiment, 
and  at  times  showed  some  activity  as  a  politician. 

He  died  at  Boston,  on  the  third  of  November,  1825.  His 
sons  were,  William  R.,  Henry,  John  C,  Francis  C,  and  Horace. 
And  the  family  continues  to  maintain  the  highest  respectability. 
His  only  daughter,  Lucia,  married  Col.  Samuel  Swett,  who  is 
still  living,  though  she  died  some  years  since.  Rev.  William 
Gray  Swett,  the  much  beloved  pastor  of  the  Unitarian  Society 
in  Lynn,  from  January  1,  1840  to  the  time  of  his  decease,  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1843,  was  born  of  this  marriage. 


MICAJAH  COLLINS.  —  1764-1827. 

Mr.  Collins  was  born  on  the  19th  of  April,  1764,  and  was  a 
son  of  Enoch  Collins.  He  received  a  fair  education,  and  for 
more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  was  teacher  of  the  Friends' 
school  here,  ever  retaining  the  respect  of  the  parents  and  affec- 
tion of  the  pupils.  His  ministerial  labors  were  approved  by 
the  Society  for  nearly  forty  years,  and  he  was  well  known  and 
highly  respected  in  the  many  parts  of  the  United  States,  into 
which  he  journeyed.  He  married  Hannah  Chase,  of  Salem,  but 
had  no  children.  The  last  moments  of  his  life  are  represented 
to  have  displayed,  in  a  marked  degree,  the  true  characteristics 
of  the  dying  Christian.  Many  friends  and  neighbors  assembled 
around  his  bed,  and  in  kind  words  he  dealt  to  them  admonitions 
and  encouragements,  and  expressed  his  own  assurance  of  a 
blessed  immortality.  Then  he  took  each  individual  by  the 
hand   and   bade   all  an  afifectionate  farewell     Like  the  setting 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. — MICAJAH    COLLINS.  501 

of  a  summer  sun,  he  gently  passed  away,  without  a  murmur  or 
a  sigh.     His  death  took  place  on  the  30th  of  January,  1827. 

One  or  two  extracts  from  a  poetic  tribute  to  the  memory  of 
Mr.  Collins,  are  here  introduced,  a  tribute  which  originally  ap- 
peared in  the  Newport  (R.  I.)  Mercury,  and  was  penned  by 
Rev.  Enoch  Mudge,  another  of  the  devoted  sons  of  Lynn  —  the 
insertion  here  answering  the  double  purpose  of  celebrating  the 
virtues  of  one  worthy  native  and  affording  a  specimen  of  the 
poetic  ability  of  another  —  besides  presenting  the  grateful  spec- 
tacle of  a  warm  remembrance  of  an  early  friendship.  Though 
TH^  very  striking  conception  is,  perhaps,  apparent  in  the  lines, 
they  yet  exhibit,  with  such  clearness,  the  growth  of  grace  in  the 
renewed  heart,  and  its  effect  on  the  inward  and  outward  life, 
and  are  withal  imbued  with  such  a  reverence  for  virtue,  that 
they  possess  a  substantial  value.  Didactic  poetry,  however,  in 
these  days,  finds  but  little  favor,  whatever  may  be  its  degree 
of  excellence. 

I  knew  him  when  in  giddy  rounds  of  mirth 
He  sought  for  happiness  in  things  of  earth; 
When  the  light  mind  with  buoyant  feelings  soared, 
And  for  delight  forbidden  things  explored. 
Quenched  were  the  sacred  sparks  of  holy  truth, 
Impressed  upon  him  in  his  early  youth, 
When  the  young  airy  mind  with  heightened  glee 
Was  from  restraint  hard  struggling  to  be  free. 
Bewitching  pleasure  then  alku*ed  his  mind ; 
In  them  content  he  vainly  sought  to  find, 
But  found  it  not!  —  till  he  who  came  to  call 
The  wanderer  back  from  sin,  and  guilt,  and  thrall, 
Spake  to  his  soul ;  the  quickening  power  he  felt, 
Which  caused  his  hard,  obdurate  heart  to  melt. 
Pungent  and  deep  was  keen  conviction's  dart! 
Then  godly  sorrow  pained  the  broken  heart ! 
But  the  good  Shepherd,  by  his  tender  care, 
Soothed  all  his  fears,  and  saved  him  from  despair; 
And  gently  led  him  by  alluring  grace 
In  the  sweet  paths  of  righteousness  and  peace. 
A  sacred  calm  ensued  within  his  breast. 
And  now  the  wanderer  found  a  place  of  rest; 
New  objects  of  pursuit  inspired  his  mind. 
And  purifying  love  his  soul  refined. 
The  friends  of  youth  he  now  delights  to  meet, 
And  sit  like  Mary  at  his  Master's  feet ; 


502  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

And  tender  sympatliy,  by  grace  inspired, 
And  love  of  truth  his  placid  bosom  fired. 

#  *  * 

In  temper  open,  amiable,  and  mild, 
Li  manners  simple,  trusting  as  a  child ; 
He  to  the  youth  a  pleasing  pattern  gave. 
Of  access  easy,  pious,  cheerful,  grave; 
All  classes  felt  an  interest  in  the  man. 
For  innocence  through  all  his  actions  ran. 
Long  as  an  able  minister  he  stood, 
And  spent  his  lengthened  life  in  doing  good ; 
At  home,  abroad,  the  humble  Christian  shone, 
While  all  the  oraise  he  gave  to  God  alone. 


SOLOMON  MOULTON.— 1808-1827. 

This  youDg  man,  for  he  was  but  nineteen  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  his  decease,  gave  promise  of  doing  much  honor  to  his 
native  place.  His  poetical  ability  was  by  no  means  inconsider- 
able. He  was  born  on  the  7th  of  January,  1808,  and  was  the 
son  of  Joseph  Moulton,  who  lived  on  Boston  street.  His  uncle, 
John  LiUie  Moulton,  who  resided  on  Market  street,  in  a  house 
which  stood  on  the  west  side,  a  few  rods  south  of  Summer, 
and  who,  in  partnership  with  John  Alley,  3d,  kept  a  store,  on 
the  same  street,  at  the  corner  of  Munroe,  having  no  children 
of  his  own,  adopted  him,  and  he  kept  in  the  store  a  part  of  the 
time. 

The  constitution  of  young  Moulton  was  not  naturally  firm, 
and  for  many  months  immediately  preceding  his  death,  which 
was  by  consumption,  his  health  was  such  that  he  was  unable  to 
continuously  pursue  any  laborious  occupation.  When  Mr.  Lum 
mus,  the  first  printer  in  Lynn,  opened  his  office,  Mr.  Moulton 
formed  an  acquaintance  with  him,  which  continued  as  long  as 
he  lived.  He  was  much  in  the  office  and  assisted  in  various 
ways.  And  it  was  in  Mr.  Lummus's  paper,  The  Weekly  Mirror, 
that  most  of  his  published  pieces  appeared. 

He  was  highly  esteemed  for  his  openness  and  generosity  of 
disposition;  and  won  the  respect  and  affection  of  those  about 
him  by  his  fidelity  to  the  higher  instincts  and  better  sympa- 
thies of  our  nature.  He  wrote  many  pieces  in  verse,  wliich 
appeared  under  the  signature  of  ''  Ltllte,"  some  of  which  were 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES.  —  SOLOMON   MutJLTON.  503 

well  worthy  of  being  preserved  in  substantial  form.  Many  of 
his  writings  were  of  that  plaintive  cast  which  somehow  seems 
to  foreshadow  an  early  departure.  A  passage  or  two  from  a 
poem  of  about  a  hundred  lines,  entitled  "  The  Burial,"  are 
here  given,  as  a  fair  specimen  of  his  style  and  execution  ;  and 
it  will  probably  be  agreed  that  some  of  the  lines  would  add 
grace  to  many  a  pretentious  and  popular  poem.  In  one  situ- 
ated as  Mr.  Moulton  was  —  dependent  in  circumstances,  with 
few  advantages  of  education,  and  in  imperfect  health  —  an  early 
development  of  the  choicest  powers  could  hardly  be  looked  for. 
And  we  are  inclined  to  utter  a  lament  in  the  words  of  one  of 
his  own  lines : 

"  Alas !  too  soon  cut  down  by  cruel  Death." 
But  yet  it  may  be  unwise  to  speculate  as  to  what  might  have 
been.     He  died  on  the  26th  of  May,  1827. 

It  was  a  mild  and  lovely  day  in  autumn  ; 
Earth  bore  the  marks  of  withering  frost; 
The  winds  had  sung  their  desolating  dirge 
O'er  lovely  Flora's  wintry  grave, 
And  formed  her  death-robe  of  the  yellow  leaves. 
But  still  a  melancholy  loveliness, 
A  pleasing  sweetness,  hung  around  the  scene. 
The  sun  was  fast  descending  from  his  proud 
Meridian  throne  in  heaven's  blue  concave  high. 
I  had  been  called  a  solemn  office  to  perform  — 
'T  is  the  last  rite  that  man  can  do  for  man. 
When  life  is  o'er,  with  kind  and  gentle  hand 
To  lay  his  brother's  body  in  the  grave  — 
And  here  it  was  a  fair  and  lovely  child. 
Whose  angel  form  was  now  by  youthful  hands 
Unto  the  silent  grave  soon  to  be  borne ; 
Alas !  too  soon  cut  down  by  cruel  Death. 
*  #  # 

The  heart  of  woman  injury  can  brook  ; 
Ay,  heap  disgrace  upon  her  precious  name ; 
Brand  her  a  wretched  outcast  from  the  world ; 
Let  the  envenom'd  darts  of  slander  pierce 
And  rend  her  lovely  breast  —  take  from  her  all, 
Yes,  all  that  renders  life  most  dear  to  man : 
But  leave  her  tender  offspring  to  her  care; 
Give  this,  her  last  and  most  endearing  boon. 
And  still  she  '11  bless  you  for  that  dearest  gifit. 


504  HISTORY    OF    LYN 

Soon  and  the  funeral  train  were  at  tlie  grave ; 
Gently  we  laid  the  bier  upon  the  earth, 
And  then  with  trembling  hands  the  coffin  lowered 
Lito  its  dark  and  silent  home.     But  when 
The  cold,  dank  clods  of  earth  with  deadening  sound 
Resounded  from  the  grave,  deep  were  the  sighs 
That  rent  a  mother's  agonizing  breast ; 
For  now  the  scene  with  all  its  withering  force 
Had  burst  afresh  upon  her  grief-worn  mind. 
I  saw  her  standing  by  the  lowly  grave. 
When  the  smooth,  grass-grown  clod  o'er  it  was  placed. 
The  work  was  finished,  and  she  gave  a  last 
And  tender  look  toward  the  hallowed  spot. 
Then  joined  the  silent  train  and  moved  away. 
'T  is  past  —  but  still  the  scene  on  memory's  page 
Is  lettered  deep ;  and  oft  in  pensive  mood, 
Whene'er  my  feet  in  yonder  grave-yard  sti-ay, 
I  stop  to  muse  upon  that  well  known  grave. 

Though  our  young  friend  wrote  chiefly  in  verse,  he  occa- 
sionally gave  expression  to  his  thoughts  in  what  is  called  poetic 
prose.  And  perhaps  the  following  is  as  fair  a  specimen  of  his 
composition  in  the  latter  form  as  can  be  found. 

MORNING. 
Tliere  is  a  soul-exalting  hour, 
And  sweetly  soothing  is  its  power ; 
'T  is  when,  wide  o'er  the  spreading  la\'^^l, 
Is  ushered  in  the  early  dawn. 
If  there  is  one  time  in  the  day  more  beautiful  than  another,  more  suited  to 
the  mind  that  «an  dwell  with  delight  on  the  works  of  nature,  and  discover  the 
impress  of  the  Creator  in  every  leaf  and  even'  flower  —  that  time  is  morning. 
To  the  contemplative  mind  the  morning  walk  affords  an  ample  field  for  the 
observance  and  investigation  of  the  numerous  works  of  the  divine  Creator 
which  at  every  step,  in  pleasing  and  almost  endless  variety,  are  presented  to 
our  view.     It  is  in  the  morning  that  the  mind,  freed  from  the  vexatious  cares 
lat  are  attendant  on  the  more  busy  concerns  of  the  day, 

Views  Nature's  works,  throughout  sublime, 
Unchanging  still,  through  endless  time, 
And  renders  homage  to  the  God 
Who  formed  them  by  his  potent  rod. 
There  is  a  deep  moral  sublimity  in  the  scene  which  the  mornmg  affords. 
And  how  congenial  it  is  to  be  seated  on  the  summit  of  some  commanding 
eminence,  whence  to  view  the  pale  moon,  just  hngering  in  the  west,  as  if 
pausing  to  bid  "  Good  morning,"  to  die  more  resplendent  luminary  on  whoH* 
she  is  dependent  for  her  light ;  to  view  the  last  faint  gleam  of  a  few  lingers  ^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES.  —  MARIA    AUGUSTA    FULLER.        505 

stars,  as  they  gradually  grow  dim,  and  disappear;  to  hear,  m  the  holy  calm- 
ness of  the  hour  when  the  busy  hum  of  men  is  only  remembered  as  a  thing 
of  yesterday,  the  rich  melody  of  Nature's  songsters,  as  on  never  tiring  wing 
they  soar  aloft  in  heaven's  blue  concave.  In  such  an  hour  as  this,  the  mind  is 
insensibly  led  to  deep  devotional  contemplation.  While  we  view  the  works 
of  the  Creator,  we  are  naturally  led  to  meditate  on  the  Creator  himself.  And 
from  the  volume  of  Nature,  wide  spread  before  us,  we  may  draw  lessons  of 
uistruction  far  superior  to  the  narrow  tenets  of  the  studied  theologian. 


MARIA  AUGUSTA  FULLER.  —  1806-1831. 

Mr.  Lewis  has  said  of  Miss  Fuller,  that  she  ''  was,  perhaps, 
the  most  talented  and  imaginative  female  which  Lynn  has  pro- 
duced." She  was  undoubtedly  a  young  lady  of  rare  endowment. 
Accustoming  herself,  at  an  early  age,  to  the  use  of  the  pen, 
she  was  enabled  to  produce,  while  still  young,  many  charming 
pieces,  in  prose  and  poetry,  which  found  their  way  into  the 
newspapers.  She  displayed  a  fine  fancy,  mingled  with  dignity 
of  thought,  and  a  lively  appreciation  of  natural  beauty. 

She  was  born  at  Lynn  on  the  9th  of  December,  1806,  and  was 
a  daughter  of  Hon.  Joseph  Fuller,  who  was  born  on  Water  Hill, 
March  29,  1772,  and  died  at  the  age  of  42.  He  was  the  first 
Senator  from  Lynn,  having  been  elected  in  1812,  and  was  like- 
wise a  Representative,  for  six  terms.  His  business  was  exten- 
sive. When  Mechanics  Bank  went  into  operation,  in  1814,  he 
was  chosen  its  president;  but  he  died  the  next  year.  He  built 
the  southmost  dwelling  at  the  point  formed  by  the  junction  of 
Union  and  Broad  streets,  and  there  resided. 

Her  grandfather  Fuller  was  also  named  Joseph.  He  was 
born  in  1748,  and  died  at  the  age  of  82.  He  was  a  farmer,  and 
owned  the  farm  at  the  western  extremity  of  Water  Hill,  where 
he  resided.  He  was  somewhat  eccentric,  but  a  man  of  integrity 
and  influence  ;  was  a  delegate  to  the  Constitutional  Convention, 
in  1820;  and  could  write  with  considerable  ability,  though  in- 
clined to  be  more  pungent  than  courteous.  He  loved  contro- 
versy, and  was  at  one  time  engaged  in  a  newspaper  warfare 
with  Rev.  Mr.  Thacher. 

Miss  Fuller  died  on  the  19th  of  January,  1831,  at  the  early 
age  of  twenty-four.  She  was  never  married,  but  at  the  time 
of  her  decease  was  affianced  to  a  gentleman  who  is  now  a  min- 
Q2 


506  HISTORY    OF  LYNN. 

ister  in  the  Calvinistic  Baptist  connection,  though  at  that  time 
he  was  an  active  member  of  the  Unitarian  Society  here.  Her 
manners  were  gentle  and  fascinating  in  the  extreme ;  her  edu- 
cation was  good;  and  she  was  fitted  to  elicit  admiration  in  the 
most  refined  society.  Her  harp  was  usually  attuned  to  plaintive 
themes,  and  it  seemed  as  if  she  ever  entertained  a  latent  premo- 
nition of  an  early  death.  Yet  there  were  occasions  on  which 
a  playful  and  even  frolicksome  nature  would  assert  itself  Her 
chosen  signature  was  '^  Fixella."  And  one  or  two  specimens 
of  her  writing  follow.  The  prose  article  was  published  when 
she  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  certainly  exhibits  a  rich- 
ness and  breadth  of  fancy,  a  versatility  and  discipline  of  thought, 
which  can  only  characterize  one  possessing  far  more  than  ordi- 
nary gifts.  The  lines  entitled  "  The  Frosted  Trees,"  are  the 
concluding  portion  of  a  piece,  dated  January  1, 1830,  and  as  will 
be  perceived,  very  pleasantly  allude  to  Mr.  Lewis's  well-known 
poem  under  the  same  title  —  which  may  be  found  in  this  volume, 
under  date  1829  —  wluch  had  just  then  appeared  in  the  Token. 
We  have  in  them  clear  evidence  that  she  possessed  a  lively  wit; 
but  it  was  refined,  and  never  turned  to  the  degenerate  purposes 
of  satire.  The  piece  entitled  ''  To  the  Loved  Departed,"  ap- 
peared about  ten  days  before  her  death.  And  the  lines  "  To  a 
Sea  Bird,"  were  found  among  the  papers,  she  left.  They  are 
all  worthy  of  an  attentive  perusal ;  indeed  they  are  too  full  of 
thought  and  unobtrusive  beauties  to  be  appreciated  by  the 
mere  surface  reader.  Such  a  mind  as  hers  cannot  fail  to  have 
a  refining  and  elevating  influence  in  any  society;  and  when  one 
like  her  departs  tears  may  fall  as  for  a  public  bereavement, 
though  there  may  be  none  to  spare  when  the  mere  daughter 
of  fashion  departs. 

THOUGHTS. 

There  are  moments  when  the  mind  is  free  fi'om  all  uneasiness,  the  spirits 
fi-om  all  excitement;  when  the  stream  of  thought  ceases  to  flow  on,  and 
remains  calm  and  unruffled,  waiting  for  a  new  impulse  to  turn  its  waters  into 
other  channels  —  or  sometimes  stagnates  into  indolence.  The  early  part  of  a 
winter  evening  is  the  very  time  for  such  an  undefinable  state  of  mind.  I  was 
myself  sinking  into  it  one  evening,  after  having  attended  to  sundry  little  par- 
ticulars, such  as  arranging  two  or  three  chairs,  which  chanced  to  be  a  little 
awry,  placing  the  andirons  in  exactly  parallel  lines,  and  blowing  from  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  —  MARIA    AUGUSTA   FULLER.        507 

hearth  a  quantity  of  white  ashes  which  the  movements  had  precipitated  to  it. 
Now,  the  fantastic  motions  of  the  blaze  amused  me,  shooting  up  into  steeples, 
like  the  picture  of  an  old  abbey,  or  wreathing  in  red  folds  around  a  fresh  piece 
of  fuel.  The  coals,  too,  lying  in  red  glowing  masses,  seemed  to  smile  upon 
me,  as  I  sat  watching  their  changes,  and  forming  H's  and  P's  of  the  interstices 
in  the  back-log.  I  was  awakened  from  my  pleasing  employment,  by  the  sud- 
den falling  of  a  brand,  whose  curling  wreaths  of  smoke  ascended,  in  most 
unwelcome  incense,  to  my  face.  Hastily  adjusting  it,  I  fled  to  the  window, 
and  there  contemplated  a  scene  by  no  means  new  or  extraordinary,  but  whose 
quiet  loveliness  opened  a  new  and  corresponding  train  of  ideas  and  fancies. 
The  moon  shone  upon  the  snowy  hill-top,  and  threw  a  broad  sheet  of  light 
upon  the  water,  crowning  each  little  billow  with  a  sparkling  coronet.  She 
is,  I  believe,  a  sonnet-insph'ing  planet,  and  somehow  associated  in  the  mind 
with  the  "  lunatic,  the  lover,  and  the  poet."  Though  belonging  to  neither  of 
these  classes,  I  must  still  acknowledge  her  influence  in  mspiring  thoughts  and 
"  thick  coming  fancies." 

As  my  eye  ranged  over  the  prospect  before  me,  I  was  insensibly  led  to  con- 
trast its  present  appearance  with  what  it  might  have  been  two  centuries  ago. 
I  seemed  to  behold  the  dark  forests  covering  the  hills  and  plains  —  the  coast 
curving  naturally  round,  or  broken  into  points  and  headlands,  where  now  the 
stiff  squares,  wharves,  or  artificial  banks,  proclaim  that  a  civilized  people  reside 
here.  In  this  very  spot,  thought  I,  the  Indian  bent  his  bow  against  the  wild 
beast  of  the  forest ;  or  here,  perhaps,  the  Indian  girl  might  have  stood,  listen- 
ing for  the  sound  of  the  returning  oars  of  an  absent  brother  or  lover.  A  speck 
appeared  among  the  waves  —  it  seemed  the  light  canoe  of  the  savage,  bound- 
ing to  land. 

What  dreams  of  light  and  beauty  might  have  filled  the  soul  of  that  Indian 
girl ;  in  what  clear  tones  might  the  harmonies  of  nature  have  sounded  their 
sublime  truths  to  her  ear.  She  heard  the  voice  of  the  Spirit  she  worshiped, 
in  the  sea,  in  the  thunder,  and  in  the  wind.  She  poured  forth  her  rejoicing 
songs  with  the  birds,  and  the  anthem  of  her  deeply  felt  gratitude  might  have 
gone  up  to  the  throne  with  as  much  acceptance  as  if  accompanied  by  swell- 
ing organ  tones,  and  echoed  back  by  marble  temple  walls  instead  of  rocks 
and  hills.  She  might  have  read  His  purity  and  goodness  in  the  wild  flowers 
of  the  wood,  in  the  wide  and  grand  scenes  around  her,  in  her  own  happy  and 
free  existence,  and  the  existence  of  all  the  joyous  creation  she  beheld.  Untu- 
tored, unacquainted  with  the  thoughts  of  others,  or  the  wisdom  stored  in  the 
pages  of  antiquity,  she  might  have  possessed  intuitive  powers,  of  which  we 
know  nothing ;  pure  rills  of  thought,  gushing  in  beauty,  amid  solitude  and 
silence;  realms  of  fancy,  brighter  than  we  can  imagine. 

Or  here,  perhaps,  the  tree  of  peace  may  have  thrown  out  its  strong  branches, 
and  nations  may  have  assembled  around  it ;  warriors  may  have  smoked  the 
calumet  in  its  shade.  The  same  moon  and  stars  looked  upon  them,  which 
are  now  shining  on  me ;  the  sound  of  the  mighty  rush  of  the  ocean  fell  on 
their  ears  as  it  now  falls  on  mine.  Years  have  glided  silently  by,  and  wlivn 
are  they?     The  dust  reveals  not  the  spot  where  a  nation  of  proud  hearts  have 


508  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

rmiugled  with  it.  Tlie  maiden,  the  hunter,  have  long  since  gone  to  tlieir  rest. 
Tlie  wave  of  existence  in  which  they  were  particles  has  rolled  away,  and  its 
sound  died  upon  the  air.  Surely  our  country  is  full  of  poetical  associations. 
Have  we  no  Ossian  to  behold  the  spirit  of  the  warrior  on  our  misty  hills?  —  to 
sing  the  forgotten  glories  of  a  departed  race  ?  The  bustle  of  a  strange  people 
is  going  on  in  the  land  of  their  fathers. 

There  is  a  tinge  of  melancholy  in  such  reflections;  and  when  the  mind 
glances  forward  to  succeeding  ages,  and  a  sense  of  our  own  brief  course  amid 
these  changes  of  being  comes  in  its  reality  over  the  soul,  we  wonder  at  the 
eagerness  with  which  we  pursue  its  trifles,  and  resolve  to  chase  them  no  more. 
The  whole  himian  family  then  appear  to  us  as  brethren,  and  the  wider  our 
survey  extends  through  the  past  and  future,  the  more  are  we  impressed  with 
the  folly  of  those  jarring  interests  which  take  away  the  warm  and  holy  dispo- 
sitions of  our  hearts,  and  embitter  those  waters  of  life  which  were  intended  to 
flow  on  in  fragrance  and  sweetness  through  their  short  course.  We  arise 
from  such  reflections  with  renewed  desires  to  dis})ense  our  own  small  measure 
of  happiness  around  —  that  though  we  and  the  generation  to  which  we  belong 
pass  away  and  are  forgotten,  our  life  may  be  a  summer  of  joy,  and  our  deatl 
but  the  welcome  entrance  into  a  new  and  more  glorious  existence. 

THE   FROSTED    TREES. 
Spring,  Summer,  and  Autumn!  what  witching  charms, 

Ye  wear  to  the  poet's  eye ! 
Ye  pour  forth  your  wealth  to  his  raptured  gaze 

As  ye  pass  so  swiftly  by. 
But  Winter  comes  with  his  scowling  skies, 

And  rudely  piping  wind; 
What  beauty  or  music  to  waken  song, 

Can  the  wandering  poet  find  ? 

Lo !  the  earth  is  sown  with  precious  pearls, 

And  the  flashing  diamond  shines. 
And  gems  that  glistened  far  down  in  the  sea, 

Or  gleamed  in  the  dismal  mines. 
And  the  graceful  boughs  like  rainbows  bend, 

And  spirits  are  resting  there, 
Having  veiled  the  light  of  then*  radiant  forms, 

In  the  blue  of  the  mantling  air. 

O !  rare,  beyond  the  alchymist's  skill, 

The  spell  the  poet  doth  hold, 
For  by  it  the  snow  and  icicle, 

Ai-o  changed  to  gems  and  gold ; 
And  the  ice-girt  boughs  to  dazzling  thrones, 

And  the  folds  of  the  vapor  dim 
Ai'e  white-robed  angels,  whose  starry  wings 

Are  revealed  to  none  but  him. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  —  MARIA    AUGUSTA    FULLER.       509 

TO    THE   LOVED    DEPARTED. 

Ye  Spirits  of  the  Dead  ! 

Ah !  wliither  are  ye  fled  ? 
Mid  the  dim  fields  of  space  where  do  ye  roam? 

O,  that  through  the  deep  gloom, 

That  gathers  o'er  the  tomb, 
Some  ray  of  light  might  shine  from  your  far  distant  home. 

Where  is  the  beaming  smile, 

That  lighted,  for  a  while, 
Oui-  weary  feet  along  life's  cloudy  way  ? 

The  voice,  whose  lightest  words 

Thrilled  the  soul's  silent  chords, 
Till  the  deep  hidden  strings  grew  tuneful  from  its  sway. 

We  watched  your  parting  breath. 

We  saw  the  cliill  of  death 
Blanch  the  fresh  cheek,  and  fix  the  glazing  eye-, 

Shade  upon  shade  fell  deep. 

Of  that  mysterious  sleep. 
Mantling  all  that  remained  —  fearful  mortality! 

We  know  those  forms  must  change ; 

Perchance  amid  the  range 
Of  varied  forms  of  beauty,  ye  may  live 

In  fragrant  s])ringing  flowers. 

Fairest  in  forest  bowers ; 
Such  loveliness  to  dust  renewing  power  can  give. 

Where  shall  we  go  to  find  ?  — 

Hath  the  dull  earth  enshrined 
That  smile?  —  or  doth  it  beam  in  the  sunlight. 

Dwell  with  the  rainbow's  hues. 

Or  mid  morn's  sparkling  dews, 
The  moonlight  pale,  or  stars  that  cheer  the  silent  night? 

That  tone  have  we  not  heard. 

When  sang  spring's  earliest  bird  ? 
Or  when  the  winds  awaked  the  warbling  lyre? 

In  murmurs  of  the  waves,  ' 

O'er  their  deep  ocean  caves  ? 
The  whispermg  wood?  —  each  voice  of  nature's  varied  choir? 

Hath  the  light  ceased  to  burn? 

Shall  not  that  tone  return 
To  cheer  us  as  we  tread  our  pathway  lone  ? 

The  spark  that  lit  the  whole. 

That  thought,  that  loved  —  the  soul ! 
There  is  a  mourning  void  —  where  has  the  spirit  gone? 
Q2^ 


510  HISTORY    OF   LYNN. 

Trust,  doubting  spirit,  trust, 

When  this  enclosing  dust 
Thou  shalt,  upspringing,  from  thee  cast  away; 

When,  with  new  eye  and  ear, 

Thou  shalt  both  see  and  hear. 
That  smile  —  that  gentle  tone — shall  greet  thee  on  that  day! 

There,  mingling  with  the  rays 

Of  the  eternal  blaze. 
The  welcome  beam  again  shall  bless  thine  eye ; 

And  where  hosannas  ring. 

When  blessed  spirits  sing, 
The  well-remembered  tone  shall  sound,  no  more  to  die! 

Thou  Sun  of  Righteousness! 

Thy  rays  can  warm  and  bless 
E'en  the  chill  cloud  that  gathers  o'er  the  grave; 

Till  its  dark  folds  grow  bright, 

Changed  to  a  robe  of  light ! 
O !  shine  on  us,  bright  Power !  to  heal  us,  and  to  save, 

TO   A   SEA   BIRD. 

Why  hast  thou  left  thy  ocean  home? 

What  seek'st  thou  here  with  wandering  wing? 
Thou  loved'st  the  bounding  wave,  the  foam ; 

Thou  would'st  not  love  the  bowers  of  spring. 

The  land  birds,  in  their  gilded  plumes. 
Tune  forth  their  songs  from  every  stem, — 

With  wild,  sad  notes,  and  dull  hued  wings. 
Thou  may'st  not  come  to  dwell  with  them. 

In  our  green  woods  the  scented  flowers 
Look  pure  as  shells  in  thine  own  sea, 

And  blue  lakes  slumber,  fountains  gush, — 
But  these  can  have  no  charms  for  thee. 

Back  to  thy  native  home !  behold ! 

Yon  pink  and  purple  clouds  have  thro"\vii 
Upon  its  calm,  unrippled  breast. 

Colors  scarce  fainter  than  their  own. 

And  see  thy  mates  —  how  swiftly  o'er 
The  mirrored  waters  now  they  glide  ; 

Their  white  wings  take  the  roseate  dyes. 
And  shine  reflected  in  the  tide. 


i 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  —  CHARLES    F.    LUMMUS.  511 

Still  onward,  onward !  would'st  thou  seek 

Those  billowy  clouds  far  in  the  west? 
Mid  their  bright  waves  perchance  thou  dream'st 

Thy  weary,  toilsome  wing  may  rest. 

For  thou  hast  seen  the  strong  wind  sweep 

All  beauty  from  the  changing  sea, 
And  leave  for  all  yon  loveliness, 

A  terrible  deformity. 

Methinks  e'en  now  thy  sad  voice  calls 

In  vain  upon  thy  hapless  mate  — 
Ah  !  wreck'd  and  lost  —  for  thee  and  her 

The  welcome  calm  has  come  too  late. 

And  thou  hast  left  in  weariness. 

The  lone  sea  for  the  lonelier  air 
Seek  not  earth's  bowers,  or  clouds,  for  peace ; 

Alas !  thou  wilt  not  find  it  there. 

Know  thou,  the  green,  sun-lighted  earth 

Thou  passest  o'er  with  wing  so  free. 
Holds  many  a  prisoner,  who  would  joy, 

Could  they  but  fly  away  with  thee. 

For  darker  than  the  ocean  storm, 

O'er  joy's  soft  morn  doth  sorrow  close, 
And  woe-worn  mortals  seek  like  thee, 

A  calmer  haven  of  repose. 

But  not  like  thee  in  vain.     For  them, 

More  glorious  than  the  clouds  of  even, 
A  realm  of  joy  and  bliss  appears  — 

An  isle  of  rest  —  a  promised  heaven. 


CHARLES  FREDERIC  LUMMUS.  —  1801-1838. 

Mr.  Liimmiis  was  born  on  the  17th  of  August,  1801,  and  was 
one  of  the  ten  children  of  Dr.  Aaron  Lummus,  who  was  a  pop- 
ular physician  among  us  for  nearly  fifty  years.  His  education 
w^as  as  good  as  could  be  procured  at  the  common  schools  of 
the  day ;  and  when  at  the  proper  age,  he  entered  the  printing 
office  of  Lincohi  and  Edmands,  in  Boston,  to  learn  his  trade. 

He  grew  up  to  be  a  remarkably  intelligent  and  companionable 
young  man,  though  his  natural  eccentricities  would  not  unfre- 
quently  assert  themselves  in  a  manner  not  the  most  agreea- 


512  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

ble.  He  was  for  many  years  an  intimate  friend  of  Mr.  ijewis, 
who,  on  his  decease,  paid  the  following  comprehensive  though 
brief  tribute  to  his  memory.  "  He  was  an  excellent  musician, 
and  a  choice  spirit.  Few  young  men  in  Lynn  were  ever  more 
extensively  beloved  or  more  deserved  to  be.  But  thou  art 
dead  !  '  Alas  !  poor  Yorick  ! '  Thine  is  a  loss  to  be  thought 
about,  and  thou  shalt  long  live  in  our  love." 

Mr.  Lummus  was  never  married  ;  which  was  a  little  remarka- 
ble, considering  his  fondness  for  refined  female  society,  and 
considering  that  it  was  his  own  conviction  that  a  suitable  mat- 
rimonial connection  would  add  much  to  his  happiness.  But  the 
slender  income  afforded  by  his  business,  no  doubt  operated  to 
the  discouragement  of  an  attempt  in  that  direction.  It  has  been 
said,  however,  that  an  early  disappointment  led  to  a  determina- 
tion never  to  wed. 

After  concluding  his  apprenticeship,  he  worked  in  Boston, 
as  a  journeyman,  a  year  or  two,  and  then  returned  to  Lynn,  bring- 
ing a  second-hand  Ramage  press,  and  a  small  quantity  of  second- 
hand type.  His  next  step  was  to  issue  his  paper,  the  prospectus 
of  which  had  been  before  the  public,  for  some  time.  And  on 
Saturday,  the  third  of  September,  1825^  the  Lynn  Weekly 
Mirror  made  its  debut  —  the  first  newspaper  ever  printed 
in  the  town.  Its  appearance  was  certainly  not  brilliant,  either 
in  an  intellectual  or  a  mechanical  way,  measured,  at  least,  by 
the  publications  of  the  present  time.  There  were  but  nineteen 
lines  of  editorial  matter  in  the  whole  paper.  And  there  was  no 
greeting  to  the  public,  nor  allusion,  in  any  shape,  to  the  pros- 
pects, plans,  or  expectations  of  the  publisher.  An  original  tale 
occupied  five  of  the  little  columns,  and  an  orginal  poem,  filled 
another.  Mr.  Lewis,  I  think,  wrote  both  of  these.  Three  or 
four  advertisements  appeared  on  the  third  page ;  and  the  rest 
of  the  paper  was  made  up  of  news  items  and  short  extracts. 
The  four  pages  of  the  sheet  —  that  is  the  printed  part  —  were 
each  a  fraction  less  than  nine  inches  by  eleven  in  size ;  the  type 
was  much  worn,  the  ink  poor,  the  paper  coarse  and  dingy. 
The  size  of  the  type  was  long  primer  —  a  type  one  size  smaller 
than  that  from  which  this  page  is  printed  —  excepting  about  one 
column  of  brevier  and  two  of  pica.  And,  on  the  whole,  the 
expectant  Dublic  can  hardly  be  charged  with  undue  fastidious- 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  — CHARLES    F.    LUMMUS.  513 

ness  for  failing  to  bestow  very  high  encomiums  on  this  new-born 
child  of  the  press.  Mr.  Lummus  told  me,  among  other  things, 
while  recounting  the  experiences  of  that  eventful  period,  that 
he  sent  a  copy  to  the  New  England  Galaxy,  then  under  the 
charge  of  Mr.  Buckingham,  requesting  an  exchange,  but  re- 
received  his  own  back,  with  the  second  E  in  the  word  Weekly, 
changed  to  an  a.  The  fifth  number  appeared  in  a  somewhat 
enlarged  form.  The  same  width  of  column  was  preserved,  but 
some  five  inches  were  added  to  the  length,  making  a  paper  of 
much  better  shape.  But  this  was  done  without  boasting  or  any 
flourish  of  trumpets.  There  was  not  a  line  of  editorial  on  the 
subject ;  nor  was  there,  indeed,  a  line  on  any  subject,  in  that 
number.  Two  of  the  columns  were  in  pica  —  a  type  one  size 
larger  than  that  from  which  this  page  is  printed  —  and  the  use  of 
that  large  type  was  continued,  to  some  extent,  for  a  long  time,  he 
the  publisher,  taking  all  suitable  opportunities  to  gravely  assure 
his  readers  that  it  was  for  the  benefit  of  the  aged  people  whose 
eyes  were  dim  ;  and  many  thanks  did  he  receive  for  his  kindness. 
The  Mirror  was  first  printed  in  a  small  wooden  building  that 
stood  on  the  west  side  of  Market  street,  just  where  Tremont 
street  now  opens.  But  in  four  or  five  years  the  office  was 
removed  to  another  small  building,  at  the  west  end  of  the  Com- 
mon, the  most  active  business  of  the  town  at  that  time  being 
centered  there. 

For  a  considerable  time  the  Mirror  could  boast  of  but  little  in 
quantity,  in  an  editorial  way,  though  what  there  was,  was  very 
good  in  quality ;  and  it  soon  became  a  very  readable  paper;  for 
as  the  proprietor  gathered  confidence  and  became  more  expe- 
rienced, he  displayed  most  excellent  taste  and  judgment  in  his 
selections.  He  had  an  open  eye  for  the  substantial  and  useful 
as  well  as  the  exciting  and  entertaining,  and  was  diligent  in 
looking  up  matters  of  local  interest.  And  his  brief  remarks 
were  often  strikingly  comprehensive.  He  seldom  attempted 
an  article  more  than  a  square  or  two  in  length,  and  was  never 
guilty  of  spreading  over  half  a  column  what  might  just  as  well 
be  expressed  in  twenty  lines.  His  first  anxiety  was  to  get  at 
the  "  nub,"  as  he  expressed  it.  And  he  took  full  liberty  with 
the  productions  of  correspondents,  sometimes  mercilessly  pru- 
ning  out  what  to  them  seemed   the    grandest  passages ;   and 

33 


514  HISTORY    OF    LYXN. 

when  they  complained,  the  ready  answer  was,  '^  Tliere  's  no 
nub  to  it.*' 

^[r.  Liimmus  was  very  social  in  his  disposition ;  was  ac- 
quainted with  every  body ;  was  an  accomplished  musician,  and 
something  of  a  military  man.  He  likewise  interested  himself 
in  political  aflairs  but  was  too  honest  to  gain  a  reputation  for 
stability  as  a  partisan.  In  all  intellectual  and  recreative  enter- 
prises, from  the  digniiSed  lyceum  to  tlie  jovial  chowder  party, 
he  was  ready  and  active,  and  hence  frequently  found  himself  in 
a  situation  "^vhere  he  was  able  to  pick  up  matter  for  useful  or 
amusing  ''  squizzles,"  as  he  termed  his  short  articles.  And  he 
was  able  in  a  short  time  to  gather  around  him  quite  a  number 
of  very  acceptable  correspondents.  Indeed  it  was  in  the  little 
columns  of  the  Mirror  that  the  beautiful  effusions  and  essays 
of  Lillie,  Finella,  and  Curtin  first  appeared  —  to  say  nothing 
of  the  constant  contributions  of  Lewis  and  others. 

Mr.  Lummus  earned  for  himself  the  popular  nickname  of 
"Philosopher,"  in  a  rather  amusing  manner.  Lawyer  Gates  — 
of  whom  something  is  said  under  date  1852  —  being  in  the  office 
one  day,  abruptly  inquired  —  ''Charles,  what  does  the  F.  in 
your  name  stand  for?"  ''Philosopher,"  was  the  instantaneous 
response.  The  ready  wit  set  so  well  on  the  old  gentleman 
that  he  at  once  gave  currency  to  the  self-bestowed  sobriquet. 

He  had  a  strange  propensity  to  frequently  change  the  ap- 
pearance of  his  paper.  Every  little  while  his  sheet  would  appear, 
perhaps  with  a  new  head,  a  different  width  of  column,  or  some 
fanciful  display  of  ornamental  type.  His  means  were  limited, 
and  his  office  but  poorly  supplied  with  materials.  An  ancient 
Eamage  press,  which  looked  as  if  Franklin  might  have  worked 
at  it,  a  small  font  of  second-hand  long  primer,  a  little  brevier, 
and  a  very  few  little  fonts  of  small  ornamental  letter,  with  a 
case  of  pica  and  a  few  pounds  of  great  primer,  were  almost 
every  thing  he  had.  His  three  stands  were  so  aged  as  to  totter 
on  their  legs,  and  his  galleys  were  warped  or  cracked.  The 
only  large  type  in  the  office,  for  years,  were  two  or  three  alpha- 
bets of  four  line  pica  antique  capitals,  which  served  for  the 
heading  of  handbills,  and  at  one  time  for  the  heading  of  his 
paper.  With  such  a  fitting  out,  he  could  not,  of  course,  be 
expected  to  turn  out  any  verv  elegant  specimens  of  the  art.    But 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKKTCIIES. — CHARLES    F.    LUMMUS.  515 

at  that  time  such  displays  in  job  printing  as  are  now  made,  were 
not  thought  of.  In  March,  1832,  the  writer  purchased  of  him 
his  whole  establishment,  for  two  hundred  dollars,  paying  quite 
as  much  as  it  was  worth.  He  had,  however,  in  the  mean  time, 
procured  a  small  font  of  new  long  primer,  and  sent  off  the  old 
press,  hiring  a  small  iron  one. 

As  to  the  success  of  the  Mirror,  it  may  in  brief  be  stated 
that  small  returns  rewarded  hard  labor.  The  number  of  sub- 
scribers was  about  four  hundred  —  sometimes  running  a  little 
below,  but  seldom  above.  The  amount  of  work  in  the  oflSce  — 
jobs,  newspaper  and  all  —  could  be  done  by  the  publisher  and 
one  hand.  But  at  first,  in  a  corner  of  his  office,  and  afterward 
in  a  separate  room,  Mr.  Luramus  kept  a  shop  with  a  small  stock 
of  stationary  and  fancy  articles,  such  as  are  usually  sold  in  a 
country  book  store.  A  few  musical  instruments  likewise  formed 
a  part  of  his  stock ;  and  he  would  frequently,  in  times  of  the 
greatest  hurry,  abruptly  drop  his  composing  stick  to  perform  a 
solo  on  one  of  them,  much  to  the  discomfiture  of  his  journeyman. 
Indeed  he  did  not  possess  quite  so  strong  an  attachment  for 
manual  labor  as  for  some  other  pursuits.  He  was  fond  of  con- 
sidering the  matter  in  a  philosophical  way ;  and  I  have  heard 
him  remark  —  "  Well,  I  guess  I  wont  work  too  hard  to-day  lest 
I  should  have  nothing  to  do  tomorrow  ;  "  which  remark  was  the 
sure  precursor  of  a  ride,  a  walk,  or  an  interval  of  repose  over 
a  book.  There  was  a  vein  of  humor,  without  the  sting  of  sar- 
casm, running  through  his  conversation,  and  he  much  loved  a 
harmless  practical  joke. 

He  had  an  original  way  of  ridding  himself  of  idlers  and  such 
disagreeable  company  as  quartered  in  his  office ;  and  his  way 
might  be  beneficially  adopted  by  others ;  it  was,  to  immediately 
set  them  at  some  disagreeable  work.  No  matter  who  the  indi- 
vidual might  be,  old  or  young,  high  or  low,  he  would  be  called 
to  go  for  a  pail  of  water,  sweep  the  floor,  or  perform  some  other 
equally  dignified  service,  a  plausible  excuse  always  accompany- 
ing the  request ;  and  when  one  thing  was  done  another  was 
ready  to  be  commenced  on,  until  the  victim  concluded  to  depart. 
I  remember  seeing  a  gentleman  of  the  first  respectability,  rolling 
at  the  press,  with  a  hand  roller,  his  clothes,  hands,  and  sweaty 
brow,  all  bedaubed  with  ink.  while  Mr.  Lummus  was  pulling  on 


516  HISTORY    OF   LYNN. 

with  all  possible  speed,  to  prevent  any  opportunity  for  rest, 
his  countenance  wearing  the  gravity  of  a  sphynx,  excepting 
when  his  eye  happened  to  catch  mine. 

The  surest  source  of  accunaulation  is  economy.  But  of  the 
possession  of  this  virtue  Mr.  Lummus  had  little  cause  to  boast 
His  financial  skill  was  not  of  a  high  order;  and  he  was,  more- 
over, of  quite  a  liberal  turn.  So  it  is  hardly  probable  that,  had 
his  income  been  ever  so  great,  he  would  have  become  rich,  for 
we  do  not  find  that  the  scriptural  promise  that  the  liberal  soul 
shall  be  made  fat,  is  always  verified  in  a  pecuniary  way.  I 
have  known  him  to  hire  a  horse  and  wagon  and  occupy  perhaps 
half  a  day  in  going  to  Salem  to  procure  two  reams  of  paper. 
And  I  remember  of  a  gentleman  telling  me  that  he  called  at  his 
place  one  forenoon,  urging  him,  in  great  haste,  to  ride  with  him 
to  Boston,  whither  he  was  bound,  in  a  chais^,  alone.  It  being 
a  pleasant  day,  the  invitation  was  accepted.  On  reaching  the 
city,  he  drove  directly  to  an  eating  house,  and  called  for  some 
favorite  viand,  which  was  speedily  before  them.  As  soon  as  the 
meal  was  disposed  of,  Mr.  Lummus  arose,  and  with  an  air  of 
great  satisfaction  patting  the  natural  receptacle  of  all  good 
dinners,  informed  his  friend  that  he  was  ready  to  start  for  home. 

In  the  matter  of  dress,  Mr.  Lummus  was  far  from  being  a 
successful  imitator  of  Brummell,  though  he  was  always  decently 
clad.  The  exterior  h?ibiliments,  however,  were  not  usually  in 
exact  keeping  with  the  interior.  I  have  seen  him  in  the  street 
with  cow-hide  boots,  muddy  and  of  uncouth  shape,  when  I  knew 
that  his  feet  were  encased  in  fine  silk  stockings.  And  beneath 
that  shaggy  coat  of  dingy  white  and  ancient  fashion,  there  was 
probably  as  fine  linen  as  the  wealthiest  wore. 

He  occasionally  conceived  strange  antipathies  and  prejudices 
which  would  sometimes  exhibit  themselves  in  a  manner  rather 
amusing  than  injurious.  I  once  saw  him  seize  the  list  of  the 
carrier  for  the  eastern  part  of  the  town,  and  begin  with  an 
eager  and  merciless  hand  to  cross  off  names.  I  asked  him  if  so 
many  wanted  to  stop  their  papers.  "  I  don't  care  whether  they 
do  or  not,"  he  replied,  "  but  if  they  want  it  any  longer  they've 
got  to  move  out  of  Woodend  to  get  it." 

Like  most  editors,  he  was  fond  of  having  his  paper  talked 
about,  and  loved  much  to  now  and  then  create  a  sensation.     To 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES.  —  CHARLES   F.    LUMMUS.  517 

that  end,  he  would  occasionally  concentrate  in  one  of  his  little 
paragraphs  enough  material  to  serve  most  editors  for  a  column — 
charging  a  perfect  little  bomb-shell  —  perhaps  offensive  from  its 
personal  application,  or  roughly  divulging  some  private  matter. 
He  was  once  sued  for  a  libel  on  one  of  our  most  respectable 
physicians,  and  judgment  to  the  amount  of  some  two  hundred 
dollars  passed  against  him,  though  I  think  he  told  me  that  the 
Doctor  did  not  exact  the  penalty.  The  oflfensive  matter  was, 
however,  the  work  of  a  correspondent. 

Like  most  editors,  too,  he  was  pleased  to  see  his  articles 
going  the  rounds  of  the  press  ;  and  he  knew  well  how  to  accom- 
plish this  end  by  inserting  that  which  from  its  bare  oddity  would 
be  snapped  up.  For  instance,  he  upon  one  calm  summer  morn- 
ing startled  the  community  with  the  bold  announcement  — 
"  Huckleberries  is  ripe."  And  the  press  all  over  the  country 
echoed  his  announcement.  It  was  customary  in  former  days, 
as  well  as  now,  for  people  to  complain  of  the  dilatoriness  of  the 
Legislature.  A«d  Mr.  Lummus  once  issued  his  paper  with  the 
usual  conspicuous  heading  —  "  Legislative  Proceedings  "  —  in 
one  of  its  columns,  followed  by  a  long  blank  space.  It  was 
thought  to  be  a  good  joke  ;  but  he  said  the  best  of  the  joke  was 
that  it  saved  the  setting  of  so  many  types. 

The  Mirror  was  discontinued  in  March,  1832,  the  proprietor 
having  become  involved,  and  the  income  not  meeting  the  ex- 
penses. In  the  summer  of  the  same  year  he  published  the  first 
Directory  of  Lynn.  It  was  a  small  12mo.  of  seventy  pages, 
with  paper  covers,  and  contained  such  information  as  is  usually 
found  in  publications  of  the  kind. 

Mr.  Lummus  now  passed  some  four  years  without  any  regular, 
settled  employment.  He  worked  a  little  at  printing,  kept  a 
circulating  library  for  a  short  time,  had  one  or  two  classes  in 
French,  and  several  in  music.  He  told  me  that  in  French,  his 
plan  was  to  learn  a  lesson  one  day  and  teach  it  the  next,  thus 
keeping  one  step  ahead  of  his  pupils,  and  so  near  them  as  to  see 
all  the  difficulties  of  the  way  ;  and  his  success  was  so  satisfac- 
tory that  one  large  class  made  him  a  valuable  present. 

In  the  spring  or  summer  of  1836,  he  commenced  a  small 
paper,  just  about  the  size  of  the  first  number  of  the  Mirror, 
which  he  called  The  Star,  and  sold  at  one  cent  a  copy.  They 
R2 


518  HISTORY    OP^    LYNN. 

sold  well.  Sometimes  he  disposed  of  fifteen  bundred,  and  gen- 
erally from  that  down  to  eight  hundred.  Yet  it  must  have  been 
far  from  a  profitable  undertaking,  for  though  he  might  edit 
and  do  all  the  mechanical  labor  himself,  but  little  could  have 
been  left  after  paying  for  the  paper  and  meeting  the  other  small 
expenses ;  and  the  advertising  amounted  to  scarcely  any  thing. 
Subsequently  he  changed  the  name  of  this  paper  from  The  Star 
to  The  Mirror,  thus  returning  to  his  first  love.  And  finally  he 
enlarged  a  little  and  raised  the  price  to  two  cents.  This  cut 
down  the  sales  very  much  ;  and  it  continued  in  weakly  existence 
for  a  few  months  more,  when  declining  health  obliged  him  to 
abandon  it. 

The  sickness  which  now  seized  upon  him  proved  to  be  his 
last.  I  often  visited  him  as  his  life  was  closing  —  for  being  in 
sickness  and  adversity,  he  was  neglected  by  most  of  those  who 
in  his  brighter  days  were  benefited  by  his  friendship  —  and 
was  usually  accompanied  by  a  dear  companion,  whose  brilliancy 
he  so  much  delighted  in,  and  whose  tender  sympathy  was  so 
soothing  to  him,  and  who,  in  the  ways  of  a  mysterious  provi- 
dence was  destined  soon  to  follow  him  into  the  dark  valley.  We 
found  him  cheerful,  for  his  christian  faith  was  strong ;  and  he 
seemed  to  feel  no  regret  at  the  near  prospect  of  death.  But  to 
the  last,  his  natural  eccentricities  would  occasionally  exhibit 
themselves.  I  remermber  that  on  an  afternoon  just  before  his 
death,  the  bell  happened  to  toll  for  a  funeral.  He  heard  it,  and 
remarked  ^'  There,  there  is  that  old  bell  again ;  well,  it  will 
toll  for  me,  in  a  few  days,  I  suppose,"  without  any  apparent 
conception  that  it  would  strike-  one  as  an  unseemly  remark. 
At  another  time,  we  found  him  sitting  up,  eating  a  piece  of 
toast,  and  were  surprised  to  hear  him  reply  to  the  inquiry  as  to 
how  he  felt,  '^  0,  your  grandsir  will  be  well  enough  in  a  few 
days,  I  guess."  But  after  he  had  retired  and  we  were  at  his 
bed-side  to  bid  him  good  night,  he  explained  himself  by  saying 
that  his  remark,  as  we  came  in,  might  have  savored  of  levit}', 
and  seemed  unbecoming;  that  it  had  reference  to  his  death, 
which  would  probably  take  place  in  a  few  days  ;  and  he  cer- 
tainly trusted  that  all  would  be  well  with  him. 

It  was  on  the  20th  of  April,  1838,  at  the  age  of  thirty-seven, 
that  Mr.  Lummus  closed  his  life.     He  had  marked  singularities 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES.  —  EBENEZER   BREED.  519 

of  character,  but  always  proved  so  fast  a  friend  and  agreeable 
companion  that  he  was  universally  beloved.  And  he  had  such 
an  honesty  of  purpose,  and  strong  desire  to  ^'  do  a  little  good 
in  the  world,"  as  he  expressed  it,  that  his  memory  is  more 
worthy  of  being  cherished  than  many  of  higher  pretensions  and 
greater  renown. 


ELIJAH  DOWNING.  —  1777-183 

Mr.  Downing  was  for  many  years  a  highly  respected  citizen, 
unassuming  in  manners,  and  of  great  moral  worth.  He  was  one 
of  the  early  Methodists,  was  ordained  a  Deacon,  and  did  much 
to  propagate  the  faith  in  this  vicinity.  He  held  responsible 
town  offices,  and  as  an  acting  magistrate  his  services  were 
much  in  requisition.  A  remarkably  retentive  memory  added 
greatly  to  his  readiness  and  success.  He  was  postmaster,  in 
1807. 

Mr.  Downing  was  born  in  Lynn,  in  1777,  and  was  twice  mar- 
ried. His  first  wife  was  Mary  Breed,  whom  he  married  7  April, 
1799,  and  his  children  were,  Mary,  Eliza,  Eliza  again,  Mary  again, 
a  third  Mary,  EHjah,  Elijah  H.,  and  Joshua  W.  Only  the  two 
last  survived  him  ;  the  latter,  but  a  short  time.  His  wife  Mary 
died  17  November,  1813,  and  he  married  Clarissa  Jacob,  his 
second  wife,  5  July,  1814.  By  her  he  had  no  children.  He 
died  on  the  14th  of  August,  1838.  He  was  a  cabinet-maker, 
and  lived  on  North  Common  street,  corner  of  Park.  His  sons 
Elijah  H.  and  Joshua  W.  were  liberally  educated,  and  both 
became  Methodist  ministers ;  Elijah,  however,  was  afterward 
received  into  the  ministry  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church, 
and  removed  to  the  south. 


EBENEZER  BREED.  —  1765-1839. 

Mr.  Breed  closed  his  strangely  eventful  life  in  Lynn  alms- 
house, on  the  23d  of  December,  1839,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four 
years.  He  had  been  a  pauper  there  for  many  years,  and  his 
life,  which  opened  with  unusual  promise,  closed  in  misery  and 
degradation.  Lynn  is  greatly  indebted  to  him  as  one  of  the 
most  efficient  laborers  in  the   establishment  of  that  business 


520  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

which  has  so  enriched  her,  and  on  which  her  prosperity  con- 
tinues to  rest.  He  was  a  native  of  the  town,  but  while  quite 
a  young  man  removed  to  Philadelphia,  where,  in  a  very  short 
period,  by  his  talents,  diligence,  and  correct  deportment,  he 
won  the  favorable  notice  of  some  of  the  most  eminent  business 
men.  One  or  two  natives  of  Lynn  were  then  in  Philadelphia, 
largely  engaged  in  business,  and  occupying  high  social  positions. 
Among  them  was  Stephen  Collins,  a  Quaker,  who  readily  ex- 
tended a  helping  hand  to  Mr.  Breed,  who  was  also  a  Quaker. 
And  Philadelphia  was  at  that  time,  as  is  well  known,  a  sort  of 
Quaker  paradise.  Every  thing  seemed  to  operate  favorably, 
and  in  a  short  time  he  fouod  himself  in  a  position  prosperous 
and  influential. 

In  1792  he  visited  Europe,  for  business  purposes,  and  while 
there  did  not  fail  to  attempt  something  for  the  benefit  of  his 
native  country,  which  having  just  achieved  her  political  inde- 
pendence, was  struggling  to  place  herself  in  a  position  to  supply 
her  own  needs  in  those  departments  of  the  great  economy  of 
life,  necessary  for  an  independent  nation.  Among  other  things 
he  set  about  introducing  the  morocco  manufacture  into  America. 
And  for  his  success,  the  National  Committee  of  Commerce  and 
Manufactures,  after  his  return,  awarded  him  a  vote  of  thanks. 
He  appointed  an  agent  at  Lynn,  to  sell  to  the  shoe  manufactur- 
ers the  fashionable  cloth  stuffs,  such  as  were  used  in  the  best 
manufactures  of  France  and  England.  Amos  Rhodes,  who  built 
the  house  on  the  east  side  of  Federal  street,  next  south  of  the 
mill  brook,  was  his  agent,  and  is  said  to  have  become  rich  on 
the  commissions.  He  also  sent  over  some  accomplished  work- 
men to  instruct  the  operatives  here  in  the  elegancies  of  the  art. 
His  first  object  seemed  to  be  to  determine  that  as  elegant  and 
substanHal  shoes  could  be  made  here  as  in  Europe ;  after  which 
another  step  was  to  be  taken. 

Soon  after  the  Revolution,  shoes  imported  from  France  and 
England  were  sold  at  such  a  cheap  rate  that  there  was  but  poor 
encouragement  for  the  manufacturer  at  home.  The  trade  at 
Lynn  was  languishing,  and  the  most  energetic  were  disheart- 
ened. At  this  juncture,  Mr.  Collins,  Mr.  Breed,  and  a  few  others 
joined  forces  in  the  endeavor  to  induce  Congress  to  impose 
such  a  duty  on  imported  shoes  as  would  orotect  the  home  man- 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  —  EBENEZER   BREED.  521 

ufacturers.  Congress  was  at  that  time  holding  its  sessions  in 
Philadelphia,  and  a  good  opportunity  was  afforded  for  "  log 
rolling," — to  use  an  expressive  modern  term — which  even  Qua- 
kers may  not  always  disdain.  Among  the  means  resorted  to  for 
the  furtherance  of  their  end  was  a  dinner  party,  for  they  were 
shrewd  enough  to  know  that  an  appeal  to  the  stomach  is 
often  effectual  when  one  to  the  head  is  powerless.  The  party 
was  held  at  the  house  of  Friend  Collins.  Sundry  members  of 
Congress  were  present  and  sundry  facinating  ladies ;  for  female 
charms  are  another  thing  that  even  Quakers  do  not  despise ; 
particularly  in  a  case  like  that  before  us,  where  a  valuable  end 
is  to  be  answered.  The  celebrated. Dolly  Payne,  who  afterward 
became  the  wife  of  Madison  was  of  the  party,  as  well  as  Madison 
himself,  who  was  at  the  time  an  influential  member  of  Congress. 
SuflSce  it  to  say,  a  very  satisfactory  tariff  act  was  passed,  and 
Lynn  immediately  commenced  her  upward  career,  much  to  the 
gratification  of  Mr.  Breed  and  her  other  dutiful  sons  then 
abroad. 

In  various  other  ways  did  Mr.  Breed,  while  in  prosperity, 
exert  himself  for  the  benefit  of  his  native  place.  The  post-office 
was  established  here,  in  1793,  through  his  exertions ;  and  being 
on  a  social  footing  with  many  prominent  individuals  in  various 
parts  of  the  country,  he  was  able,  in  a  quiet  way,  to  do  ma^y 
things  to  promote  her  interests,  of  which  few  were  ever  directly 
informed,  for  he  does  not  appear  to  have  been  one  of  those 
given  to  boasting  of  his  meritorious  acts. 

But  the  smiles  of  fortune  were  withdrawn,  while  he  was  yet 
in  the  vigor  of  manhood.  There  is  some  doubt  as  to  the  precise 
cause  of  his  downward  course.  In  his  reduced  condition  he 
was  often  in  a  mood  to  converse  with  those  in  whom  he  con- 
fided, on  the  occasion  of  his  calamities  and  sorrows.  And  with 
tears  in  his  eyes  he  has  reiterated  to  me  that  a  severe  disap- 
pointment in  a  fondly  expected  matrimonial  connection,  induced 
him  to  resort  to  the  wine  cup  for  relief — that  he  became  wed- 
ded to  the  destroyer  instead  of  the  fair  object  of  his  nobler  and 
purer  affections,  and  was  thus  ruined.  But  some  of  his  friends 
had  another  version,  which  was,  that  while  in  Europe  he  was 
brought  into  association  with  the  fashionable  and  gay ;  a  class, 
at  that  period,  almost  universally  derelict  in  morals,  and  proud 


522  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

of  lavish  expenditure ;  and  that  in  their  society  he  contracted 
such  habits  as  unfitted  him  for  the  rectified  society  of  his  native 
land.  In  short  it  was  asserted  that  he  returned  an  intemperate, 
immoral  man ;  and  that  the  refined  and  wealthy  lady  to  whom 
he  was  affianced,  in  sorrow  rejected  him,  and  afterward  accepted 
the  hand  of  one  more  worthy  of  her  confidence  and  affection. 
In  his  utter  degradation  he  clung  to  the  fond  belief  that  he  still 
remained  fresh  in  her  memory.  I  remember  with  what  aroused 
sensibilities  he  one  day,  a  short  time  before  his  death,  informed 
me  that  as  she  passed  through  Lynn,  during  the  preceding  sum- 
mer, she  made  inquiries  respecting  him,  and  being  informed 
of  his  forlorn  condition  sent  a  kind  message  and  comforting 
donation  to  him,  at  the  alms-house. 

In  prosperity,  he  became  acquainted  with  many  leading  men 
of  the  nation,  and  received  letters  which  he  treasured  up  with 
miserly  care.  And  with  some  asperity  he  charged  the  overseers 
of  the  poor  with  wantonly  destroying  them.  It  is  not  to  be 
presumed  that  those  dignitaries  had  any  unworthy  motive  in 
view  when  they  assembled  around  the  work-house  fire,  exam- 
ined the  epistles,  and  dropped  them  one  by  one  into  the  blaze ; 
yet,  if  representations  regarding  them  be  true,  some  autographs 
were  consumed  that  would  at  this  time  be  estimated  at  a  high 
pecuniary  value.  They  probably  apprehended  that  they  were 
removing  the  cause  of  the  unhappy  hours,  as  they  supposed  them 
to  be,  that  the  poor  old  man  experienced  in  poring  over  them  — 
not  realising  that  he  might 'be  far  from  unhappy  at  such  hours, 
though  tears  would  drop  from  his  purblind  ej^es.  And  to  the 
honor  of  the  friends  of  his  better  da3^s  it  should  be  said  that 
they  did  not  all  forget  or  neglect  him  in  his  bitter  adversity. 
I  had  occasion  to  know  that  he  received  from  them  many  kind 
remembrances  and  pecuniary  gratuities. 

Mr.  Breed  is  represented  to  have  been,  in  his  early  manhood, 
more  than  ordinarily  correct  in  his  habits,  especially  as  regarded 
the  use  of  intoxicating  liquors.  It  is  said  that  on  his  occasional 
visits  here  he  was  accustomed  to  labor  hard  for  the  reformation 
of  a  connection  who  had  fallen  into  intemperate  habits;  on  one 
occasion  proceeding  as  far  as  the  demonstrative  argument  of 
knocking  in  the  head  of  a  cask  containing  the  creature  of  offence. 

His  education  was  quite  as  good  as  the  common  schools  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  —  EBENEZER    BREED.  523 

his  day  afforded.  I  have  in  my  possession  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  letters  which  he  wrote  between  1789  and  1810,  and  they 
would  compare  favorably  with  the  letters  of  almost  any  busi- 
ness man  now  among  us.  His  expressions  are  clear  and  direct, 
and  his  penmanship  unusually  fair.  And  three  or  four  of  these 
letters  I  propose  to  introduce,  believing  that  they  will  add  to 
the  interest  of  this  sketch.  All  that  will  be  given,  with  the 
exception  of  the  last,  were  addressed  to  Amos  Rhodes,  the  gen- 
tleman before  named  as  his  agent  at  Lynn. 

London,  7  mo.  17,  1792. 

My  Dear  Friend:  I  intended  writing  thee  inrimediately  on  my  arrival, 
but  nothing  in  particular  occurring  to  communicate,  have  delayed  till  now. 
We  had  a  prosperous  passage  of  twenty-eight  days.  Since  my  arrival  I  have 
been  into  the  north  of  England,  to  Leeds,  Manchester,  Birmingham,  Sheffield, 
Liverpool,  &g.  I  find  I  shall  be  able  to  establish  a  good  connection  in  busi- 
ness, and  though  I  may  not  get  the  goods  to  answer  to  my  particular  plan,  yet 
I  am  sensible  I  shall  reap  advantages  by  coming  here.  I  find  some  goods  had 
been  shipped  out  to  me  in  the  spring,  and  by  letters  from  Pliiladelphia  learn 
they  arrived  safe  and  were  forwarded  to  thee.  Thou  wilt  do  the  best  with 
them,  and  when  the  sales  are  made  we  will  divide  the  profits.  I  had  goods  to 
some  amount  shipped  for  the  fall,  from  Leeds,  previous  to  my  reaching  that 
place,  so  that  I  don't  know  what  they  are.  Geo.  Pennock  is  to  receive  them, 
and  I  expect  to  be  in  Philadelphia  in  the  9th  or  first  of  10th  mo.  in  time  to  be 
in  Lynn  before  the  winter.  I  have  ordered  a  considerable  quantity  of  bindings ; 
was  at  the  factory  and  saw  them  making  them.  I  shall  not  bring  out  many 
other  goods  than  shoe  stuffs,  at  present.  I  have  met  with  a  cordial  recei)tion 
from  those  to  whom  I  was  recommended  and  have  met  with  as  much  hospi- 
tality from  others  as  ever  I  experienced  —  have  been  introduced  to  many  very 
respectable  merchants  and  others 

I  am,  with  much  love  and  esteem,  thy  affectionate  and  sincere  friend, 

Ebenezer  Breed. 

Mr.  Breed  remained  in  England  but  a  few  weeks  after  the  date 
of  the  above.  He  then  went  over  to  France,  to  perfect  some 
business  arrangements  there.  And  his  flattering  success  is  in- 
dicated in  the  following  letter : 

Dunkirk,  (France,)  8  mo.  12,  1792. 
My  Dear  Friend  :  I  have  just  heard  of  a  vessel  bound  to  Newburyport  and 
have  only  time  to  inform  thee  of  my  intention  to  leave  this  place,  this  day, 
for  London,  from  whence  I  shall  shortly  depart  for  America.  I  received  thy 
acceptable  favor,  and  am  pleased  to  hear  that  we  shall  be  able  to  vend  so  many 
goods.  I  wrote  thee  last  by  the  ship  William  Penn,  and  if  nothing  happens 
to  })revent,  shall  embark  before  I  write  thee  again.  I  have  been  making  au 
excursion  to  Paris  and  through  some  uarts  of  France.     Please  give  my  love  to 


524  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

my  parents  and  inform  them  I  am  well.  1  have  sent  out  some  stuffs,  but  have 
not  many  other  articles  —  thought  best  not  to  till  I  returned;  but  I  can  have 
any  quantity  of  goods  from  the  people  to  whom  I  was  recommended.  I  can 
not  enlarge  now,  and  not  kuowhig  whether  this  will  reach  thee  before  1  doi 
shall  conclude  with  best  respects  to  thy  Elizabeth,  and  am,  dear  friend, 

Thine  sincerely.  Eben'r  Breed. 

In  a  letter  dated  about  a  month  after  the  foregoing,  he  says, 
"I  wrote  thee  from  Dunkirk,  in  France  —  have  been  to  Paris  — 
was  there  on  the  day  before  the  fatal  10th  of  August."  This 
was  written  on  the  river  Thames,  on  board  the  ship  on  which 
he  had  embarked  to  return  to  Philadelphia.  He  remarks :  ''  I 
have  several  hundred  pounds'  worth  of  goods  in  this  ship,  all 
insured  and  paid  for." 

The  following  letter  gives  information  regarding  a  mode  of 
operating  in  shoes,  rather  common  at  that  period  : 

Philadelphia,  5  mo.  16,  1793. 
Mt  Dear  Friend  :  I  herewith  enclose  thee  a  bill  of  lading  for  sundry  goods. 
The  invoice  I  shall  send  on  by  post.  I  wrote  thee  a  few  days  since  by  post. 
Capt.  Needham  leaves  us  tomorrow,  and  by  what  I  can  learn  he  intends  to  be 
In  the  shoe  business  —  to  lend  the  shoemakers  money  on  the  usual  interest, 
with  the  privilege  of  taking  his  pay  in  shoes,  they  allowing  him  five  per  cent, 
commission  for  selling  for  what  price  he  can.  This  mode  of  business  will  no 
doubt  do  for  him,  but  how  will  it  prove  to  our  business  ?  Why,  it  is  my  opin- 
ion, and  always  has  been,  that  I  can  never  do  any  thing  here  while  shoes  are 
brought  and  sold  in  such  a  manner.  But  if  it  must  be  so,  I  prefer  Capt.  Need- 
ham  to  many  others.  1  think  if  several  of  us  would  join  and  take  such  a 
quantity  of  shoes  at  Lynn  as  to  make  them  more  difficult  for  so  many  hawkers 
to  get,  it  would  be  an  advantage.  But  we  might  as  well  think  of  raising  Egg 
Rock  from  its  bed,  and  bringing  it  to  Philadelphia  on  our  shoulders  to  exhibit 
for  a  show,  in  the  streets ;  and  in  fact  by  this  I  think  we  should  make  much 
more  money.  Farewell. 

Eben'r  Breed. 

In  the  following  letter  Mr.  Breed  manifests  impatience  at  the 
poor  way  in  which  some  of  the  Lynn  shoes  were  manufactured ; 
and  from  subsequent  correspondence,  not  here  introduced,  it  is 
judged  that  his  rebukes  had  a  good  effect.  It  will  be  noticed 
that  he  remarks  that  he  is  "  in  a  bad  way  as  to  business."  And 
we  are  impressed  with  the  belief  that  it  was  about  this  time  that 
he  was  getting  into  a  bad  way  in  other  respects : 

Philadelphia,  7  mo.  25,  1793. 
Mt  Dear  Friend  :  I  wrote  thee  yesterday,  since  which  I  have  seen  Daniel 
Ruff  and  Company,  and  they  want  six  hundred  pairs,  or  six  barrels,  of  excellent 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  —  EBENEZER    BREED.  525 

• 

satinet  rand  shoes.  [Slices  were  then  packed  in  barrels  instead  of  boxes.] 
I  want  thee  to  write  ine  by  return  post  whether  thee  can  have  them  made,  and 
at  what  price  we  can  afford  them.  Those  shoes  thee  last  sent  are  mostly  on 
hand,  and  I  am  perfectly  sick  of  doing  business  in  the  shoe  line  here,  unless 
we  can  have  such  as  will  sell.  I  declare  it  would  be  more  agreeable  to  me  to 
work  journeywork  than  be  plagued  as  I  am  by  those  who  buy  shoes  here, 
unless  we  can  have  better  ones.  If  I  call  for  the  money,  they  begin  to  show 
me  the  large  number  of  small,  unsaleable  ones  they  have  left,  that  they  never 
can  sell,  and  say  I  must  not  expect  my  pay,  &c.  &c.  And  what  can  I  say  to 
them  ?  It  is  so,  and  so  it  will  be,  while  the  shoemakers  in  Lynn  are  a  set  oi 
confounded  fools.  Ask  Samuel  Collins  what  his  cousin  Zaccheus  has  written 
him,  and  he  will  tell  thee  it  is  a  rascally  business  to  be  concerned  in,  while 
the  makers  of  shoes  there  have  no  principle  nor  policy.  I  don't  write  this  to 
blame  thee,  for  I  know  thy  mind  too  well,  and  know  thee  would  do  well  if  thee 
had  others  to  deal  with.  I  am  in  haste  now,  and  in  a  bad  way,  as  to  business, 
and  see  nothing  that  can  be  done  in  the  line  except  we  can  establish  a  factory. 
I  wish  thee  to  procure  cash  on  our  goods,  if  possible,  and  tell  those  who  deal 
with  thee  that  unless  they  can  make  shoes  on  more  honorable  terms  we  can't 
have  any  from  them. 

I  am,  my  dear  friend,  thy  affectionate 

E.  Breed. 

The  following  appears  to  have  been  written  after  the  sad 
blight  of  the  matrimonial  anticipations  alluded  to.  and  certainly 
seems  to  indicate  a  spirit  capable  of  bearing  up  under  such 
an  affliction,  though  there  is  a  little  something  like  unsavory 
bravado  in  a  passage  or  two  : 

Charleston,  [S.  C]  2  mo.  25,  1796. 
Dear  Amos  :  I  was  very  happy  in  receiving,  a  few  days  ago,  thy  agreeable 
favor  of  21  December.  I  had  written  thee  on  my  arrival  here,  and  suppose 
that  long  before  this  thou  hast  received  it.  Since  I  wrote  thee  we  have  been 
traveling  thi-ough  a  part  of  this  state,  and  intended  to  have  gone  to  Savannah 
and  Augusta,  but  the  late  uncommon  high  freshets  in  the  river  prevented. 
We  spent  three  or  four  weeks  agreeably  among  the  planters,  and  returned 
here  last  week,  when  1  received  thy  letter.  E.  Olden  has  received  great  benefit 
from  the  jaunt,  and  I  think  will  recover.  I  am  well  and  in  good  spirits;  feel 
very  different  from  what  I  did  when  I  last  wrote  thee.  I  have  seen  several 
of  my  old  acquaintances  here  and  in  the  country,  whom  I  had  seen  in  Phila- 
delphia. They  treated  me  with  every  attention  and  respect  I  could  wish.  I 
now  see  what  a  fool  I  have  been,  and  though  I  am  still  a  friend  to  my  old 

,  I  think  I  am  as  well  without  her  as  with  her.     I  now  only  wish  to  be  in 

some  good  business;  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  I  shall  spend  many  social  and 
pleasant  hours  with  thee  and  my  other  friends,  yet.  I  am  not  so  much  dis- 
spirited  as  to  be  without  friends.  And  I  think  there  are  some  girls  yet  left, 
who  can  make  me  happy.  Please  give  my  love  to  my  parents.  Tell  them  I 
am  very  well.     I  shall  wish  to  settle  our  accounts  as  thee  mentions  as  soon  as 


526  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

possible,  and  I  am  endeavoring  to  inform  myself  what  kind  of  business  can  be 
done  here  in  the  shoe  line.  Several  people  have  inquired  after  shoes,  and  1 
think  I  can  sell  considerable  numbers  here  in  future.  I  expect  to  return  home 
by  land  ;  if  so,  I  shall  leave  this  city  in  two  weeks.  If  I  come  by  water,  I  shall 
leave  sooner.     I  will  write  thee  again  soon.     My  love  to  thy  wife,  Patty,  and 

mother,  and  all  friends. 

I  am,  dear  Amos,  thy  sincere 

E.  Breed. 

The  next  and  last  letter  that  can  be  here  inserted  bears 
unmistakable  evidence  of  distempered  faculties.  Mr.  Breed  had 
now,  for  several  years,  been  back  to  Lynn,  his  native  place,  and 
at  a  rapid  pace  gone  downward.  At  this  time  he  lived  in 
what  is  called  Breed's  End,  and  procured  a  scanty  livelihood  by 
cutting  shoes.  And  it  is  not  inappropriate  to  remark  that  the 
gentleman  to  whom  this  letter  was  sent,  and  who  was  himself  at 
one  time  in  a  large  business  at  New  York,  and  well  knew  Mr. 
Breed,  in  his  prosperity,  with  emphasis  declared  that  Lynn 
never  produced  a  more  promising  and  honorable  business  man  : 

Lynn,  2  mo.  11th,  1805. 
My  Good  Fmend  :  Thy  favor  of  the  8th  inst.  is  before  me,  also  a  few  lines 
of  this  morning  handed  to  me  by  a  boy,  requesting  me  to  cut  some  small 
shoes  before  two  o'clock.  I  answer  thee  in  this  way ;  read  the  enclosed  ;  as  a 
statesman  —  a  neighbor  —  a  friend  and  brother  —  I  esteem  thee  :  but  I  am  not 
able  to  do  more  than  I  have  done.  Every  stretch  of  thought,  every  faculty,  in 
fact  all  the  powers  of  my  poor  mind  have  been  exerted  ;  still  I  am  poor  and 
unliappy.  Harris  Chadwell  will  deliver  thee  those  skins  I  lately  received  from 
thee.  I  will  thank  thee  to  return  the  enclosed  slip  of  paper ;  it  is  a  favorite 
study  of  mine ;  and  though  I  am  viewed  by  thee  as  a  Drunkard,  my  feelings 
are  the  same  as  ever  they  have  been.  Accept  my  thanks  for  thy  former 
friendship,  and  for  the  present  attention  thou  wilt  please  to  receive  the  gratefnl 
acknowledgments  of  Thy  fi-iend, 

E.  Breed. 

Mr.  Breed  fancied  that  he  had  a  turn  for  poetrj^,  and  wrote 
some  verses ;  but  the  weakness  may  have  been  superinduced 
by  the  prominent  experience,  of  a  tender  nature,  which  has 
been  alluded  to,  and  which  is  of  a  character,  as  is  generally 
supposed,  to  incline  its  subjects  to  give  vent  to  their  feelings  in 
numbers.  He  was,  however,  a  much  better  business  man  than 
poet. 

For  several  years  he  was  an  opium  eater ;  and  his  cravings 
for  the  pernicious  drug  were  pitiable  in  the  extreme.  He  used, 
occasionally,  in  good  weather,  to  gain  leave  of  absence  from  his 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES.  —  EBENEZER  BREED.       527 

pauper  home,  for  a  day  or  two  at  a  time,  and  would  then  some- 
times travel  as  far  as  Nahant,  though  his  blindness  and  other 
infirmities,  during  his  latter  years,  compelled  him  to  move  very 
slowly.  And  on  these  occasions,  if  he  could  procure  the  means, 
he  was  pretty  sure  to  become  intoxicated.  His  person  was 
gross  and  uncleanly ;  and  those  who  met  him  on  these  excur- 
sions were  compelled  to  pronounce  him  as  miserable  and  forlorn 
a  looking  object  as  could  well  be  presented  to  the  eye  of  pity. 
When  in  the  street  he  was  in  constant  fear  of  passing  carriages, 
which,  in  consequence  of  his  blindness,  he  could  not  see  ;  and,  as 
before  said,  his  gait  was  extremely  slow.  I  think  he  told  me, 
as  I  met  him  in  Federal  street,  one  summer  evening,  in  1837, 
on  his  way  home  to  the  alms-house,  that  he  had  been  the  whole 
day  in  walking  thus  far  from  Nahant. 

While  on  his  excursions,  he  would  usually  take  the  opportu- 
nity to  call  at  the  office  of  Mr.  Lummus,  the  printer,  a  bio- 
graphical sketch  of  whom  has  already  been  given ;  and  from 
that  halting  place  he  was  never  spurned,  as  he  was  from  some 
other  places  where  he  desired  to  rest.  He  was  generally  so 
hungry  by  the  time  he  arrived  as  to  beg  for  something  to  eat. 
"  Well,  Uncle  Eben,"  replied  Mr.  Lummus,  on  one  occasion,  '^  I 
can't  take  you  to  my  boarding-house  table,  you  are  so  dirty  ; 
but  I'll  get  you  something."  Presently  the  old  man  was  pro- 
vided with  a  liberal  ration  done  up  in  a  piece  of  newpaper, 
and  the  colloquy  resumed  something  after  this  sort:  "There, 
Uncle  Eben,  see  how  a  little  nice  cold  turkey  will  set  on  your 
stomach."  .  .  .  ^'  Why,  Charles,  I  thank  thee,  kindly.  It  is  a 
long  time  since  I  have  tasted  so  dainty  a  thing  as  turkey. 
But"  —  (after  munching  a  little  while)  —  "this  don't  taste  ex- 
actly as  turkey  used  to ;  and  the  bones  don't  feel  like  turkey 
bones.  But  my  eyes  are  so  dim  that  I  can't  tell  what  it  looks 
like."  ..."  Well,  Uncle  Eben,  if  you  haven't  sight  you  must 
eat  by  faith  ;  and  mutton  bones  are  just  as  good  as  turkey,  if  you 
have  faith  to  beheve  they  are.     So  eat  away,  and  be  thankful." 

But  with  all  his  faults,  Mr.  Breed  retained  many  fine  qualities, 
and  rays  of  smothered  nobleness  and  rectitude  would  not  un- 
frequently  gleam  forth.  And  it  is  painful  to  reflect  that  one 
whom  nature  seems  to  have  designed  for  some  high  duty  should 
have  so  fallen  —  that  one  who  really  did  so  much  for  his  native 


528  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

town,  for  his  country,  indeed,  should  at  last  have  gone  down  to 
a  pauper's  grave. 

From  a  history  like  his,  eminently  useful  lessons  may  be 
drawn.  Our  sympathies  are  naturally  touched  while  contem- 
plating the  condition  of  one  in  degradation  and  distress,  who 
has  seen  better  days,  who  has  stood  in  a  position  to  command 
our  respect.  But  to  render  such  lessons  most  useful  it  is  well 
to  consider  whether  the  degradation  and  distress  were  produced 
by  causes  over  which  the  sufferer  had  no  control  or  are  to  be 
attributed  to  his  own  perverse  inclination.  While,  however, 
the  lesson  is  being  deduced,  it  should  never  be  forgotten  that 
it  is  an  essential  part  of  christian  duty  to  endeavor  to  comfort 
and  relieve  the  miserable,  before  we  ask  what  made  them  so. 
I  knew  ''  Uncle*  Eben "  well,  and  had  repeated  conversations 
with  him,  though  not  before  he  had  reached  his  low  estate. 
His  sad  memories  and  utter  hopelessness  pressed  with  almost 
insufferable  weight,  and  conspired  with  his  phj^sical  infirmities 
to  render  him  a  most  forlorn  and  pitiable  object.  And  I  have 
heard  his  bitter  complaints  at  the  taunts  of  those  in  brief  autho- 
rity over  him.  They  seemed  to  have  no  just  conception  of  his 
still  lingering  virtues.  By  the  just,  even  the  offender  against 
justice  is  sure  to  have  his  merits  acknowledged.  And  into  the 
most  wretched  soul  a  ray  of  sunshine  darts  when  it  feels  that 
its  little  remnant  of  virtue  is  recognized  and  appreciated. 


ENOCH  CURTIN.  —  1794-1842. 

Mr.  Curtin  was  born  at  Lynn  on  the  25th  of  July,  1794,  and 
was  a  son  of  John  Curtin.  His  education  was  not  beyond  that 
afforded  by  the  common  schools  of  his  time.  And  he  content- 
edly pursued  the  humble  occupation  of  a  shoemaker.  But  he 
was  a  man  of  far  more  than  ordinary  ability.  Mr.  Lewis,  who 
knew  him  well,  says,  "  He  was  a  man  of  estimable  qualities, 
and  possessed  great  poetical  talent.  He  had  a  very  happy  fac- 
ulty for  the  production  of  odes  and  songs  adapted  to  particular 
occasions.  His  mind  was  intellectual,  refined,  and  noble,  and 
he  was  widely  esteemed  and  beloved."  In  1816,  he  married 
Sally  Ireson,  by  whom  he  had  seven  children  ;  and  he  died  on 
the  28th  of  May,  1842,  at  the  age  of  forty-seven. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES.  —  ENOCH    CURTIN.  529 

Mr.  Cuvtin  furnishes  a  striking  example  of  unasserted  talents. 
There  is  little  doubt  that  nature  bestowed  on  him  powers,  which, 
had  they  been  fully  developed  and  cultivated,  would  have  made 
him  eminent  as  a  poet.  He  appears  to  have  felt  assured  of  this, 
but  had  not  suflScient  ambition  to  overcome  a  natural  repug- 
nance to  that  earnest  and  persistent  intellectual  labor  by  which 
alone  one  can  become  eminent  as  a  writer.  And  in  his  grave, 
perhaps  rests  another  "  mute,  inglorious  Milton."  In  his  seques- 
tered walk  as  a  humble  mechanic,  however,  with  his  contempla- 
tive rather  than  laboring  mind,  he  may  have  enjoyed  more  than 
he  could  have  enjoyed  through  the  ringing  plaudits  of  a  hollow 
hearted  world.  But  can  any  one  fulfill  his  duty  to  his  fellow 
men  while  allowing  talents  which  might  benefit  them  to  remain 
unimproved  ?  And  is  it  not  selfishness  to  prefer  a  pleasurable 
ease  to  a  putting  forth  of  those  exertions  which  would  enhance 
the  enjoyment  of  others  ? 

As  Mr.  Lewis  remarks,  Mr.  Curtin  possessed  a  very  happy 
faculty  for  composing  odes  and  occasional  pieces.  His  style 
was  stirring  and  eloquent  —  just  what  is  required  in  such 
compositions.  His  pen  was  in  requisition  for  a  contribution  for 
almost  every  sort  of  celebration  and  dedication ;  and  the  news- 
boy confidently  expected  a  glowing  address  for  his  patrons  at 
new  year's  time.  If  he  could  have  disciplined  himself  so  as  to 
bestow  a  little  more  labor  on  what  might  be  called  the  finish 
of  his  pieces,  eliminating  redundances,  easing  ofi*  occasional 
rough  turns,  rectifying  an  imperfect  image  here  and  there,  he 
would,  on  a  final  perusal,  have  been  better  satisfied  with  his 
productions,  and  they  would  have  gone  forth  with  a  stronger 
recommendation  to  the  discriminating  reader.  In  consequence 
of  this  want  of  care  and  exactness  in  expressing  himself,  his 
full  meaning  does  not  always  at  once  appear;  and  hence  to 
the  inattentive  reader  much  may  be  lost.  There  is  a  wide 
difference  between  him  and  Miss  Fuller,  in  these  respects,  as 
the  reader  will  at  once  perceive.  Their  general  styles,  too,  are 
marked  by  all  the  differences  that  characterize  the  opposite 
sexes :  hers  is  feminine  and  smoothly  flowing,  his  masculine  and 
often  abrupt.  But  I  hardly  know  who  would  place  one  below 
the  other  as  a  favorite  of  the  Muses. 

As   a  writer   to  be    read   in   times  not  his   own,  Mr.  Curtin 
S2  34 


530  HISTORY    OF   LYNN. 

labored  under  a  disadvantage.  His  pieces  were  commonly 
written  with  reference  to  particular  occasions  or  localities  and 
were  apt  to  contain  expressions  which  could  not  be  fully  un- 
derstood, under  other  circumstances.  He  wrote  rapidly,  gen- 
erally on  the  spur  of  the  occasion,  and  in  accordance  with 
some  special  solicitation  which  his  generosity  would  not  suffer 
him  to  decline  ;  he  wrote,  too,  without  expectation  of  pecuniary 
reward ;  and  his  uniform  success  establishes  the  fact  of  an  ac- 
tive and  trustworthy  genius ;  which  is  certainly  to  be  preferred 
to  one  of  the  pyrotechnic  order,  however  brilliant  or  startling 
an  occasional  scintillation  may  be.  He  was  unassuming,  and  I 
apprehend  would  have  been  undisturbed  by  criticism,  as  he 
might  defiantly  exclaim,  in  the  language  of  Wordsworth, 
The  moviug  accident  is  not  my  trade. 

Most  writers  in  verse  who  have  not  had  considerable  experi- 
ence nor  been  subjected  to  the  shocks  of  criticism  —  and  many, 
indeed,  who  have  —  injure  their  composition  by  straining  after 
the  ornamental  and  disdaining  the  natural.  But  it  seems  to 
me  that  Mr.  Curtin,  and  Miss  Fuller,  were  both  singularly  free 
from  such  an  unfortunate  habit.  And  as  every  one  has  a  love 
for  the  natural,  they  will  never  cease  to  have  admirers.  Their 
styles  were  very  different,  and  so  were  their  themes ;  and  it  is 
strong  evidence  of  their  appreciation  of  their  own  powers  that 
with  each,  theme  and  style  were  so  well  adapted  to  each  other. 

Mr.  Curtin  did  not  confine  himself  to  poetry,  by  any  means. 
He  wrote  a  great  many  excellent  prose  articles ;  some  of  an 
imaginative  character,  and  others  on  the  sober  realities  of 
life.  And  his  pen  was  not  unfrequently  exercised  on  political 
subjects.  He  could  be  caustic  if  he  chose,  but  was  dignified, 
and  seldom  trespassed  on  the  strict  rules  of  courtesy.  A  couple 
of  specimens  of  his  poetry  follow. 

SOUND   freedom's    TRUMP  I 
•An  Ode  sung  at  the  Celebration  of  Independence,  in  Lynn,  July  4,  1831.1 
Sound  Freedom's  Trump!     The  day  returns. 

The  day  that  gave  our  Nation  birth  I 
The  fire  upon  our  altar  burns, 

Whose  sacred  incense  fills  the  earth. 
Let  crumbling  crowns  to  dust  retire, 
While  Liberty's  eternal  fire, 


mOGRAPBTCAL    SKETCHES.  —  ENOCH   CURTIN.  531 

O'er  tottering  thrones  sheds  its  bright  ray, 

And  round  the  earth  in  triumph  rolls, 
A  halo  of  immortal  day, 

VVliose  arch  of  glory  lights  the  Poles; 

Sound  Freedom's  Trump !     Let  each  glad  voice 

Join  the  full  chorus  of  delight! 
This  day  at  Freedom's  shrine  rejoice, 

While  Europe's  minions  sleep  in  night ' 
Despots  shall  mourn  their  regal  birth, 
And  sceptres  vanish  from  the  earth ! 
Let  mitres  in  obedience  nod, 

Be  Tyranny  in  ruin  hurled. 
And  Liberty  proclaim  her  God, 

While  Freedom's  Trump  shall  v\^ake  the  world ! 

Sound  Freedom's  Trump,  o'er  hill  and  dale ! 

Throughout  Columbia's  vast  domain 
Let  songs  of  joy  and  mirth  prevail. 

And  each  glad  voice  repeat  the  strain. 
No  tyrant  foot  shall  tread  the  soil, 
Our  fathers  bought  with  blood  and  toilt 
Firm  as  the  rocks  upon  our  strand, 

To  guard  the  right  by  freedom  given, 
Columbia's  hardy  sons  shall  stand, 

A  fearless  host  —  the  pride  of  Heaven  ! 

Sound  Freedom's  Trump !     Awake !     Arise ! 

And  bid  the  thundering  cannon's  roar 
Swell  in  loud  paeans  to  the  skies, 

And  fill  the  earth  from  shore  to  shore  I 
Gallia  and  Grecia  shall  be  free ! 
And  Poland  shouts  for  liberty ! 
On  pinions  of  immortal  fame. 

The  sacred  flame  each  clime  shall  bound ; 
Then,  while  Columbia  holds  a  name. 

Let  holy  Freedom's  Trumpet  sound  ! 


Addressed  to  a  young  lady  of  Marblehead,  on  the  death  of  her  brother,  who 
died  at  Batavia,  in  the  island  of  Java,  and  was  buried  on  a  small  island, 
about  half  a  league  from  Batavia.  In  digging  his  grave  a  considerable  quantity 
of  curious  marine  shells,  of  beautiful  variety,  were  found  embedded  about 
four  feet  from  the  surface  of  the  earth,  a  number  of  which  were  preserved 
and  brought  to  this  country,  one  of  them  being  presented  to  the  author. 
Written  in  1830. 

Be  hushed  thy  sighs !     Oh,  weep  not  for  the  dead, 
Who  sweetly  sleeps  within  his  coral  bed ; 


532  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

Oh,  cease  to  chide  the  swellhig  waves  that  bore 
A  loving  brother  from  his  native  shore 
For  the  trumpet  shall  sound 
And  the  dead  shall  arise, 
To  inherit  a  crown 

From  the  King  of  the  skies. 

No  more  the  storm  shall  gather  round  his  head, 
No  more  the  foaming  waves  their  crests  shall  rear, 
To  shatter  his  frail  bark  —  no  more  the  lead 

Shall  tell  of  rocks,  and  shoals,  and  quicksands  near.  ^ 

For  behold  to  unite  | 

In  the  sweet  promise  given,  \ 

He  has  taken  his  flight  j 

To  the  mansions  of  Heaven.  { 

Oft  has  he  braved  the  perils  of  the  deep, 
And  heard  the  rude  winds  whistle  through  the  shrouds. 
Oft  has  he  strove  his  little  bark  to  keep 
Safe  from  the  fury  of  the  gathering  clouds. 
But  the  clouds  have  passed  o'er. 

And  the  winds  are  at  rest: 
He  now  dwells  secure 
In  the  realms  of  the  blest. 

Far  in  the  palm  ti'ees'  shade  his  bed  is  found, 
Where  Indian  summers  yield  eternal  bloom ; 
Where  spicy  groves  spread  their  rich  foliage  round, 
And  shed  their  fragrance  o'er  his  early  tomb. 
Where  the  lote  shall  wave, 

And  the  cypress  shall  twine, 
Till  the  mariner's  grave 
Shall  its  treasure  resign. 

What  though  no  storied  urn  points  out  the  spot, 
Or  marble  marks  his  last  retreat  from  care  ; 
What  though  no  stone  records  his  early  lot, 
Or  tells  —  "The  ship-wreck'd  marmer  lies  there." 
Yet  to  his  sad  pile 

Shall  the  murmuring  surge, 
As  it  sweeps  round  the  isle. 
Sing  the  young  sailor's  dirge. 

Then  weep  no  more !     Oh  hush  those  sighs  of  thine ; 

For  could  thy  tears  recall  him  from  that  shore, 

Where  his  blest  spirit  lives  in  bliss  divine, 

Methinks,  young  friend,  that  thou  would'st  weep  no  more. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES.  — NEWHALL.  —  COFFIN.  533 

Then  trust  in  that  arm, 

Whose  chastening  rod 
Will  shield  thee  from  harm  — 

'Tis  the  power  of  God. 


JOSIAH  NEWHALL.  —  1790-1842. 

Mr.  Newhall  was  a  highly  respected  and  useful  citizen,  and  for 
many  years  continued  to  fill  the  most  responsible  offices  in  the 
town.  He  was  a  Representative  for  several  terms,  and  a  Senator 
in  1832  and  '33.  He  was  one  of  our  largest  shoe  manufacturers, 
for  years,  and  in  all  his  business  relations  secured  the  utmost 
confidence  of  those  with  whom  he  dealt.  His  residence  and 
place  of  business  were  at  the  east  end  of  the  Common.  In 
manners  he  was  dignified  and  courteous ;  and  he  was  excelled 
by  none  for  integrit}^  of  character  and  purity  of  life.  For  many 
years  he  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Methodist  connection, 
and  active  in  benevolent  enterprises. 

He  was  born  at  Lynn,  on  the  7th  of  January,  1790,  and  was 
a  descendant  from  Thomas  Newhall,  the  first  person  of  European 
parentage  born  in  Lynn.  He  was  twice  married.  His  first 
wife  was  Lydia  Johnson,  to  whom  he  was  united  on  the  19th 
of  March,  1811,  and  by  whom  he  had  four  children  —  Robert, 
who  died  in  infancy ;  Elizabeth ;  Martha,  who  died  in  infancy ; 
and  Harrison.  His  second  wife  was  Clarissa  Martin,  whom  he 
married  in  1832,  and  by  whom  he  had  two  children  —  Charles 
M.,  who  died  in  childhood,  and  Josiah  H.,  who  is  now  a  Metho- 
dist minister. 

Mr.  Newhall  died  on  the  7th  of  November.  1842. 


EDWARD  LUMMUS  COFFIN.  —  1794-1845. 
Dr.  Coffin  was  the  third  son  of  Dr.  Aaron  Lummus,  and  a 
brother  of  Charles  F.  Lummus,  a  biographical  sketch  of  whom 
has  been  given.  His  name  was  changed  to  Coffin,  which  was 
the  family  name  on  the  maternal  side,  chiefly  because  his  father 
and  elder  brother,  John,  were  at  the  time  practising  physicians 
here  and  confusion  was  liable  to  occur.  He  was  born  in  Lynn, 
on  the  14th  of  December,  1794,  graduated  at  Harvard,  and  studied 
medicine  under  Dr.  ShurtlefF,  of  Boston.  He  was  twice  mar- 
S2^ 


534  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

ried.  His  first  wife  was  Mary  Rhodes,  whom  he  married  in 
1823,  and  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  named  Edward  Everett, 
who  died  in  infancy.  His  second  wife  was  Frances  Cutler,  of 
Cambridge,  by  whom  he  had  two  children  —  Mary  F.  and  Edward 
C.  He  died  at  his  residence,  on  Market  street,  on  the  31st  of 
March,  1845,  at  the  age  of  fifty,  after  a  painful  sickness  of  more 
than  two  years. 

Dr.  Coffin  was  a  highly  esteemed  citizen ;  skillful  in  his  pro- 
fession, liberal  in  his  views,  of  generous  disposition  and  affable 
manners.  He  was  active  in  the  cause  of  popular  education 
and  the  general  difi"usion  of  intelligence  ;  was  much  interested 
in  the  common  schools,  in  lectures,  and  scientific  discussions. 
And  he  was  not  apt  to  denounce  a  new  thing,  without  examina- 
tion, because  others  decried  it  as  a  humbug.  I  remember  when 
the  first  lecturer  on  animal  magnetism  came  to  town  and  dis- 
coursed in  the  old  Town  Hall,  with  what  fairness  he  joined 
thumbs  with  him,  and  how  patiently  he  sat  under  the  manipula- 
tions, entirely  undisturbed  by  the  merriment  of  those  in  whose 
minds  the  whole  thing  was  forestalled  as  an  imposition.  He 
was  not  one  of  the  many  who  are  so  excessively  timid,  through 
fear  of  compromising  their  dignity,  that  they  suffer  the  best 
opportunities  for  improvement  to  slip  by  unemployed.  His 
labors  on  the  school  committee,  in  conjunction  with  those  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Rockwood,  who  was  likewise  an  ardent  friend  of  edu- 
cation, were  highly  appreciated.  And  their  unity  of  purpose, 
in  this  respect,  did  much  toward  creating  a  lasting  friendship 
between  them;  though  on  one  important  matter  their  views 
were  essentially  different  —  the  Doctor  being  a  decided  Unita- 
rian and  Mr.  Rockwood  a  high  Calvinist. 

He  possessed  a  vein  of  humor  which  would  sometimes  assert 
itself  in  a  most  pleasing  manner ;  but  he  did  not  suffer  it  to 
override  his  dignity.  Men  who  fancy  themselves  wits,  and 
set  themselves  up  as  such,  are  prone  to  obtrude  their  smart 
saying  as  well  out  of  season  as  in  season,  greatly  to  the  annoy- 
ance of  others  and  their  own  discredit.  But  the  occasional  sallies 
of  a  genuine  and  unostentatious  humorist,  are  like  placid  rays  of 
sunshine  in  the  world's  dull  routine.  Nor  was  the  Doctor  with- 
out ability  as  a  versifier,  his  productions  being  usually  of  a 
playful  character.     His  pieces  were  evidently  unstudied ;   but 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


EDWARD    L.    COFFIN. 


535 


they  bear  unmistakable  evidence  of  a  trained  mind  and  lively 
sensibilities.  The  following  appears  in  the  form  of  a  receipted 
bill,  dated  December  29,  1827,  and  was  sent  to  a  townsman  into 
whose  family  he  had  been  professionally  called  during  the  year. 
His  charges  were  certainly  moderate ;  particularly  as  he  ap- 
pears to  have  taken  store  pay. 

1827.  My  frien'  good  Mr.  William  B. 

Indebted  is  to  Doctor  E. 

For  sundry  pills  and  potions, 
And  credited  by  more  amomit, 
As  will  be  seen  by  shop  account, 

For  claes  and  gloves  and  notions. 

Feb'y.  When  slippery  Pisces  led  the  year, 

(Tail-tied,  for  lack  of  better  gear, 

The  stars  amang,) 
Ye  ken  I  Ve  charged  a  groat  or  two 
For  self  and  wife  and  little  Sue, 

When  called  to  gang, 75 

March.  Item  —  when  crinkled-horned  Aries 

Looked  frowning  fra'  the  vernal  skies. 

Rheumatics  boding, 

May.  Item  —  when  Maia's  gentler  reign 

Brought  in  a  ghostly  croupy  train. 

Your  lugs  aye  loading, 1.38 

June  24.  When  canker  worms  had  left  the  trees, 70 

July.  And  Cancer  mellowed  down  the  breeze, 

(For  wife  and  wee  ane,)       2.37 

August.  When  Leo's  flaming  eye  surveyed 

All  Sammy's  cattle  in  the  shade. 

Except  —  the  HE  ANE L62 

$6.82 
May  He  who  only  has  the  giftie, 
Make  you  aye  cantie,  hale  and  thriftie. 

To  life's  last  hour. 
May  a'  the  Powers  above  defend  ye, 
Fra'  croup  and  toothack  always  tent  ye. 

And  blue  deil's  power. 

And  when  adown  life's  hill  ye  're  ganging 
May  conscience  give  no  fearfu'  twanging. 

But  hopes  aye  braw. 
And  may  your  bonny  bairns  inherit 
Their  mither's  warth,  their  father's  spu'it, 

When  ye  're  awa. 


536  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

ENOCH  MUDGE.  —  1776-1850. 

Mr.  Miidge  was  born  in  Lynn,  on  the  28tb  of  June,  1776,  and 
was  ft  son  of  Enoch  Mudge,  who  lived  on  the  south  side  of  the 
Common.  At  the  early  age  of  seventeen  years  he  was  licensed 
as  a  Methodist  preacher,  and  the  next  year  joined  the  traveling 
connection.  He  was  the  first  Methodist  preacher  born  in  New 
England,  and  continued  active  in  the  ministry  for  a  great  num- 
ber of  years.  He  was  a  man  of  fervid  piety  and  great  activity 
of  mind.  His  poetical  effusions  —  of  which  many  appeared  at 
different  periods  of  his  life  —  bear  evidence  of  a  mind  warmly 
in  love  with  the  beautiful  of  nature,  and  his  sermons,  of  a  heart 
devoted  to  the  good  of  his  fellow  men.  He  married,  29  Novem- 
ber, 1797,  Jerusha  Hinkley,  a  daughter  of  John  Holbrook,  of 
Wellfleet,  by  whom  he  had  four  children  —  Solomon  H.,  Anne 
B.,  Mary  A.,  and  Enoch  R. ;  the  latter  of  whom  erected  the 
beautiful  Gothic  stone  cottage  at  Swampscot,  which  attracts  so 
much  attention  from  strangers  of  taste. 

Mr.  Mudge  died  in  Lynn  on  the  2d  of  April,  1850,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-four,  and  was  buried  from  the  First  Methodist  meet- 
ing-house. 

At  the  close  of  the  biographical  sketch  of  Micajah  Collins 
may  be  found  some  lines  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  Mudge.  His 
longest  production  in  metre,  was,  I  think,  that  entitled  ''  Lynn, 
a  Poem."  It  was  written  in  1820,  and  published,  in  pamphlet 
form,  in  1826.  It  comprises  some  six  hundred  and  fifty  lines  ; 
is  not  very  lively  in  style,  and  is  hardly  calculated  to  meet  the 
cravings  of  a  taste  that  prefers  the  stimulating  to  the  merely 
nutritious.  Wit  and  humor  always  impart  a  relish  to  poetic 
effusions  on  themes  which  are  not  strictly  pensive  or  solemnly 
didactic.  Without  one  or  the  other,  the  sentiment  must  be 
pleasurable  or  the  imagery  glowing  to  render  a  piece  at  all 
attractive.  But  I  do  not  find  that  Mr.  Mudge  laid  claim  to 
either  wit  or  humor.  His  poetry  was  rather  instructive  and 
admonitory  than  pleasing;  and  it  was  always  valuable  for  its 
moral  inculcations  and  good  common  sense  views.  The  follow- 
ing lines,  which  were  probably  written  in  1826,  are  as  easy  and 
pleasant  as  any  thing  of  his  that  I  have  been  able  to  find.  The 
sentiment  will  be  approved,  and  the  comparisons  are  suggestive, 
though  an  imperfect  expression  or  two  may  be  noticed. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES.  —  ASA    T.    NEWHALL.  537 

THE   BLISS    OF   PIETY. 
Gentle  is  the  breath  of  May, 
At  the  early  dawn  of  day ; 
Mild  tlie  virgin-blushing  rose, 
When  first  opening  from  repose ; 
Sweet  the  odors  of  perfume, 
From  the  honeysuckle  bloom. 
Pleasant  is  the  morning  ray, 
Peeping  from  the  birth  of  day  ; 
Pure  the  gentle  dew  or  rain, 
When  distilling  o'er  the  plain; 
Charming  to  angelic  ears. 
Is  the  music  of  the  spheres. 
All  these  images  are  faint. 
The  Bliss  of  Piety  to  paint. 
Gentler,  milder,  sweeter,  are 
The  breath  of  Piety  and  Prayer. 
Music,  light,  and  dew,  and  rain, 
All  your  images  are  vain. 
Breath  of  light  and  life  divine, 
Odors,  music,  all  are  thine. 


ASA  TARBEL  NEWHALL.  —  1779-1850. 

Mr.  Newliall  was  born  in  the  part  Lynn  that  now  forms  Lynn- 
field,  on  the  28th  of  June,  1779.  He  was  a  son  of  Asa,  who 
was  born  on  the  5th  of  August,  1732,  and  was  a  son  of  Thomas, 
who  was  born  on  the  6th  of  January,  1681,  and  was  a  son  of 
Joseph,  who  was  born  on  the  22d  of  September,  1658,  and  was 
a  son  of  Thomas  Newhall,  the  first  white  person  born  in  Lynn. 

Mr.  Newhall  was  bred  a  farmer,  and  followed  the  honorable 
occupation  all  his  life.  He  was  a  close  observer  of  the  opera- 
tions of  nature,  and  brought  to  the  notice  of  others  divers  facts 
of  great  benefit  to  the  husbandman.  He  delivered  one  or  two 
addresses  at  agricultural  exhibitions,  and  published  several  pa- 
pers which  secured  marked  attention  and  elicited  discussion. 
His  mind  was  penetrating  and  possessed  a  happy  mingling  of  the 
practical  and  theoretical ;  and  he  had  sufficient  energy  and  in- 
dustry to  insure  results.  Such  a  person  will  always  make  him- 
self useful  in  the  world,  though  he  may  be  destitute  of  that  kind 
of  ambition  which  would  place  him  in  conspicuous  positions. 

He  was  liberal  in  his  views,  courteous  in  his  manners ;  and 


538  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 


by>  his  sound  judgment  and  unswerving  integrity  secured  uni- 
versal respect.  In  his  earlier  manhood  he  was  somewhat  active 
as  a  politician,  and  was  deemed  judicious  and  trustworthy.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  1820,  and  a 
Senator  in  1826.     He  was  also  a  Representative,  in  1828. 

His  wife  was  Judith  Little,  of  Newbury ;  and  he  had  nine 
children — Joshua  L.,  Asa  T.,  Thomas  B.,  Sallie  M.,  Eunice  A., 
Judith  B.,  Caroline  E.,  Hiram  L.,  and  Elizabeth  B. 

Mr.  Newhall  died  at  his  residence,  in  the  southeastern  part 
of  Lynnfield,  on  the  18th  of  December,  1850,  aged  71,  and  was 
buried  with  masonic  honors. 


EZRA  MUDGE.  —  1780-1855. 
Mr.  Mudge  was  born  in  Lynn,  on  the  10th  of  April,  1780.  He 
was  engaged  in  the  shoe  business,  here,  for  some  years  of  his 
early  manhood,  and  afterward  went  to  New  York,  where  he 
kept  a  large  shoe  store.  Subsequently  he  returned,  and  re- 
mained till  the  first  administration  of  General  Jackson,  when, 
on  receiving  an  appointment  in  the  Boston  custom  house,  he 
removed  to  that  city,  where  he  continued  to  reside  till  the  time 
of  his  death.  For  sixteen  years  he  faithfully  represented  his 
native  town  in  the  Legislature,  having  fiist  taken  his  seat  there 
in  1807.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention, 
in  1820,  and  of  the  Executive  Council,  in  1828.  He  was  active 
in  establishing  the  Artillery  Company,  in  1808,  was  one  of  the 
lieutenants  commissioned  at  the  time  of  organization,  and  cap- 
tain in  1813. 

Mr.  Mudge  was  a  man  of  unaffected  piety,  sound  judgment, 
and  agreeable  manners.  And  though  his  worldly  fortunes  va- 
ried, he  never  lost  his  integrity  nor  the  respect  of  his  fellow 
men.  He  died  on  the  25th  of  May,  1855,  and  his  remains  were 
brought  to  Lynn  and  buried  from  the  South  street  Methodist 
meeting-house,  he  having  been  all  his  life  a  consistent  adherent 
of  the  Methodist  faith.  He  was  thrice  married,  his  first  matri- 
monial connection  having  been  entered  into  at  the  early  age  of 
twenty-one  years.  His  first  wife  was  Betsey  Brewer,  whom  he 
married  in  1801,  and  by  whom  he  had  no  children.  His  second 
wife  was   Ruth  Chadwell,  whom   he   married  in  1804,  and  by 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  —  FRANCIS   S.    NEWHALL.  539 

whom  he  bad  seven  children  —  Ezra  A.,  Eliza  B.,  Ruth  C,  Ezra 
W.,  Nathan,  Hannah,  and  Sarah  W.  His  third  wife  was  Hannah 
Drew,  and  by  her  be  had  seven  children  —  Lemuel  D.,  William 
B.,  Hervey  M.,  Sarah  C,  Mary  E.,  Maria  A.,  and  Robert  R. 
Ezra  Warren,  the  fourth  child  by  the  second  wife,  was  Mayor 
of  Lynn  in  1856  and  '57. 


FRANCIS  STUART  NEWHALL.  — 1795-1858. 

Mr.  Newhall  was  born  in  Lynn  on  the  30th  of  April,  1795,  and 
was  a  son  of  Winthrop,  who  was  born  on  the  6th  of  June,  1769, 
and  was  a  son  of  Farrar  (or  Pharaoh,  as  he  was  universally  called, 
and  which  name  he  himself  adopted,)  who  was  born  on  the  15th 
of  February,  1735,  and  was  a  son  of  Samuel,  who  was  born  on 
the  9th  of  March,  1700,  and  was  a  son  of  Joseph,  who  was  born 
on  the  22d  of  September,  1658,  and  was  a  son  of  Thomas,  born 
in  1630  —  the  first  person  of  European  parentage  born  in  Lynn. 

Like  most  of  his  cotemporaries,  his  father  being  in  moderate 
circumstances,  Mr.  Newhall  had  but  little  opportunity  to  acquire 
more  than  a  very  common  education.  At  about  the  age  of 
thirteen  he  commenced  learning  the  trade  of  a  tanner,  which 
business  his  father  had  followed  for  some  years.  Soon  after 
attaining  his  majority  he  engaged  in  the  morocco  manufacture, 
and  did  a  considerable  business  for  those  times.  In  1822,  the 
firm  of  F.  S.  and  H.  Newhall,  familiar  to  every  body  in  this 
vicinity,  for  many  years,  was  formed;  Henry,  Mr.  Newball's 
brother,  who  is  still  living,  being  the  junior  partner. 

Mr.  Newhall  removed  to  New  York  in  1825,  and  established 
another  business  house,  with  a  third  partner,  Mr.  Ebenezer 
Burrill  — the  old  firm  continuing  in  Lynn.  Although  the  New 
York  firm  was  not  successful,  yet  it  subsequently  paid  its  in- 
debtedness in  full.  Returning  to  Lynn,  Mr.  Newhall,  with  his 
brother,  prosecuted  the  morocco  and  leather  business  with  such 
energy  and  success,  that  they  soon  became  two  of  our  most 
wealthy  townsmen.  The  firm  was  dissolved  in  1850,  on  account 
of  the  ill  health  of  Henry.  Mr.  Newhall  continued  in  trade  for 
many  years,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  in  the  sole  leather 
business,  in  Boston,  with  his  son  Henry  F. 

He  was  for  more  than  twenty  years  a  director  of  the  Lynn 


540  HISTORY   OF   LYNN. 

Mechanics  Bank;  and  in  1849,  through  his  exertions  the  Laigh- 
ton  Bank  was  established,  of  which,  with  the  exception  of  three 
weeks,  in  1856,  he  was  president  till  the  day  of  his  death.  He 
was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Lynn  Mechanics  Insurance 
Company,  which  has  been  remarkably  successful. 

Mr.  Newhall  was  among  those  earliest  interested  in  the  Uni- 
tarian society,  and  continued  through  life  to  be  one  of  its  most 
active  and  generous  supporters. 

He  was  also  active  in  political  matters,  and  in  the  days  of 
anti-masonry  was  several  times  chosen  a  Representative  to  the 
Legislature.  After  the  decline  of  the  anti-masonic  party  he 
became  a  whig,  and  was  elected  to  the  Senate  in  1^43  and  '44. 

There  were  but  few  matters  of  public  interest  or  importance 
in  which  he  did  not  take  part.  Being  an  active  man,  one  of 
strong  points  and  decided  character,  he  was  usually  prominent. 
He  was  prompt,  energetic,  and  far-seeing,  and  possessed  very 
considerable  skill  as  a  financier. 

Mr.  Newhall  was  intelligent,  social,  hospitable,  and  a  man  of 
rare  integrity.  In  speech  he  was  sometimes  rather  blunt;  but 
this  perhaps  arose  more  from  his  propensity  to  declare  openly 
an  honest  conviction  than  a  natural  inclination  to  harshness. 
He  was  of  a  liberal  disposition,  and  in  mercantile  affairs  espe- 
cially, was  a  man  of  much  influence. 

In  1818  he  married  Lydia,  a  daughter  of  Thompson  Burrill, 
and  a  lineal  descendant  from  Hon.  Ebenezer  Burrill,  a  biograph- 
ical sketch  of  whom  may  be  found  commencing  on  page  492 ; 
and  his  children  were,  Eliza,  Persis,  Henry  F.,  Lydia  A.,  Maria, 
B.,  and  George  T. 

Mr.  Newhall  died  on  the  2d  of  February,  1858,  and  was  buried 
from  his  residence  on  Market  street,  opposite  Summer. 


ISAAC  NEWHALL.  —  1782-1858. 

Mr.  Newhall  was  born  in  Lynn  on  the  24th  of  August,  1782, 
and  was  a  direct  descendant  from  Thomas  Newhall,  the  first  of 
the  name  who  settled  in  Lynn.  He  was  for  many  years  a  mer- 
chant, and  at  one  time  did  an  extensive  business. 

He  was  intelligent,  and  his  literary  attainment  was  considera- 
ble.    In  1831  he  published,  in  a  well-printed  duodecimo  volume, 


BTOrxRAPHICAL   SKETCHES.  —  ISAIAH   BREED.  541 

a  series  of  letters  addressed  to  Jolm  Pickering,  in  which  he 
endeavored  to  satisfy  the  world  that  Earl  Temple  was  the  au- 
thor of  the  Junius  Letters.  The  work  attracted  considerable 
attention,  though  it  failed  to  satisfy  mankind  that  the  great  un- 
known were  really  unmasked. 

Mr.  Newhall  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Sarali 
Lewis,  a  cousin  of  the  Lynn  Bard,  whom  he  married  in  1809, 
and  by  whom  he  had  seven  children  —  Sarah,  Gustavus,  Marga- 
ret, Horatio,  Isaac,  Martha  A.,  and  Louisa.  He  married  his 
second  wife  in  1849,  and  by  her  had  one  daughter  —  Sarah  M. 
In  his  youth,  Gustavus  manifested  ambition  for  literary  fame, 
and  wrote  a  good  many  pieces,  in  prose  and  poetry,  which  ap- 
peared in  the  newspapers,  and  were  well  received.  Mr.  Lum- 
mus,  of  the  Mirror,  thought  well  of  them,  and  I  remember 
hearing  Mr.  Lewis  speak  of  them  as  promising  much ;  but  the 
promise  was  not  fulfilled. 

Mr.  Newhall  resided  from  town  a  good  portion  of  his  active 
life,  and  was  in  business  at  Salem  a  number  of  years.  But  he 
returned  to  Lynn  and  spent  his  latter  days  at  the  old  homestead, 
on  the  east  side  of  Mall  street,  near  the  mill  brook.  There  he 
died,  on  the  6th  of  July,  1858.  As  he  was  a  brother  of  John 
M.  Newhall,  his  genealogy  may  be  traced  by  recurring  to  page 
487  of  this  volume.' 


ISAIAH  BREED.  —  1786-1859. 

Mr.  Breed  descended  from  a  respectable  ancestry  whose  for- 
tunes were  identified  with  the  weal  or  wo  of  L3mn,  from  an 
early  period.  He  was  born  on  the  21st  of  October,  1786.  At 
an  early  age  he  commenced  labor  upon  the  shoemaker's  seat, 
whence  he  arose  to  become  one  of  the  most  extensive  and 
successful  shoe  manufacturers  of  his  time.  He  became  wealthy, 
and  was  liberal  with  his  means,  in  all  enterprises  calculated  to 
be  of  public  benefit ;  and  his  private  charities  were  large.  He 
was  in  active  business  for  nearly  fifty  years,  was  president  of 
Mechanics  Bank  more  than  thirty  years,  and  was  a  member  of 
the  first  board  of  Directors  of  the  Eastern  Rail-road. 

For  several  terms  Mr.  Breed  was  a  Representative  in  the 
L«)gislature,  and  he  was  elected  a  Senator,  in  1839;  and  though 
T2 


542  HISTORY    OF   lA-NN. 

he  was  not  gifted  as  an  orator,  his  services  as  a  trustworthy 
and  industrious  working  member,  were  highly  appreciated.  In 
person  he  was  commanding  and  in  manners  dignified. 

In  his  social  relations  — as  a  kind  neighbor  and  fast  friend  — 
he  was  worthy  of  imitation  ;  and  by  his  virtues  he  merited  the 
respect  of  all.  For  a  number  of  years  he  was  a  professing 
Christian  of  the  Calvinistic  school,  and  was  most  eflScient  in 
establishing  the  Central  Congregational  Society  of  Lynn,  toward 
which  he  was  ever  generous  with  his  means. 

Mr.  Breed  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Mary  Blake, 
and  by  her  he  had  five  children  —  Bartlett  B.,  Abba  M.,  Mary 
A.,  Isaiah  C,  and  George  R.  His  second  wife  was  Sally  P. 
Moore,  and  by  her  he  had  five  children  —  Lucilla  P.,  Hervey  C, 
Bowman  B.,  Francis  C,  and  James  H. 

For  many  years  his  place  of  residence  was  at  the  northeast 
corner  of  Broad  and  Exchange  streets,  and  there  he  died  on 
the  23d  of  May,  1859. 


GEORGE  HOOD.  —  1806-1859. 

Mr.  Hood  was  born  in  Lynn,  on  the  lOtb  of  November,  1806, 
and  as  soon  as  he  had  received  the  little  school  instruction 
common  with  dependent  youth  at  that  period,  was  put  to  shoe- 
making.  He  was  of  industrious  habits  and  soon  began  to  de- 
velop business  talents  of  a  high  order. 

Just  before  arriving  at  the  age  of  twenty -three  —  that  is,  in 
1829  —  in  company  with  John  C.  Abbott,  who  was  then  but 
nineteen  years  of  age,  he  went  forth  into  the  wide  world  to 
seek  his  fortune.  The  united  capital  of  these  two  enterprising 
and  adventurous  young  men  amounted  to  four  hundred  dollars. 
They  directed  their  course  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  then  a  very 
inconsiderable  place  compared  with  what  it  was  destined  soon 
to  become  through  the  energies  of  just  such  settlers  as  they. 
In  a  few  days  after  arriving  there  they  were  established  in 
business,  and  before  a  month  had  elapsed,  Mr.  Hood,  with  a 
part  of  their  stock,  went  down  to  Natchez,  in  Mississippi,  and 
commenced  a  branch  establishment ;  and  the  Natchez  trade 
remained  under  his  special  charge  till  it  was  discontinued,  in 
1835,  the  principal  business  all  the  time  remaining  at  St.  Louis. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES.  —  GEORGE   HOOD.  543 

During  the  last  named  year,  Mr.  Hood  returned  and  took  up 
his  abode  at  Lynn,  commencing  a  commission  shoe  and  leather 
store  at  Boston,  though  he  retained  an  interest  in  the  St.  Louis 
business  till  1841.  In  the  Boston  business  he  continued  till  the 
time  of  his  decease.  Mr.  Abbott  likewise  proved  himself  a  very 
energetic  and  successful  business  man ;  and  he  also,  after  a  few 
years  returned  to  the  east,  and  still  resides  in  this  vicinity.  He 
was  the  first  president  of  our  City  Bank,  and  is  at  present  pres- 
ident of  the  Shoe  and  Leather  Dealers'  Insurance  Company,  of 
Boston.  Mr.  Hood  had  great  boldness  in  his  business  enter- 
prises, almost,  at  times,  approaching  to  rashness,  yet  his  shrewd- 
ness and  tenacity  seldom  failed  to  carry  him  safely  through. 
He  was  high-minded  and  honorable  in  his  transactions,  and  gen- 
erous toward  those  less  fortunate  than  himself. 

Not  long  after  his  return  to  the  east,  Mr.  Hood  became  active 
in  the  political  field.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Democratic  party, 
fought  manfully  for  its  interests,  and  was  rewarded  in  various 
ways.  In  one  of  the  gubernatorial  campaigns,  he  was  the  ac- 
credited candidate  of  the  party  for  Lieutenant  Governor;  and 
he  was  at  another  time  the  regular  party  candidate  for  a  seat  in 
the  national  Congress.  In  Lynn,  he  held  the  most  responsible 
offices,  and  in  all  of  them  performed  his  duties  with  credit  to 
himself  and  benefit  to  those  who  had  entrusted  him  with  the 
management  of  their  affairs.  He  had  a  strict  eye  to  econ- 
omy in  public  expenditure,  and  a  generous  sympathy  for  all 
the  dependent  classes,  especially  the  laboring  and  the  poor,  and 
was  one  of  the  foremost  in  breaking  up  the  old  custom  of  indef- 
initely protracted  daily  labor,  and  establishing  the  ten  hour 
system,  as  it  was  called,  which  is  alluded  to  under  date  1850. 
He  was  several  times  chosen  a  Representative,  was  a  Senator 
in  1843,  and  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention,  in  1853. 

Mr.  Hood  was  the  first  Mayor  of  Lynn,  and  held  the  office 
two  years,  administering  affairs  with  economy,  impartiality,  and 
fidelity.  The  labor  was  great,  for  the  machiner}^  was  new  ;  but 
he  proved  himself  equal  to  the  occasion.  And  there  is  abun- 
dant evidence  of  the  confidence  of  the  people  in  his  ability 
and  integrity,  in  the  fact  that  he  was  elected  Mayor,  notwith- 
standing he  had  all  along  been  openly  opposed  to  the  adoption 
of  the  city  form  of  government.     He  was  a  man  of  more  than 


544  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

ordinary  intelligence,  nnd  gifted  with  good  practical  common 
sense  views.  His  mind  was  penetrating,  and  in  the  conduct 
of  public  affairs,  particularly,  he  was  accustomed  to  examine 
thoroughly  into  matters. 

But  yet,  after  a  more  than  ordinarily  successful  life,  Mr. 
Hood's  sun  went  down  in  a  cloud.  He  died  at  the  Asylum  for 
the  Insane,  at  Worcester,  on  the  night  of  Monday,  June  29, 
1859 ;  and  his  body  was  brought  to  Lynn,  and  buried  from 
his  picturesque  residence,  at  the  foot  of  High  Rock. 

Mr.  Hood's  wife  was  Hermione,  a  daughter  of  Aaron  Breed. 
They  were  married  on  the  11th  of  September,  1833,  and  she 
survived  him.  They  had  thirteen  children  — Harriet  M.,  George 
A.,  Adelaide  M.,  Edwin  E.,  Edwin,  Julius  S.,  Henrietta  A.,  Henry, 
Caroline  P.,  Aubrey,  Ada  H..  Edward  K.,  and  Mary. 


ALONZO  LEWIS.  —  1794-1861. 

Mr.  Lewis  was  born  in  Lynn,  on  the  28th  of  August,  1794,  in 
a  house  which  still  stands  on  the  north  side  of  Boston  street,  in 
the  vicinity  of  Water  Hill,  and  was  the  son  of  Zachariah  Lewis. 
His  lineage  is  given  on  page  181  of  this  History. 

As  soon  as  he  had  arrived  at  a  suitable  age,  he  was  put  to 
the  town  school,  and  afterward  became  a  pupil  at  Lynn  Acad- 
emy. He  evinced  a  strong  desire  to  obtain  something  more 
than  an  ordinary  education,  and  applied  himself  with  such  vigor 
and  assiduity  as  gave  sure  presage  of  success.  He  never  be- 
came a  college  graduate,  but  as  early  as  his  eighteenth  year  was 
qualified  to  teach  a  common  school.  At  that  age  he  took  a 
school  in  Chester,  N.  H.  There  he  remained  but  a  short  time, 
and  then  taught  in  Lynnfield.  And  it  must  have  been  about  this 
period  that  the  affecting  episode  occurred,  which,  as  some  of 
his  friends  have  supposed,  had  a  serious  effect  on  all  his  after 
life;  and  of  which  something  will  be  said  hereafter.  In  1823, 
he  was  preceptor  of  the  Academy,  though  he  remained  in  that 
position  but  a  short  time.  For  twelve  years  he  taught  in-  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  place,  and  appears  to  have  had  an 
ardent  love  for  his  vocation,  deeply  regretting  the  time  when 
circumstances  rendered  it  necessary  that  he  should  abandon  it. 
With  touching  emphasis  he  says,  ''  I  commenced  the  profession 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  —  ALONZO  LEWIS.        545 

of  school  teacher  from  the  love  of  it,  and  devoted  all  my  ener- 
gies to  its  advancement."  One  of  his  longest  poems  is  entitled 
'^  The  Schoolmaster ;  "  and  many  passages  might  be  collected 
from  it  showing  his  full  appreciation  of  the  stern  realities  as 
well  as  high  enjoyments  attendant  on  the  profession.     He  says : 

I  sing  the  Teacher's  care,  his  daily  pains, 
The  hope  tliat  Hfts  him  and  the  task  that  cliains ; 
His  anxious  toil  to  raise  the  gentle  mind, 
His  skill  to  clear  the  path  for  youth  designed, 
His  faithful  watch  o'er  life's  expanding  ray, 
To  guide  young  Genius  up  Improvement's  way. 

And  again  : 

The  Teacher's  lot  is  filled  with  pain  and  care 

Which  hut  devoted  hearts  are  fit  to  bear. 

His  rank  and  worth  in  freedom's  cause  are  gi-eat, 

Surpassed  by  few  that  bless  the  public  state. 

His  is  the  task  to  fit  the  youthful  mind 

For  all  the  stations  by  its  God  designed. 

After  Mr.  Lewis  had  closed  his  labors  as  a  teacher,  he  chiefly 
followed  the  occupation  of  a  surveyor  and  architect.  From  the 
skill  and  rapidity  with  which  he  could  handle  his  instruments 
and  make  his  calculations,  and  the  neatness  and  accuracy  of  his 
plans,  he  soon  became  so  noted  that  his  services  were  much  in 
requisition. 

His  judgment  and  good  taste,  also,  particularly  in  the  province 
of  architectural  embellishment,  were  conspicuous.  Many  charm- 
ing residences  in  their  romantic  nestling  places  among  the  hills 
and  along  the  shores  of  Lynn,  bear  evidence  of  his  accomplish- 
ments ;  for,  having  an  eye  for  the  beautiful  in  art  and  nature, 
and  a  disciplined  conception  of  harmony,  he  could  not  with 
patience  behold  the  loveliness  of  the  landscape  marred  by  un- 
sightly structures,  and  hence  was  always  ready  to  suggest  and 
advise,  and  even  to  furnish  plans,  in  instances  where  he  knew 
the  means  of  the  recipients  would  not  allow  of  their  offering 
adequate  pecuniary  compensation. 

Mr.  Lewis  was  three  times  married  ;  or  rather  twice,  for  his 
second  companion  was  an  ostensible  rather  than  real  wife,  and 
from  her  he  was  soon  separated.  His  first  wife  was  Frances 
Maria  Swan,  of  Methuen,  Mass.,  a  woman  of  eminent  virtues  and 
rare  social  attractioiis.  By  her  he  had  six  children  —  Alonzo, 
T2*  35 


546  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

Frances  Maria,  Aurelius,  Llewellyn,  Arthur,  and  Lynnworth — - 
and  she  died  on  the  2Tth  of  May,  1839.  His  other  wife,  whom 
he  married  on  the  27th  of  August,  1855,  was  Annie  Ilsley  Han- 
son, of  Portland,  Me. ;  and  by  her  he  had  two  children  —  Ina 
and  Ion  —  the  former  of  whom  died  a  few  months  before  her 
father,  and  the  latter,  with  its  widowed  mother  still  survives. 
She  proved  to  him  a  faithful  and  affectionate  companion,  no 
difference  of  taste  and  association,  arising  from  their  disparity 
of  age  —  he  having  been  her  senior  by  some  thirty-six  years  — 
intervening  to  disturb  their  domestic  tranquillity.  The  inter- 
mediate companion  alluded  to,  went  through  the  ceremony 
which  he  fondly  believed  was  a  valid  marriage,  in  1852,  and 
which  was  thus  announced  in  the  newspapers :  ^'  Married,  in 
Providence,  R.  I.,  by  Eev.  Henry  Waterman,  rector  of  St.  Ste- 
phen's Church,  Alonzo  Lewis,  the  historian  and  poet  of  Lynn, 
Mass.,  to  Miss  Mary  Gibson,  of  Boston,  daughter  of  Rev.  Willard 
Gibson,  sometime  of  Windsor  and  Woodstock,  Vt.  We  are  in- 
formed that  this  is  a  veritable  love-match  in  both  parties ;  they 
were  engaged  at  the  first  meeting,  and  the  day  of  their  nuptials 
was  fixed  at  the  second.  The  fair  bride  is  the  daughter  of  an 
Episcopal  clergyman,  and  is  an  orphan,  having  lost  both  pa- 
rents—  only  seventeen,  beautiful,  talented,  and  accomplished. 
The  age  of  Mr.  Lewis  is  56."  It  will  be  noticed  that  in  this 
case  also  tliere  was  a  great  difference  of  age  —  thirty-nine 
years;  and  the  supposed  bride  seems  not  to  have  outgrown 
some  of  her  girlish  fancies.  It  soon,  however,  to  his  astonish- 
ment and  her  confusion,  appeared  that  she  had  a  former  hus- 
band still  living  —  a  young  man  who,  from  some  cause  had 
withdrawn  from  her  side.  If  she  were  not  derelict  in  principle, 
she  must  have  been  extremely  thoughtless  to  suppose  that  her 
mere  separation  from  the  first  husband  would  have  warranted 
her  in  so  hastily  and  unceremoniously  taking  a  second.  It 
might,  however,  have  been  that  she  supposed  he  was  not  living, 
as  there  appeared  to  have  been  reports  of  his  death.  In  dispo- 
sition she  was  lively,  with  a  dash  of  the  romantic,  and  had  ac- 
quired some  reputation  as  a  writer  in  the  department  of  light 
literature. 

Mr.  Lewis  gained  high  commendation  by  his  History  of  Lynn. 
And  he  was  a  poet  as  well  as  historian,  for  he  produced  many 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  —  ALONZO    LEWIS.  547 

verses  wliicli,  under  critical  analysis,  were  conceded  to  fully 
entitle  him  to  the  exalted  name.  But  he  was  not  a  voluminous 
writer.  The  history  embraced  but  about  two  hundred  and 
fifty  octavo  pages ;  yet  it  was  so  condensed  as  to  contain 
much  more  than  its  proportions  Avould  to  appearance  allow ; 
and  unlike  most  works  of  the  kind  —  indeed  unlike  most  works 
of  any  kind  —  seemed  in  the  mind  of  the  reader  as  he  proceeded 
to  expand  and  shed  more  and  more  light.  It  has  been  said 
that  historical  works  are  always  interesting.  But  there  is  an 
almost  immeasurable  difference  in  the  degrees  of  interest.  Mi- 
nute details  often  weary ;  and  yet  they  often  possess  an  un- 
speakable charm.  Their  success  depends  upon  the  judgment 
with  which  they  are  chosen  and  the  skill  with  which  they  are 
introduced.  Who  has  not  perused,  again  and  again,  the  fasci- 
nating fiction  of  Robinson  Crusoe  ?  And  who  does  not  perceive 
that  without  its  minute  details  its  enchantment  would  not  exist? 
By  an  unskillful  hand,  the  story  might  have  been  told  in  a  man- 
ner that  would  have  caused  its  rejection  by  the  editor  of  a 
village  newspaper.  Mr.  Lewis's  details  are  never  wearying. 
And  he  had  the  happy  faculty  of  introducing  reflections  and 
illustrations  that  opened  extensive  fields  of  useful  thought; 
a  faculty  which  is  of  inestimable  value  in  any  writer.  And  his 
poems,  though  collectively  insufficient,  by  force  of  mere  bulk, 
to  compel  men  to  admit  his  claim  to  be  a  poet,  were  yet  so  pure 
in  morality,  so  refined  in  fancy,  so  apt  in  diction,  that  the  intel- 
ligent and  virtuous  found  in  them  much  to  delight  and  improve. 
Of  course  those  sensation  stanzas  and  crude  effusions  which  he 
occasionally  threw  off  for  temporary  purposes,  and  to  which 
he  had  the  unaccountable  propensity  to  frequently  attach  his 
name,  to  the  damage  of  his  reputation,  are  not  here  taken  into 
account,  for  they  may  be  said  not  to  have  been  produced  by 
Mr.  Lewis  the  poet,  but  by  the  every-day  Mr.  Lewis,  who  had 
a  sudden  impulse,  with  no  time  to  think  or  elaborate. 

Perhaps  he  indulged  too  much  in  contemplation  to  be  prolific 
as  a  writer.  The  most  contemplative  are  rarely  industrious 
with  the  pen.  Unless  the  words  flow  with  almost  miraculous 
freedom  the  task  of  writing  wearies,  and  the  mind  soars  from  it 
as  drudgery.  Ambition  to  become  famous  is  perhaps  the  strong- 
est incentive  to  what  mav  be  called  the  mechanical  exertions  of 


548  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

• 

the  literary  devotee.  And  tliat  Mr.  Lewis  possessed  enough 
of  this  kind  of  ambition  no  one  who  was  often  in  contact  with 
him  conld  for  a  moment  doubt.  But  yet  it  was  not  sufficient 
to  overcome  the  sterner  drawbacks  to  his  pen.  Say  what  we 
may,  the  man  of  genius  who  is  dependent  on  his  daily  toil  for 
subsistence,  often  finds  a  heavy  weight  upon  his  fancy's  wing; 
though  he  who  is  blest  with  independence  may  as  often  permit 
fancy  to  fold  her  wings  in  inglorious  ease.  It  ma\',  however, 
have  been  that  he  thought  the  little  he  did  was  enough  to  estab- 
lish his  fame.  And  so  it  was,  in  a  circumscribed  and  local  sense. 
His  memory  will  be  cherished  by  the  people  of  his  native  place 
in  distant  years.  But  what  multitudes  there  are  born  in  every 
community  who  have  within  them,  qualities  that  might  make 
them  shine,  as  poets,  indeed,  but  yet  whose  lamps  are  never 
lighted.  As  fervid  fires  have  glowed  in  the  heart  of  some  plod- 
ding teamster,  perhaps,  as  he  traversed  the  glistening  Beach 
which  our  friend  so  much  loved  to  tread,  as  ever  inspired  a 
Byron.  But  the  unlettered  toiler  never  dreamed  of  perpetu- 
ating his  ardent  conceptions  in  a  way  that  would  enable  others 
to  rejoice  in  their  light;  never  dreamed  of  applying  his  sturdy 
hand  to  the  art  of  composition,  an  art  which  in  truth  requires 
the  curbing  of  much  of  the  airy  freedom  of  thought,  and  which 
would  bind  by  exacting  rules. 

On  his  History  and  Poems  the  fame  of  Mr.  Lewis,  as  a  writer, 
rests,  though  he  wrote  a  good  deal  besides;  chiefly,  however, 
on  subjects  that  required  little  thought  or  investigation.  Pieces 
of  his  appeared  in  the  newspapers  scattered  over  a  period  of 
more  than  thirty  years;  but  they  were  so  exclusively  directed 
to  some  special  object  of  local  interest  or  usefulness  that  they 
met  with  no  general  observation.  And  here  again  the  bad  habit 
of  signing  his  name  to  efi'usions  prepared  hastily  and  perhaps 
under  excitement,  would  often  assert  itself  to  his  prejudice,  re- 
ducing the  value  of  a  good  name.  It  must  be  one  of  extraordi- 
nary power  and  readiness  who  can  add  to  his  reputation  in  any 
such  loose  way. 

Mr.  Lewis's  celebrity  as  a  writer,  however  unwilling  we  may 
be  to  concede  it,  remained  rather  local  than  general,  notwith- 
standing his  superior  endowments.  But  this  is  perhaps  attrib- 
utable to  circumstances  beyond  his  control ;  for  we  know  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES.  —  ALONZO    LEWIS.  549 

aspirations  of  genius  are  often  governed  by  tlie  stern  demands 
of  daily  life.  And  one  may  occasionally  detect,  even  in  his  better 
poems,  passages  that  seem  to  have  escaped  without  due  atten- 
tion, inducing  the  impression  that  the  labor  had  become  wea- 
rying, and  relief  been  sought,  by  the  pleasant  path  of  mere 
description,  from  the  severer  realms  of  thought.  Nude  descrip- 
tion, however,  while  it  may  interest  friends  and  neighbors,  and 
those  to  whom  the  scenes  described  are  familiar  and  dear,  can 
never  attain  the  highest  and  most  enduring  feme.  Gray's  Elegy 
could  not  have  interested  Daniel  Webster,  in  his  dying  hour,  as 
it  is  said  to  have  done,  simply  as  a  description  of  scenes  at  Stoke- 
Pogis.  In  the  great  thoughts,  so  serenely,  so  simply,  so  truth- 
fully expressed,  lay  the  real  power  that  charmed  and  soothed 
the  noble  spirit  from  whose  sight  all  the  beautiful  things  of  earth 
were  so  rapidly  fading.  Yet  the  untaught  villager,  who  home- 
ward plods  his  weary  way  athwart  the  glimmering  landscape  in 
that  now  hallowed  vicinage,  looking  not  beyond  the  mere  de- 
scription, feels  his  heart  stirred  at  the  bare  mention  of  things 
dear  to  him  as  incidents  of  his  home.  But  when  the  poet  takes 
his  more  extended  course,  ascending  above  mere  description 
into  regions  glowing  with  thought,  where  mankind  meet  be- 
yond all  local  limits,  he  at  once  attracts  the  attention  of  those 
whose  minds  have  been  trained  for  the  higher  purposes  of 
human  life.  Mr.  Lewis  was  capable  of  ascending  to  that  lofty 
region,  and  had  he  more  often  directed  his  flight  thither  would 
have  secured  a  wider  reputation.  There  are  one  or  two  desira- 
ble qualities,  however,  with  which  Mr.  Lewis  was  not  largely 
endowed.  He  had  but  little  wit  or  humor  —  qualities  so  essen- 
tial to  adorn  and  attract,  and  which  can  only  be  compensated 
for  by  the  most  eminent  of  the  more  dignified  attributes.  He 
had  pathos  but  it  was  liable  to  manifest  itself  in  such  a  form 
as  to  be  mistaken  for  morbid  sensibility. 

After  what  has  been  said,  it  is  proper  to  introduce  a  few 
selections  from  his  poems,  making  choice  of  such  as,  on  consid- 
erable reflection,  are  thought  to  convey  the  most  clear  idea  of 
his  general  inclination  of  thought,  his  style,  and  execution ; 
having  an  eye,  likewise,  to  the  illustration  of  his  varying 
moods.  Other  pieces,  however,  which  appear  in  different  parts 
of  this  volume  —  "  The  Frosted  Trees,"  for  instance,  introduced 


550  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

under  date  1829,  will  not  be  overlooked.  The  first  five  of  the 
extracts  that  follow,  are  from  longer  pieces,  the  title-lines  being 
supplied. 

LOVER'S    LEAP. 
Delightful  Rock!  that  towering  fair  and  high, 
Like  fancy's  vision  rises  on  the  view ! 
How  oft  at  eve,  when  gentle  breezes  sigh, 
And  the  sun  sets  from  skies  of  cloudless  blue, 
The  youthful  lover  turns  his  steps  to  you. 
As  ancientlj^  to  famed  Leucadia's  shore ! 
While  sweetest  charms  his  joyful  thoughts  imbue, 
As  summer  tints  spread  out  their  smiling  store. 
And  winds  through  waving  trees  resound  like  ocean's  roar. 
It  is  indeed  a  sweet  romantic  scene, 
As  ever  poet  viewed  at  close  of  day ! 
The  spreading  forest,  clad  in  richest  green, 
The  joyful  birds  that  tune  their  evening  lay. 
And  sing  their  sonnets  on  the  slender  spray. 
The  lofly^  cliff,  most  beautiful  to  see. 
Rising  above  the  plain  in  bold  array. 
The  cheerful  squn-rel,  chattering  on  the  tree, 
That  eats  his  food  in  peace,  and  chirps  right  merrily! 
These,  and  a  thousand  beauties  more,  display 
Their  varied  charms  to  greet  the  raptured  sight ; 
While  far  along  the  streamlet  winds  its  way 
Through  fertile  fields,  that  glisten  with  delight, 
And  clover  plats,  with  flowers  enamelled  bright. 
That  not  a  bee  or  butterfly  will  shun ; 
And  in  our  view  throngs  many  a  mansion  white. 
And  ploughman,  journeying  home,  when  day  in  done, 
And  the  bright  windows  blaze  beneath  the  setting  sun. 

RELIGION — A    COMPARISON. 
High  jn  the  north,  behold  the  Pole  Star  rise, 
Shining,  like  Virtue,  through  the  darkened  skies ; 
While  round  its  orb  the  faithful  Pointers  veer. 
And  aid  the  seaman  his  lone  bark  to  steer. 
So  o'er  the  waves  of  this  inconstant  life. 
Above  the  storms  of  wo,  and  passion's  strife. 
Religion's  star  with  ceaseless  lustre  glows, 
To  lead  the  pilgrim  to  his  last  repose ! 
While,  by  the  tossing  deep,  with  friendly  hand. 
The  faithful  ministers  of  Jesus  stand, 
Pomting  aloft  to  that  celestial  ray, 
Which  shines  to  light  the  darkness  of  our  way! 


biographical  sketches.  —  alonzo  lewis.  551 

man's  changes. 

Man  only  changes.     Man,  the  foe  of  man, 

Mars  tlie  bright  work  eternal  Love  began. 

Malignant  passions  in  his  bosom  burn. 

And  heaven's  pure  dews  to  noxious  vapors  turn. 

As  desert  fountains  send  their  waters  clear, 

To  the  bright  flowers  that  on  their  banks  appear, 

But  through  foul  regions  as  they  onward  glide, 

Collect  dark  stair  3,  and  roll  a  turbid  tide ; 

So  gush  pure  thoughts  in  youth's  extatic  glow, 

Which  sink  in  age  to  scenes  of  crime  and  wo. 

man's  life. 

Our  youth  is  fleeting  as  the  fleecy  cloud 

That  sails  across  the  summer  moon !  and  oh  ! 

How  beautiful  its  prospects  are !  —  how  proud 

The  young  heart  beats !  —  how  warm  the  currents  flow. 

Ere  the  strong  veins  have  felt  the  power  of  wo  ! 

But  soon  dark  clouds  our  smiling  skies  deform. 

And  we  are  sad.     Such  is  man's  life  below ! 

A  few  dark  days,  a  few  long  nights  of  storm, 

A  few  bright  summer  suns,  all  beautiful  and  warm. 

SUMMER    RECREATION. 
In  the  sweet  grove's  romantic  shade, 
For  dearest  joys  of  nature  made, 
With  a  clear  streamlet  running  by. 
Whose  mellowness  relieves  the  eye. 
While  from  it  pour  upon  the  ear 
Such  notes  as  poets  love  to  hear, 
And  all  around,  and  overhead. 
Green  leaves  their  soft  refreshment  shed. 
How  sweet  to  sit,  in  summer  day, 
Far  from  the  sunbeam's  scorching  ray. 
While  not  a  fear  can  intervene 
To  blight  the  beauty  of  the  scene  ; 
And  there,  beside  the  whispering  brook. 
To  pause  o'er  some  delightful  book. 

ON    THE    SEA   SHORE. 
Along  thy  sandy  margin,  level  Sea  ! 
I  wander  with  a  feeling  more  sublime 
Than  ever  yet  hath  blest  my  heart,  since  Time 
Unfolded  Nature's  glorious  pageantry! 
\nd  in  deep  silence  while  I  gaze  on  thee, 
Thou  living  picture  of  a  mighty  mind! 


552  HISTORY    OF   LYNN. 

The  joys  of  hope  and  memory  combined 

Send  their  soft  raptures  through  my  thrilhng  licart. 

The  kindred  scene  recalls  the  memory 

Of  friends  with  whom  it  was  a  pain  to  part, 

Of  dear  and  early  hours — then,  with  a  start, 

As  the  wave  ripples  on  the  moonlit  shore, 

I  think  of  that  high  world,  where  Pain  shall  dart 

Her  arrows  through  my  heart  and  veins  no  more ! 

STORM    AT    N  AH  ANT. 

Call  up  the  Spirit  of  the  ocean  wave, 

And  bid  him  rouse  the  storm !     The  billows  roar 

And  dash  theu'  angry  surges  on  the  shore ! 

Around  tlie  craggy  cliffs  the  waters  rave, 

And  foam  and  welter  on  the  trembling  beach ! 

The  plovers  cry,  and  the  hoarse  curlews  screech, 

As,  borne  along  by  the  relentless  storm. 

With  turned-up  wings  they  strive  against  the  wind 

The  storm-tost  ship  can  no  sure  haven  find. 

But  black-browed  Death,  in  his  most  horrid  form. 

Strides  o'er  the  wave  and  bars  her  destined  way. 

The  wild  winds  in  her  shrouds  their  revels  keep  I 

And  while  the  sailors  seek  the  sheltering  bay, 

Their  last  cry  mingles  with  the  roaring  deep. 

THE   EVENING   BELL. 

How  sweet  and  solemn  is  the  sound, 

From  yonder  lonely  tower. 
That  sends  its  deep-toned  music  round 

At  twilight's  holy  hour ! 

When  eveiy  sound  of  day  is  mute. 

And  allits  voices  still. 
And  silence  walks  with  velvet  foot, 

O'er  valley,  town,  and  hill. 

When  every  passion  is  at  rest, 

And  eveiy  tumult  fled, 
And  through  the  warm  and  tranquil  breast 

The  charm  of  peace  is  spread. 

O,  then  how  sweet  the  solemn  bell, 
That  tolls  to  evening  prayer ! 

While  each  vibration  seems  to  tell 
That  thou,  O  God,  art  there ! 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  —  ALONZO   LEWIS.  558 

SONG. 
O  liOve !  thou  art  a  joyous  thing, 

III  this  cold  world  of  ours! 
And  yet  how  oft  thy  wayward  wing 

Leaves  thorns  instead  of  flowers! 

Thy  rosy  path  is  glowing  bright, 

With  gems  of  heaven  bestrewn  ; 
Yet  thou  canst  mingle  in  thy  might, 

The  dreaded  thunder  stone. 

Earth  were  indeed  a  cheerless  place, 

Without  thy  soul-like  smile  ; 
And  thou  hast  that  in  thy  bright  face 

Which  can  all  ills  beguile. 

The  cold  in  heart  may  blame  thy  truth. 

The  void  of  soul  may  frown  — 
The  proud  may  seek  to  fetter  youth, 

And  crush  its  feelings  down  — 

Yet  still  thou  art  the  sweetest  one 

Of  all  the  cherub  train, 
Whose  task  is  given  beneath  the  sun 

To  soothe  the  heart  of  pain. 

The  foregoing  specimens  afford  sufficient  means  whereby  the 
reader  may  judge  of  the  poetic  talents  of  Mr.  Lewis.  When  he 
set  himself  seriously  at  work  he  produced  verses  compact  and 
polished.  He  was  then  rigidly  artistic,  fervor  nor  passion  get- 
ting the  better  of  settled  rule.  And  his  best  poems  bear  the 
strongest  evidence  of  the  most  elaborate  preparation,  affording 
further  evidence  that  labor  and  patience  bestowed  on  composi- 
tion are  not  wasted.  In  no  case,  excepting  where  extraordinary 
genius  leads  the  way,  is  it  safe  to  trust  to  mere  emotionary 
flights.  I  think  Dr.  Channing  somewhere  advises  young  min- 
isters or  writers  to  think  deeply  and  then  write  rapidly.  That 
he  himself  thought  deeply  is  evinced  by  the  light  that  glows  on 
every  page ;  and  he  no  doubt  wrote  rapidly ;  but  as  to  what 
followed,  let  the  printers  of  his  generation  come  up  as  witnesses. 
His  manuscript  was  interlined  and  re-interlined  in  such  an  extra- 
ordinary manner  that  it  was  almost  beyond  the  power  oJ  nan 
to  decipher.  And  after  it  was  in  print,  he  made  appalling  havoc 
U2 


554  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

on  the  proof  sheets.  There  wore  occasions  when  the  proofs 
came  from  the  Doctor's  hand  so  much  disfigured  by  alterations 
that  the  distressed  printer  found  it  most  economical  at  once  to 
distribute  the  types  and  re-set  them.  And  when  he  examined 
even  a  second  or  third  proof,  numerous  changes  continued  to 
be  made  in  words  and  the  collocation  of  sentences.  But  it  was, 
without  doubt,  to  this  excessive  polishing  that  his  fame  for 
elegance  of  composition  was  in  a  great  degree  attributable. 
His  ideas  were  probably  as  fully  expressed  in  the  first  instance  ; 
but  much  of  the  magic  efi'ect  flowed  from  the  after  marshalling 
of  the  expressions.  Prescott,  if  I  mistake  not,  somewhere  says 
that  in  the  final  labor  upon  his  works,  he  examined  them  sen- 
tence by  sentence,  to  see  if  any  improvement  could  be  made. 
A  beautiful  lady  is  a  sweet  object  in  almost  any  garb  ;  but  when 
she  appears  handsomely  and  becomingly  clad,  is  most  admired. 
And  so  of  other  things. 

There  is  seldom  any  thing  startling  or  vivid  found  in  the 
poems  of  Mr.  Lewis.  But  his  descriptions  are  animated,  his 
expressions  melodious,  his  rhymes  good.  There  is  a  delightful 
freshness  about  many  of  his  illustrations ;  an  enduring  value  in 
his  inculcations  of  purity  and  benevolence ;  a  touching  languor 
in  his  pensiveness  ;  a  charming  earnestness  in  his  faith.  It  has 
sometimes  occurred  to  me  that  the  severe  criticism  which  ap- 
peared in  the  Cambridge  Review,  in  1831,  had  a  serious  effect 
on  him,  and  was  the  occasion  of  his  being  virtually  driven  from 
a  field  he  was  so  well  fitted  to  adorn.  No  doubt  that  unfortu- 
nate paper  was  conceived  rather  in  a  spirit  of  heedless  sport 
than  malevolence.  And  had  the  writer  seen  the  effect  of  his 
indiscretion  that  I  saw,  he  certainly  would  have  deeply  re- 
gretted that  he  had  not  chosen  some  less  sensitive  subject  to 
exercise  his  youthful  satire  upon.  But  had  Mr.  Lewis  possessed 
the  spirit  and  resolution  of  a  Byron,  he  might  have  put  his 
assailant  to  open  shame,  and  turned  the  occurrence  to  the  ben- 
efit of  both. 

Of  Mr.  Lewis's  prose  writings  nothing  need  be  said  in  this 
connection.  His  entire  history  is  embodied  in  the  pages  of  this 
volume ;  and  his  matter  is  so  designated  that  it  can  be  readily 
distinguished. 

He    was    for    some   time    a    newspaper    editor ;    but   m    that 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  —  ALONZO    LEWIS.  555 

capacity  was  not  particularly  successful,  though  he  really  made 
a  useful  and  interesting  sheet.  Toward  opponents  he  was 
inclined  to  manifest  acerbity,  and  was,  withal,  a  little  egotis- 
tical. A  certain  amount  of  egotism  really  seems  to  set  becom- 
ingly on  some  people,  and  is  useful  to  them,  if  accompanied 
by  good  nature  and  employed  with  discretion;  but  as  ex- 
ercised by  Mr.  Lewis  it  can  hardly  be  said  to  have  much 
improved  him. 

In  his  earlier  manhood  he  made  some  attempts  at  fictitious 
prose  writing.  But  it  was  quite  apparent  that  without  severe 
discipline  he  could  not  succeed  as  a  novelist.  Much  of  the 
charm  of  that  species  of  literature  consists  in  well-sustained 
dialogue  ;  and  he  did  not  seem  able  to  divest  himself  of  his  own 
individuality  to  an  extent  sufficient  to  make  his  colloquists 
appear  natural. 

He  exhibited  his  poetical  inclination  in  various  ways  besides 
the  production  of  verses.  For  every  locality  that  charmed, 
either  from  inherent  beauty  or  historic  association,  he  had  an 
expressive  name ;  for  the  solitary  glen  of  the  forest  and  wild 
battlement  of  the  shore  he  supplied  a  stirring  legend  ;  and  many 
of  the  creations  of  his  wealthy  imagination  will  endure  as  long 
as  the  objects  they  adorn  exist. 

In  the  material  affairs  of  life  Mr.  Lewis  was  accustomed  to  take 
an  eminently  practical  view.  He  had  an  earnest  desire  to  pro- 
mote the  permanent  prosperity  of  his  native  place ;  and  many 
suggestions  of  his  regarding  the  dry  ramifications  of  trade  were 
not  unprofitably  heeded.  His  public  spirit  was  for  many  years 
conspicuous.  As  early  as  1824  he  began  to  labor  for  the  pro- 
tection of  the  Beach,  which  he  saw  was  in  danger  of  being 
ultimately  destroyed  by  the  ravages  of  the  tide.  He  pertina- 
ciously pressed  for  the  erection  of  a  substantial  granite  wall, 
such  as  would  at  once  prove  a  safeguard  from  the  assaults  of 
the  ocean,  and  a  fitting  embellishment  of  art  to  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  objects  of  nature  ;  and  at  one  time  he  was  much  elated 
in  the  hope  that  government  would  undertake  the  work.  But 
he  was  destined  never  to  be  gratified  by  the  sight  of  a  more 
substantial  and  comely  erection  than  a  line  of  red  cedars  with 
marine  debris  interwoven  and  flanked  by  an  embankment  of 
loose  stones  and  sand.    The  construction  of  the  road  to  Nahant 


556  HISTORY    OF   LYNN. 

along  the  harbor  side  of  the  Beach  was  an  enterprise  carried 
forward  very  much  through  his  instrumentality;  and  it  was  a 
measure  of  great  public  utility,  as  any  one  who  has  ever  been 
compelled  by  the  tide  to  pursue  his  weary  way  upon  the  ridge, 
can  testify.  The  light-house  on  Egg  Rock  was  also  established 
more  through  his  exertions  than  those  of  any  other.  It  is  ques- 
tionable, however,  whether  in  this  matter,  he  did  not  allow  his 
fancy  to  get  the  better  of  his  judgment,  as  many  have  always 
thought  that  a  light  on  the  point  of  Nahant  would  answer  quite 
as  good  a  purpose,  and  be  much  more  convenient.  Yet  it  may 
not  be  true  that  the  convenient  is  always  to  be  esteemed  above 
the  ornamental  and  picturesque.  The  real  question,  without 
doubt,  should  be,  which  will  in  the  largest  degree  conduce  to 
improvement  and  enjoyment.  The  City  Seal  was  drawn  by  him, 
and  its  emblematical  representations  afford  evidence  of  his  prac- 
tical turn  and  poetic  conception  ;  though  the  engraver  should 
have  suggested  that  something  a  little  more  simple  and  clearly 
defined  would  have  looked  better. 

It  can  not  be  said  that  the  life  of  Mr.  Lewis  was  an  event- 
ful one.  No  more  striking  incidents  attended  his  career  than 
fall  to  the  common  lot,  with  perhaps  one  or  two  exceptions. 
He  spent  almost  the  whole  of  his  days  in  his  native  place,  only 
once  or  twice,  and  then  for  brief  periods,  making  his  home 
elsewhere. 

His  worldly  condition  can  hardly  be  said  ever  to  have  greatly 
flourished.  His  mind  was  one  that  could  not  be  seduced  to  the 
pursuit  of  wealth,  as  a  leading  object.  While  a  teacher,  his  in- 
come was  sufficient  to  supply  all  common  wants,  but  insufficient 
to  enable  him  to  lay  any  thing  by  for  future  necessities.  And  as 
in  that  capacity  the  vigor  of  his  life  was  spent,  when  he  was 
compelled  to  resort  to  other  pursuits,  his  gains  were  often  pre- 
carious. There  were  occasions,  indeed,  when  by  his  own  decla- 
rations, he  was  not  exempt  from  absolute  want.  In  November, 
1860,  only  two  months  before  his  death,  he  writes,  "  my  daily 
support  is  a  daily  miracle."  But  it  is  not  to  be  believed  that 
he  many  times  found  himself  in  any  thing  like  an  extremitj'  of 
want,  surrounded  as  he  was  by  those  who  would  have  deemed 
it  a  privilege  to  minister  to  his  necessities,  but  who,  from  feel- 
ings of  delicacy,  might  not,  under  mere  suspicion,  make  proffers 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES.  —  ALONZO    LEWIS.  557 

that  they  feared  lie  would,  in  a  moody  moment,  repulse  as  ob- 
trusions. 

The  mind  of  Mr.  Lewis  was  of  a  peculiarly  sensitive  texture, 
and  constantly  disturbed  by  what  to  most  persons  would  seem 
but  trivial  occurrences.  He  was  likewise  keenly  alive  to  the 
opinions  of  others;  and  his  thirst  for  praise  almost  assumed  the 
form  of  an  absolute  disease ;  yet  his  mind  was  of  too  high  an 
order  to  be  satisfied  with  the  cheap  compliments  that  were 
bestowed  upon  him.  And  in  his  case  was  furnished  a  notable 
instance  ,of  a  longing  for  that  which,  when  attained,  had  no 
power  to  satisfy.  Some  minds  are  of  such  noble  quality  that 
they  receive  the  praise  of  the  mean,  vulgar,  and  wicked,  as  an 
indignity.  But  it  is  quite  as  much  as  can  be  expected  of  most 
people,  that  they  look  with  indifference  on  the  censure  or  praise 
of  the  wrong  minded.  And  if  Mr.  Lewis  had  disciplined  him- 
self to  this  he  would  have  passed  a  great  many  more  happy 
hours.  Constituted  as  he  was,  it  will  be  perceived  that  he  could 
not  always  be  at  peace  with  those  around  him,  for  few  are 
accustomed  to  overlook  demands  engendered  by  such  a  temper, 
demands  which  might  not  unfrequently  be  put  forth  with  aspe- 
rity and  petulance.  But  beneath  his  sometimes  unpromising 
surface  there  always  dwelt  that  which  was  really  noble  and 
congenial ;  and  many  a  cultivated  mind  has  passed  with  him 
intervals  of  sweet  and  profitable  communion. 

It  is  not  worth  while  to  deny  that  every  one  loves  to  see  his 
name  in  honorable  connection,  in  print.  And  in  a  local  history, 
almost  every  person  who  has  in  any  way  made  himself  conspic- 
uous, expects  that  his  name  will  appear.  I  have  heard  Mr. 
Lewis  censured  for  not  noticing  this  or  that  individual,  as  if 
his  silence  arose  from  prejudice.  But  the  complaints  were  as 
likely,  perhaps,  to  have  had  their  origin  in  wounded  pride  as  in 
an  honest  desire  that  the  most  healthful  examples  should  be 
presented.  Reflection  will  convince  every  reasonable  person 
that  many  are  conspicuous  in  ways  that  it  would  do  no  good  to 
celebrate,  and  that  multitudes  who  are  known  only  in  the  most 
circumscribed  sphere  are  more  deserving  of  having  their  names 
perpetuated.  The  historian  must  himself  act  as  judge  in  all 
such  matters,  and  is  presumed  to  have  a  conscientious  appreci- 
ation of  his  responsibilities.  And  he  far  better  shows  his  integ- 
U2*  ..      . 


558  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

rity  by  silence  than  by  elevating  the  unworthy,  who,  from 
some  meretricious  surroundings  have  become  objects  of  momen- 
tar}^  observation.  That  Mr.  Lewis  had  strong  antipathies  and 
prejudices,  his  most  ardent  friends  would  not  deny.  But  that 
he  was  unable  to  exercise  sufficient  control  over  them  to  pre- 
vent their  having  an  influence  in  the  preparation  of  his  History, 
we  will  not  admit. 

He  had  a  kind  heart,  and  few  were  more  ready  to  aid  others, 
though  his  interest  might  be  compromised  by  his  benevolence. 
He  never  turned  his  back  upon  such  as  came  recommended  by 
misfortune.  And  numberless  good  offices  did  he  perform  with- 
out the  hope  of  reward  and  without  receiving  even  the  cheap 
return  of  gratitude.  Still  more  ;  many  and  many  a  time  was  he 
subjected  to  the  severe  trial  of  suffering  the  taunts  of  those  in 
prosperity  whom  he  had  befriended  in  adversity  ;  a  trial  so 
much  be3^ond  the  common  limit  of  human  endurance  that  the 
mind  which  can  escape  unembittered  must  be  more  than  ordi- 
nary. And  when,  under  such  trials,  he  was  led  to  complain, 
his  complaints  should  not  so  often  have  been  regarded  as  the 
mere  ebullitions  of  a  diseased  sensibility.  In  the  piece  just 
quoted  from  he  says,  "  Within  a  short  time  I  have  been  taunted 
in  the  street  for  my  poverty." 

That  large  class  of  unenlightened  men  who  are  ruled  by  the 
love  of  money  ^re  accustomed  to  view  the  poor,  however  meri- 
torious or  exalted  by  genius,  with  disdain.  But  the  men  of 
genius,  even  while  they  can  really  feel  nothing  but  contempt 
toward  their  arrogant  brethren,  generally  have  sufficient  saga- 
city to  avoid  offending  them,  as  from  them  they  may,  by  that 
flattery  which  always  reaches  the  vulgar  mind,  derive  benefits  — 
the  flattery  which  supposes  intellectual  superiority.  But  Mr. 
Lewis's  mind  was  not  one  that  could  easily  yield  to  the  airs  of 
the  supercilious,  and  hence  he  often  subjected  himself  to  indig- 
nities where  the  cringing  would  have  received  favors.  He  says, 
''  If  I,  like  others,  had  devoted  my  life  solely  to  my  own  interest, 
I  might  now  be  reveling  in  wealth ;  but  your  hundred  thousand 
dollar  men,  who  never  knew  what  it  was  to  want  a  meal  of 
victuals,  can  have  no  idea  of  him  who  has  to  support  a  family 
without  means."  This  is  a  mournful  truth  ;  but  Mr.  Lewis  was 
not  the  man  to  make  it  known  in  a  way  to  ensure  relief.     In  his 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  —  ALONZO    LEWIS.  559 

complaints,  which  he  occasionally  put  forth  in  the  public  prints, 
he  was  rather  inclined  to  take  a  step  beyond  the  sublime  in 
pathos,  and  his  emotional  extravagances  excited  feelings  very 
different  from  pity.  "Witness  the  following :  "  I  have  spent 
more  than  forty  years  in  endeavoring  to  convince  the  world 
that  love  is  the  essence  of  true  religion,  and  no  person  ever 
lived  in  Lynn  who  has  been  so  much  abused,  lampooned  and 
traduced  as  I."  He  probably  wrote  this  in  a  moment  of  excite- 
ment occasioned  by  the  taunt  of  some  vulgar  assailant,  who  by 
most  men  of  his  understanding  would  have  been  passed  by  un- 
noticed ;  and  he  should  not  have  hastened  to  a  printing  oflSce 
and  sent  it  forth  under  his  own  hand ;  for  the  truth  is  that  it 
would  be  difficult  to  point  to  another  individual  in  the  whole 
history  of  Lynn,  who  presented  himself  as  such  a  shining  mark, 
and  escaped  with  so  little  lampooning. 

Mr.  Lewis  was  eminently  what  is  called  a  self  made  man ;  and 
to  his  industry  and  perseverence  as  much  as  to  his  natural  gifts 
was  his  success  in  the  way  of  fame  to  be  attributed.  But  it 
may  be  assuming  something  to  say  that  industry  and  perseve- 
rence are  not  as  much  natural  gifts  as  any  others,  though  usu- 
ally they  are  spoken  of  rather  as  habits.  Indeed  is  it  not  true 
that  the  great  majority  of  those  who  are  conspicuous,  not  to 
say  illustrious,  in  the  world,  have  no  intellectual  superiority 
over  the  mass  of  those  by  whom  they  are  surrounded,  but  are 
raised  by  vigorous  and  continued  effort  in  the  pursuit  of  a  defi- 
nite object?  But  not  many  possess  that  earnest  persistency 
w^ithout  which  very  few  indeed  can  ascend  the  heights  of  renown. 
And  how  many,  be  it  repeated,  feel,  all  their  lives  that  they 
have  that  within,  which,  if  developed,  would  exalt,  but  who  yet 
dream  their  lives  away,  finding  at  the  close  that  they  have  but 
floated  along,  with  the  common  tide,  day  by  day  gilding  their 
dreams  with  the  expectation  that  the  time  was  approaching 
when  they  were  to  arouse  and  valiantly  pursue  the  upward 
career.     It  seem  as  if  there  were  a  destiny  shaping  our  ends. 

A  great  poet  has  said  that  Providence  prepared  a  niche  for 
every  man.  But  if  that-be  the  case,  one  is  almost  constrained 
to  believe  that  it  was  left  for  each  to  find  his  own,  and  that 
most  niches  had,  through  blindness  or  perversity,  become  filled 
by  wrong  occupants.     Somehow  early  habits,  social  attractions, 


560  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

or  drear  misfortune  seem  to  have  intervened  to  prevent  what 
might  have  been,  and  we  behold  the  wit  of  a  Voltaire  spent  in 
raising  a  laugh  among  sooty-faced  workmen  ;  the  reflection  of  a 
Newton  in 'calculating  the  moves  on  a  greasy  cliecker-board  ; 
the  skill  of  a  Linnaeus  in  arranging  posies  for  a  country  lass. 
These  are  incidents  which  appear  among  the  mysteries  of  human 
life ;  and  there  are  others.  Do  we  not  every  day  behold  in 
high  places  of  honor  and  trust  multitudes  who  would  better 
become  the  miller's  frock  or  fisherman's  fear-naught;  in  the 
pulpit  and  at  the  bar  numbers  who  should  never  have  looked 
beyond  the  lumber  woods  or  arable  fields  for  their  spheres  of 
usefulness  ? 

Under  the  baleful  influence  of  an  inordinate  love  of  money, 
many  denounce  the  person  who  is  not  constantly  toiling  in  some 
pursuit  the  end  of  which  is  mere  pecuniary  gain,  as  indolent,  or 
in  some  way  deluded.  And  if  they  are  able  to  perceive  and 
appreciate  any  thing  of  intellectual  superiority  or  moral  exalta- 
tion, they  avoid  an  open  and  honest  recognition  of  it,  aftecting 
to  despise  what  they  cannot  attain.  And  the  world's  censures 
drive  many  timid  souls  from  the  higher  path  of  duty  and  enjoy- 
ment. It  must  have  been  delightful  to  the  mind  of  Mr.  Lewis, 
as  it  is  to  every  enlightened  mind,  to  divest  itself  of  the  clog- 
ging interests  of  the  present  and  flee  to  the  communion  of  the 
noble  and  virtuous  of  the  past.  Most  men  live  only  in  the 
present,  having  no  apprehension  of  their  power  to  enjoy  ex- 
tended lives,  lives  reaching  back  to  times  over  which  multiplied 
years  have  thrown  a  lustrous  veil.  But  the  intelligent  lover 
of  history  has  this  illimitable  field  of  enjoyment  open  before 
him ;  here  he  holds  communion  with  the  better  representatives 
of  our  race,  undisturbed  by  the  agitations  of  active  life  around 
him ;  here  he  comes,  a  quiet  spectator  of  the  great  drama 
which  has  been  performing  ever  since  the  world  began.  While 
the  selfish  and  sordid  see  no  benefit  or  enjoyment  in  thus  re- 
verting to  the  past,  the  philosopher  and  philanthropist  deem  it 
among  the  most  useful  and  elevating  occupations  of  mankind. 
It  has  been  said  that  were  it  not  for  the  historian  or  the  bard, 
the  greatest  name  would  soon  pass  into  oblivion.  And  without 
the  historian  or  the  bard  the  most  brilliant  era  would  soon 
become  obscured.     To  them  is  the  world  indebted  for  the  safe 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  —  ALONZO    LEWIS.  561 

transmission  of  all  that  is  worthy  of  being  handed  along  from 
age  to  age,  for  the  preservation  of  noble  names  and  useful 
knowledge.  And  do  not  these  reflections  suggest  that  our  little 
community  owes  a  debt  of  gratitude  to  the  Historian  and  Bard 
who  labored  to  maintain  a  record  of  her  worthies  and  to  per- 
petuate a  memory  of  her  pleasant  scenes? 

That  Mr.  Lewis  himself  had  a  more  than  ordinary  craving  for 
posthumous  fame  is  not  to  be  denied.  And  with  such  a  longing 
it  is  not  remarkable  that  he  should  have  been  willing  to  labor 
without  the  hope  of  any  such  reward  as  with  most  people 
would  be  the  incentive  to  diligence.  While  in  a  strictly  moral 
sense  such  a  craving  may  not  be  applauded,  it  yet  may  make 
the  possessor  an  instrument  of  much  good.  And  in  the  case 
of  our  friend,  the  beneficial  results  were  very  great.  A  mind 
constituted  like  his  derives  much  pleasure  from  the  pursuit  of 
its  darling  object.  And  he  no  doubt  received  the  most  satisfac- 
tory compensation  for  his  toil  in  the  conviction  that  his  fame 
would  survive  and  his  name  be  lauded  through  generation  after 
generation.  And  his  name  and  his  fame  will  survive  —  survive 
and  be  green  in  the  memory  of  men  long  after  the  great  mul- 
titude of  those  of  our  community  who  proudly  conceived  them- 
selves essential  to  the  welfare  of  the  world,  are  forgotten ; 
though  a  better  fate  will  attend  the  names  of  those  few  whose 
meritorious  acts  gave  them  a  place  in  his  History. 

Multitudes  begin  a  good  course  with  energy,  pursue  it  to  a 
certain  point,  and  then  relax  their  efforts,  having  gained,  as 
they  would  have  it,  the  point  for  which  they  strove.  And 
these,  having  set  their  standard  too  low,  quit  the  world  without 
having  accomplished  half  that  was  in  their  power.  And  it  is 
doubtful  whether  Mr.  Lewis  should  not  be  ranked  among  these. 
He  certainly  did  not  do  all  he  was  capable  of  doing.  After  the 
production  of  his  larger  volume  of  Poems,  and  his  History,  he 
seemed  to  feel  as  if  his  work  were  chiefly  done.  His  mind,  though 
it  returned  often  and  lingered  fondly  about  the  pleasant  paths 
of  literature,  appeared  soon  to  weary  and  turn  to  other  pur- 
suits. But  circumstances  that  he  could  not  govern  may  have 
enforced  this  seeming  indifference,  for  he  says,  referring  to  a 
proposed  new  edition  of  his  History,  "  In  the  morning  I  set 
about  the  History  of  Lynn,  but  my  wife  comes  in  and  inquires, 

36 


562  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

'What  are  we  going  to  have  for  dinner?'  "  —  an  inquiry  which 
certainly  might,  under  the  embarrassments  of  real  penury,  be 
expected  to  have  a  depressing  effect.  As  a  general  thing, 
small  pecuniary  returns  attend  literary  labor.  And  praise  is 
better  calculated  to  satisfy  an  empty  head  than  an  empty  stom- 
ach. The  two  editions  of  his  History,  Mr.  Lewis  asserted,  in  a 
newspaper  article,  in  1860,  were  published  at  a  loss.  In  a  Lynn 
paper  of  the  22d  of  June,  1844,  which  was  a  few  weeks  before 
the  issuing  of  the  second  edition,  the  editor  remarks  "  We  are 
informed  by  Mr.  Lewis  that  he  began  at  the  pond  on  the  Com- 
mon and  went  to  Emes's  factory,  in  Saugus,  and  obtained  only 
fifteen  subscribers."  And  it  is  not  at  all  probable  that  he  was 
more  successful  with  his  Poems  than  with  his  History,  for  the 
market  value  of  prose  is  generally  above  that  of  poetry. 

Such  were  the  contrarieties  of  temper  possessed  by  Mr.  Lewis, 
that  he  was  like  no  other  man ;  and  it  was  common  for  even  his 
intimate  friends  to  remark  that  they  did  "not  know  how  to 
take  him."  It  would  be  diflScult  to  analyze  his  character,  and 
unfair  to  examine  it  by  any  but  the  most  flexible  rules. 

In  early  life  he  had  turns  of  dejection.  And  after  he  had 
arrived  at  manhood,  similar  turns,  in  two  instances,  matured 
into  insanity,  and  it  was  found  necessary  to  place  him  in  an 
asylum.  But  in  his  later  years,  the  turns  were  rather  of  irrita- 
bility than  dejection. 

And  this  seems  a  proper  place  to  state  that  some  of  the 
friends  of  Mr.  Lewis  have  thought  that  his  whole  after  character 
was  affected  by  an  affair  of  the  heart  which  transpired  in  youth. 
He  had  become  ardently  attached  to  a  young  lady  who  could 
not  reciprocate  his  tender  impressions.  And  when  he  became 
convinced  that  it  would  be  fruitless  to  prosecute  his  suit,  a 
period  of  deep  depression  supervened,  weighing  down  his 
spirits  for  months.  The  details  of  such  afitiirs  are  not  often 
made  public  ;  and  as  the  pain  is  endured  in  sacred  privacy  few 
can  readily  perceive,  in  a  given  case,  the  sufficiency  of  the  cause 
for  the  effect.  The  world  is  altogether  too  apt  to  scoff  at  such 
occurrences,  and  by  unfeeling  taunts  increase  the  anguish  of 
the  wounded  heart ;  they  pity  one  who  has  lost  a  few  dollars, 
but  for  the  yearning  heart  that  cannot  attain  its  dearest  object 
have  nothing  better  than  a  sneer.     There  was  certainly  some- 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES.  —  ALONZO    LEWIS.  563 

thing  in  the  character  of  Mr.  Lewis  that  bore  likeness  to  one 
thus  aftected.  He  had  times  of  sadness  wlien  outward  affairs 
seemed  brightest,  and  times  of  irritability,  apparently  arising 
from  a  disturbance  of  the  contemplation  of  softened  memories. 
In  religion,  Mr.  Lewis  was  somewhat  vacillating,  at  least  so 
far  as  the  outward  manifestation  was  concerned,  he  having  at 
different  times  joined  various  professing  bodies  — the  Calvinistic 
Congregationalists,  Methodists,  and  Quakers,  for  instance.  But 
he  never  swerved  from  a  cordial  acceptance  of  the  christian 
faith,  and  for  the  best  part  of  his  life  was  a  member  of  the  Pro- 
testant Episcopal  Church,  doing  much  to  sustain  the  early  foot- 
holds of  Episcopal  worship  in  Lynn.  I  should  judge  from  his 
occasional  remarks,  that  among  his  accepted  doctrines  was  that 
of  predestination,  in  an  enlarged  sense,  though  it  did  not  appear 
day  by  day  to  yield  in  him  its  ripest  fruits,  for  it  seems  to  be  a 
doctrine,  which,  whether  true  or  false,  if  fully  and  cordially  em- 
braced, must  impart  a  very  great  degree  of  rest  and  comfort  to 
the  mind.  So  long  as  a  man  imagines  himself  capable  of  shaping 
his  own  destiny,  he  will  remain  restless  and  unsatisfied.  But 
if  he  sincerely  believes  himself  the  chosen  instrument  to  work 
out  the  will  of  a  beneficent  Superior,  and  has  disciplined  him- 
self to  the  docile  performance  of  his  behests  he  will  feel  an  in- 
describable freedom  from  disturbing  cares  and  distrusts.  If  his 
condition  is  humble  he  is  contented,  because  he  is  there,  a 
necessary  link  in  the  great  chain  that  binds  time  to  eternity, 
dim  for  a  while,  but  perhaps  in  the  course  of  events  to  become 
as  bright  as  any.  If  he  is  in  affluence  he  feels  no  pride,  because 
no  merit  of  his  own  placed  him  there ;  and  though  the  same 
Providence  that  assigned  to  him  his  present  position  may  here- 
after have  a  very  different  one  for  him  to  occupy,  he  feels  pre- 
pared courageously  to  meet  what  he  cannot  escape.  The  hearty 
predestinarian  is  unassuming  in  prosperity,  patient  in  adver- 
sity, unmoved  amid  the  greatest  calamities,  heroic  on  the 
redest  battle  field.  What  did  the  doctrine  do  for  the  early 
New  England  settlers  —  what  for  the  champions  of  the  English 
Commonwealth?  But  there  is  such  a  propensity  to  throw  the 
shadows  of  a  grim  and  exacting  theology  over  it,  when  all 
should  be  trustful,  bright,  and  hopeful,  that  it  becomes  cheer- 
less and  repulsive  to  many  a  warm  heart.     To  such  a  mind  as 


564  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

that  of  Mr.  Lewis,  it  seems  as  if,  in  its  full  acceptance  and 
effect,  it  must  have  been  an  inexhaustible  source  of  comfort. 

There  was  nothing  particularly  striking  in  the  personal  ap- 
pearance of  Mr.  Lewis ;  yet  he  would  generally  have  been 
noticed  as  one  of  marked  character.  He  was  of  medium  height, 
good  form,  and  erect  carriage.  His  head  was  large,  his  fore- 
head high,  his  eye  bright.  He  had  a  pleasant  smile,  but  seldom 
indulged  in  a  hearty  laugh.  During  most  of  his  manhood,  he 
closely  shaved  his  beard ;  but  for  his  last  few  years  that  digni- 
fied appendage  was  allowed  to  take  its  natural  course,  with 
now  and  then  a  slight  trimming.  Up  to  middle  life  he  was 
rather  more  than  ordinarily  careful  in  the  matter  of  dress, 
though  never  foppish.  But  in  his  latter  days  he  hardly  paid 
that  attention  to  exterior  appearance  becoming  one  in  his  posi- 
tion. He  never,  however,  appeared  in  a  garb  that  the  fastidious 
need  call  unseemly.  Black,  the  more  genteel  color  of  the  day, 
he  seldom  chose,  preferring  gray  or  some  other  modest  mixture. 
A  cloth  cap  or  low-crowned  hat  usually  adorned  his  head. 

He  was  thoughtful,  but  not  abstracted ;  and  whether  in  com- 
pany or  in  the  street,  nothing  worthy  of  remark  was  liable  to 
escape  his  notice.  He  was  fond  of  attending  scientific,  philan- 
thropic, and  other  lectures,  and  often,  when  a  fit  occasion 
presented,  took  the  opportunity  to  express  his  approval  or 
disapproval  of  what  was  uttered.  And  he  was  not  opposed  to 
any  rational  amusement. 

His  constitution  was  naturally  good,  and  capable  of  great 
endurance,  as  the  severe  tests  to  which  he  was  subjected  in  his 
surveying  excursions,  during  the  inclement  seasons,  abundantly 
proved.  About  two  years  before  his  decease,  he  greatly  failed 
in  health,  though  he  kept  about,  anfl  to  a  considerable  extent 
attended  to  his  ordinary  duties.  His  supposition  was  that  he 
had  been  poisoned,  while  surveying  in  the  woods.  His  final 
disease,  however,  was  softening  of  the  brain.  It  is  not  likely 
that  he  suffered  much  pain,  and  his  last  hours  were  passed  in 
an  unconscious  state. 

In  his  picturesque  little  cot  by  the  sea  side  he  breathed  his 
last,  on  Monday  the  21st  of  January,  1861  — the  little  cot.  reared 
partly  by  his  own  hands,  which  had  been  his  home  for  many 
years ;  where  he  loved   to  study  and  to  muse ;  to  watch  the 


mOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES.  —  ALONZO   LEWIS.  565 

serene  light  that  proclaimed  the  peace  of  nature,  or  the  weird 
mist  that  heralded  the  roaring  storm ;  where  the  spent  waves, 
whispering  beneath  his  window,  calmed  his  spirit  for  nightly 
repose,  and  the  solemn  pulsations  of  the  mighty  deep  swelled 
in  majestic  harmony  with  the  lone  throbs  of  his  poetic  soul ; 
where  the  wail  of  his  ocean  dirge  may  still  be  heard ;  and  where 
he  penned  these  entreating  though  unheeded  lines. 

Oj  bury  nie  not  in  the  dark  old  woods, 

Where  the  sunbeams  never  shine ; 
Where  mingles  the  mist  of  the  mountain  floods 

With  the  dew  of  the  dismal  pine! 
But  bury  me  deep  by  the  bright  blue  sea, 

I  have  loved  in  life  so  well ; 
Where  the  winds  may  come  to  my  spirit  free, 

And  the  sound  of  the  ocean  shell. 

O,  bury  me  not  in  the  churchyard  old, 

In  the  slime  of  the  doleful  tomb! 
Where  my  bones  may  be  thrust,  ere  their  life  is  cold, 

To  the  damp  of  a  drearier  gloomJ 
But  bury  me  deep  by  the  Vu'ight  blue  sea. 

Where  the  friends  whom  I  loved  have  been ; 
Where  the  sun  may  shine  on  the  grass  tmf  free. 

And  the  rains  keep  it  ever  green ! 


SAGAMORE  COTTAGE  RESIDENCE  OF  ALONZO  LEWIS.) 

Mr.  Lewis  was  buried  from  the  Central  Congregational  meet- 
ing-house, in  Silsbe  street,  on  Wednesday,  the  23d  of  January. 
The  day  was  cloudy,  damp  and  chill,  and  there  was  a  singu- 
V2 


566  HISTORY    OF   LYNN. 

larly  small  attendance.  The  house  was  cold,  the  services  were 
brief,  and  attended  by  no  special  solemnity.  Some  passages  of 
Scripture  were  read,  the  choir  sang  a  few  appropriate  strains,  and 
an  extemporaneous  prayer  was  offered.  But  no  eulogy  or  dis- 
course of  any  kind  was  uttered.  The  remains  were  exposed  to 
view,  for  a  short  time,  in  the  porch,  and  thence  conveyed  to 
their  last  resting  place,  in  the  Old  Burying  Ground  near  the  west 
end  of  the  Common,  where  his  father  and  mother  lay. 

And  so  passed  from  earth  Alonzo  Lewis,  the  historian  and 
bard  of  Lynn  —  a  man  who  labored  much  for  the  good  of  others, 
and  especially  rejoiced  in  the  prosperity  of  his  native  place  — 
who  in  life  was  often  called  to  drink  of  a  bitter  cup,  but  who, 
God  grant,  may  have  an  overflowing  cup  of  joy  in  the  world  to 
which  he  has  gone. 


DANIEL  COLLINS  BAKER.—  ] 816-1863. 

Mr.  Baker  was  born  in  Lynn  on  the  12th  of  October,  1816, 
and  was  a  son  of  Elisha  Baker.  His  parents  were  Quakers,  and 
he  w^as  a  pupil  at  the  Friends'  Boarding  School,  in  Providence, 
R.  I.  On  the  19th  of  December,  1838,  he  married  Augusta,  a 
daughter  of  John  B.  Chase,  the  ceremony  taking  place  accord- 
ing to  the  custom  of  the  Friends ;  but  he  did  not  continue  in 
the  faith  of  his  fathers.  He  had  three  children  —  William  E., 
Helen,  and  Sarah  E. 

Mr.  Baker  was  a  man  of  great  activity  in  business,  and  stood 
so  well  at  the  time  the  Howard  Banking  Company,  of  Boston, 
went  into  operation,  that  he  was  chosen  its  president.  Good 
fortune,  however,  did  not  always  attend  his  operations ;  and 
particularly  by  the  disastrous  termination  of  the  great  Nahant 
Hotel  project  he  met  with  considerable  loss. 

For  some  years  he  was  a  zealous  politician,  and  frequently 
in  office.  In  1849  and  '50  he  was  elected  to  the  Senate  ;  at  the 
organization  of  our  first  City  Government  he  was  chosen  Presi- 
dent of  the  Common  Council ;  and  in  1853,  he  was  elected 
Mayor.  As  a  presiding  officer,  he  stood  high,  disposing  of  busi- 
ness with  facility  and  demeaning  himself  with  great  courtesy. 

Mr.  Baker  was  a  little  inclined  to  display,  and  joined  heartily 
in  public  entertainments  and  political  demonstrations.     He  was 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  —  BENJAMIN    F.    NEWHALL.  567 

liberal  in  sentiment,  free  in  expenditure,  convivial  in  habit,  and 
had  a  kind  heart.  He  built  the  fine  residence  on  Franklin 
street,  opposite  Laighton,  and  resided  there  for  a  number  of 
years.  His  death  took  place  on  the  19th  of  July,  1863,  at  New- 
Orleans,  where  he  had  been  doing  business  for  some  months. 


BENJAMM  FRANKLIN  NEWHALL.  —  1802-1863 
Mr.  Newhall  was  born  in  that  part  of  Lynn  now  constituting 
Saugus,  on  the  29th  of  April,  1802.  He  w^as  a  son  of  Jacob, 
who  was  born  November  1,  1780,  and  was  a  son  of  Jacob,  known 
as  Landlord  Newhall,  who  was  born  May  3,  1740,  and  was  a  son 
of  Locker,  who  was  born  November  12,  1708,  and  was  a  son  of 
Jacob,  who  was  born  March  27,  1686,  and  was  a  grandson  of 
Thomas,  the  first  white  person  born  in  Lynn. 

The  circumstances  of  Mr.  NewhalPs  father  were  such,  that  he 
was  early  taught  the  necessity  of  self  dependence  ;  and  naturally 
possessing  an  inclination  to  accumulate,  he  soon  formed  habits 
of  industry  and  frugality.  But  in  his  first  labors  he  had  a 
higher  incentive  to  diligence  than  the  selfish  one  of  mere  accu- 
mulation. The  necessities  of  a  loving  mother  with  other  help- 
less children,  stimulated  him  to  the  most  strenuous  exertion. 

Some  time  before  his  death  he  prepared  a  sort  of  autobiogra- 
phy, in  which  many  of  his  early  struggles  and  experiences  are 
detailed  in  a  manner  always  interesting  and  often  affecting ;  and 
an  occasional  passage  from  it  will  add  much  to  the  value  of  this 
sketch.  The  follow^ing,  which  is  found  under  date  1815,  and 
relates  to  his  mother,  can  hardly  fail  to  be  read  with  emotion. 
And  who  will  not  be  ready  to  say  that  with  such  a  mother,  a 
child  who  would  not  do  his  best  must  be  hopelessly  perverse. 
The  growth  of  the  religious  element,  which  was  so  conspicuous 
in  his  character  throughout  all  his  active  life,  and  which  often 
attracted  the  attention  of  his  business  associates,  is  easily  ac- 
counted for.     He  says  : 

How  well  do  I  remember  in  the  late  hours  of  night,  when  father  was  away  and 
her  dear  ones  were  sleeping,  that  she  would  come  to  my  bed-side,  and  kneel- 
ing with  overflowing  heart  pour  out  her  soul  in  prayer  that  God  would  pre- 
serve her  darling  boy  from  the  snares  so  thick  around  him.  She  thought  I 
was  ajleep,  but  I  was  awake  and  the  silent  tear  moistened  my  young  cheek, 


568  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

and  I  avowed  before  God,  that  a  mother's  prayers  should  not  he  in  vain.  IIow 
often  she  thns  kneeled  at  niy  bed-side  when  I  was  asleep,  I  know  not,  but 
doubtless  quite  often. 

How  many  times  I  wished  that  I  were  older,  and  had  some  good  work  so 
that  I  could  supjjort  her.  1  frequently  entreated  her  for  work,  but  not  shoe- 
making,  as  I  could  not  like  that.  I  often  used  to  go  into  the  chocolate  mill, 
and  soon  learned  to  handle  the  pans,  paper  the  chocolate,  and  do  other  light 
work.  I  liked  it,  and  begged  her  to  get  me  a  chance  in  the  mill.  But  she 
told  me  that  only  men  worked  there.     I  was  sorry,  but  not  disheartened. 

He  however  got  a  chance  in  the  mill,  and  then  commenced 
his  first  regular  work,  though  he  had  previously  assisted  his 
father  a  little  in  the  shoemaker's  shop.  But  he  had  a  great 
dislike  for  shoemaking.     At  this  time  he  was  thirteen  years  old. 

Autumn  came,  and  the  chocolate  making  commenced  early  and  promised 
well.  I  implored  my  mother  to  get  me  work.  She  went  to  Mr.  Childs  and 
told  her  story.  He  said  if  I  could  work  well  I  might  come  in.  Well !  I  knew 
what  I  could  do,  and  never  was  a  boy  better  pleased  than  I  when  I  heard  the 
decision.  My  mother  made  me  a  frock  of  a  cocoa  bag,  and  I  was  proud  as  a 
king.     Never  shall  I  forget  the  day  when  all  arrayed  I  marched  to  the  mill  and 

went  to  work.     Old and were  the  men.     [The  names  are  all  given 

in  the  manuscript,  but  for  obvious  reasons  should  not  all  appear  in  print.] 

drank  a  great  deal  of  rum,  and  was  cross  and  ugly ;  but  I  was  determined 

to  please  him,  for  I  knew  that  there  all  my  hopes  depended ;  he  was  master, 
and  what  he  said  was  law;  even  Mr.  Childs  dared  not  dispute  him.  When 
he  spoke,  I  sprang,  and  ran,  obeying  his  every  nod.  Besides  that,  I  did  the 
very  work  he  wished  me  to  do,  and  no  other.  I  soon  got  his  good  will,  and  he 
was  always  kind  to  me. 

But  to  come  back  to  the  work.  I,  a  boy  not  fourteen  years  old,  and  the 
business  requiring  labor  night  and  day,  found  it  hard.  To  go  to  work  at 
sunset  and  continue  till  sunrise,  four  nights  in  the  week,  I  could  scarcely 
endure,  and  sometimes  declared  —  "  This  shall  be  my  last  night."  But  when 
the  beautiful  sun  shone  in  the  morning  I  felt  better,  and  encouraged  to  go  on. 
I  hated  slioemaking,  and  was  yet  determined  to  earn  something  for  my  mother. 
If  I  could  earn  eighty-three  cents  a  day  by  working  night  and  day,  it  was  to 
me  a  great  sum.  I  now  think  that  such  labor  for  a  boy  was  too  much ;  but  I 
was  ambitious.  My  mother  often  wept  at  my  exposure  and  extreme  labor ; 
and  perhaps  I  am  now  reaping  the  harvest  grown  from  the  seed  then  sown. 
Sometimes  she  would  say  that  the  work  was  too  hard,  and  I  had  better  quit 
it;  but  1  could  not  think  of  it;  work  I  must,  and  work  I  would.  Mr.  Childs 
would  stand  and  look  with  astonishment  to  see  me  paper  the  chocolate  so 
much  faster  than  was  ever  done  before.  From  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  a 
week  I  did  not  get  into  a  bed.  When  the  tide  was  over  we  would  spread  the 
hot  cocoa,  and  throwing  a  bag  over  it  make  it  a  bed.  In  cold  weather,  the 
steaming  cocoa  was  inviting ;  but  I  now  think  its  effects  were  bad.  But  with 
all  the  hard  work  and  suffering,  I  got  through  my  first  winter  at  the  mill ;  how 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. — BENJAMIN   F.    NEWHALL.  5G9 

I  bore  the  fatigue  God  only  knows ;  some  unseen  hand  supported  me ;  and 
when  I  was  just  on  the  point  of  giving  up,  several  times,  some  impulse  of 
mind  forbade  it.     God  helped  me. 

Passing  on  to  1818,  when  he  was  sixteen  years  old,  we  find 
him  still  persevering  in  labor,  stimulated  by  the  same  high 
motives. 

In  the  spring  of  1818,  having  got  through  with  mill  work,  my  mother  en- 
gaged me  to  go  to  work  for  Jesse  Rice,  on  Nahant.  So  the  next  morning  I 
started  for  my  new  field  of  labor.  I  was  pleased  with  the  idea,  and  thought 
how  pleasant  it  would  be  to  work  at  Nahant  in  summer.  My  labor  was  farm 
ing  I  went  to  work  with  earnestness,  but  soon  found  that  Mr.  Rice  needed 
an  experienced  farmer  and  a  strong  man.  I  could  not  hold  a  heavy  plough, 
with  two  yoke  of  oxen  ;  I  had  not  learned  to,  and  was  not  stout  enough ;  Mr. 
Rice  saw  it  and  was  sorry ;  and  so  was  I.  After  a  week's  trial,  he  told  me 
that  the  work  was  beyond  my  strength,  and  I  had  better  seek  some  lighter 
labor.  He  said  that  when  I  grew  older  and  stouter  I  might  come  again.  I 
thanked  him,  he  paid  me  well,  and  I  returned  home. 

This  season  I  learned  to  blow  rocks ;  and  the  work  being  new,  I  took  hold 
in  earnest.  For  a  while  I  did  not  charge  the  rocks,  but  before  long  I  learned 
to,  and  could  do  it  as  well  as  any  body. 

I  think  it  was  in  June  [1818]  that  Mr.  Smith  sent  for  me  to  go  up  and  tend  the 
"  chipper."  This  was  a  machine  to  cut  up  the  small  blocks  of  cam-wood,  to 
chips,  so  that  they  could  be  ground.  It  was  a  dangerous  machine,  and  several 
had  already  been  injured  by  it.  Smith  cautioned  me  to  be  very  careful ;  and 
the  caution  was  well  given.  I  have  often  wondered  how  my  mother  dared 
to  risk  me  at  such  dangerous  work.  All  went  on  well  enough  for  a  while.  I 
thought  myself  master  of  the  business  and  grew  heedless.  One  day  in  care- 
lessness I  put  my  left  thumb  under  the  axe,  and  cut  it  off*.  I  started,  and 
could  hardly  believe  my  thumb  was  lost,  having  scarcely  noticed  the  accident 
by  the  pain ;  a  pin's  prick  would  have  hurt  me  more.  I  took  the  severed 
member,  put  it  on  its  place,  and  started  for  the  house,  holding  it  on.  Smith 
saw  me  coming;  I  saw  him,  and  remembering  his  caution,  laughed.  He  said, 
"  You  have  cut  off"  your  fingers."  I  went  in,  sat  down,  and  he  took  a  good 
sized  needle  and  thread  and  sewed  it  on.  1  bore  it  pretty  well,  and  after  it 
was  done  started  for  home.  My  mother  was  sorry,  and  wept,  and  at  once 
sent  me  down  to  Dr.  John  Lummus,  that  he  might  look  at  it.  He  examined 
it  and  expressed  some  doubt  about  saving  the  thumb,  but  said  he  would  try. 
The  night  following  was  dreadful,  I  slept  none,  and  in  the  morning  went 
down  to  the  Doctor's  again,  repeating  my  visits  to  him  for  several  successive 
days.  Finally  the  severed  thumb  was  cast  into  the  fire,  and  the  wound  dressed  ^ 
and  it  was  nearly  two  months  before  I  got  well. 

The  foregoing  is  sufficient  to  give  an  idea  of  the  early  strug- 
gles of  this  more  than  ordinary  man.  And  we  must  pass  on 
again,  till  we  reach  the  year  1825,  when  he  was  twenty -three 

V2^ 


570  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

3^ears  of  age,  about  which  time,  in  company  with  another,  he 
commenced  a  small  trading  establishment  in  Canada.  Thither 
he  made  two  or  three  journe3"s.  But  on  the  whole  they  were 
unsuccessful,  and  the  enterprise  was  abandoned.  After  various 
other  trials,  successes,  and  mishaps,  he  arrives  at  the  age  of 
twenty-eight.  He  had  now,  1830,  just  returned  from  Canada, 
having  closed  up  there,  and  goes  on  to  speak  of  his  condition, 
prospects,  and  determination,  as  follows: 

I  reached  home  in  safety  the  next  day,  and  found  all  well  as  usual.  I  was 
glad  to  get  once  more  where  I  was  known,  though  I  hardly  knew  what  to  do 
with  the  debts  wliich  I  owed  on  the  store  business.  However,  by  the  assist- 
ance of  my  uncle  Makepeace  1  paid  up  the  small  debts,  and  got  one  or  two 
of  the  largest  creditors  to  wait.  The  next  step  was  to  get  into  some  business, 
that  I  might  supi)ort  my  family.  The  shoe  business  presented  the  fairest 
prospect,  as  I  thought ;  so  I  hired  a  small  room  in  the  upper  part  of  what  is 
now  the  Henry  Nichols  house,  got  trusted  for  one  bundle  of  leather  from  Isaac 
Bassett  and  a  dozen  of  kid  from  John  Lovejoy,  and  hired  of  John  Emerton 
fifty  dollars,  giving  him  a  mortgage  on  my  horse  and  wagon  for  security. 
With  this  small  outfit  I  went  to  work,  fully  determined  that  nothing  on  my 
part  should  be  wanting  to  ensure  success.  I  kept  an  exact  account  of  all  I 
bought  and  sold,  so  that  I  might  at  any  time  know  whether  I  was  making  a 
profit.  Every  thing  in  business  was  as  dull  as  could  be  and  workmen  were 
hard  to  be  got.  But  perseverance  and  prudence  were  my  motto.  After  tliree 
months  of  close  application,  I  found  a  little  had  been  made.  This  was  to  me 
encouraging,  and  I  labored  on.  Never  shall  I  forget  how  hard  it  was  to  sell 
shoes  in  Boston.  The  seller  had  to  beg,  and  be  insulted  besides.  But  no 
discouragements  deterred  me ;  and  I  now  look  back  and  see  a  kind  and  over- 
ruling Providence  in  all. 

I  considered  this  the  beginning  of  life  with  me,  and  felt  determined  to  suc- 
ceed, if  prudence  and  economy  would  ensure  success.  I  began  with  the 
determination  not  to  give  a  note  if  I  could  avoid  it.  So,  buying  as  I  did,  on  a 
credit,  I  let  accounts  run  six  months,  and  then  contrived  to  settle  them 
either  by  giving  some  business  note  which  I  took,  or  making  the  payment  in 
eash.  After  a  short  time  I  made  my  plan  work  well.  The  first  of  January 
and  the  first  of  July,  in  every  year,  were  to  be  my  settling  times  with  every 
one.  Most  of  my  accounts  would  then  have  run  six  months,  and  I  was  entitled 
to  three  months  more  clear  credit  on  a  note.  When  the  first  of  January  came 
I  had  passed  all  my  fall  sales,  and  had  notes  or  cash  for  the  same.  When  the 
fii'st  of  July  came  I  had  made  all  my  spring  sales,  and  had  cash  and  notes  for 
them.  So  the  advantage  of  fixing  on  these  dates  for  settlements  will  be  seen. 
I  could  then  endorse  the  business  paper  that  I  had  taken  and  thus  settle  all 
my  bills,  or  could  get  notes  discounted  and  pay  the  cash.  1  got  this  machinery 
of  business  well  established,  and  never  deviated  from  it  in  all  the  time  that  I 
followed  the  business.     Thomas  Raddin  had  then  got  into  a  fair  business  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES.  —  BENJAMIN   F.    NEWHALL.  571 

had  established  a  good  credit  at  the  Commercial  Bank,  in  Salem,  and  he  intro- 
duced me  to  the  president,  Willard  Peele,  Esq.,  and  thus  I  obtained  the 
advantage  of  getting  a  discount  as  often  as  I  wanted  one.  This  was  every 
tiling  to  me,  as  money  matters  were  then  situated.  I  was  very  punctual  in 
all  my  payments,  and  so  my  credit  grew  better  and  better. 

It  would  be  instructive  as  well  as  interesting  to  follow  him 
in  his  business  operations  all  the  way  up  till  the  time  when 
he  became  firmly  established  as  one  of  the  most  successful, 
shrewd,  and  wealthy  business  men  in  the  vicinity,  and  speak 
more  at  large  of  his  integrity,  promptness,  perseverance,  and 
industry  ;  but  allotted  space  will  not  permit.  His  projects  were 
often  bold,  but  never  characterized  by  that  reckless  adventure 
so  often  seen  among  those  who  make  haste  to  be  rich.  He 
by  no  means  confined  himself  to  one  kind  of  business,  but  com- 
monly, to  use  an  expressive  phrase,  had  several  irons  in  the  fire 
at  the  same  time  ;  yet  he  was  so  active  and  watchful  that  none 
appeared  to  suffer  for  want  of  attention. 

Mr.  Newhall's  education  was  procured  at  the  common  school, 
with  the  exception  of  a  short  attendance  at  the  New  Market 
Academy,  and  the  more  important  exception  of  his  own  private 
application.  He  was  qualified  to  teach  in  the  common  schools 
of  the  time,  when  he  was  a  young  man,  and  did  teach,  for  one 
or  two  brief  periods,  before  he  became  settled  in  business. 

The  religious  element  was  always  strong  in  his  mind.  He 
became  a  professing  Christian  while  a  youth,  joined  the  Metho- 
dist connection,  and  preached  a  little  before  he  had  attained  his 
majority.  He  however,  some  years  afterward,  swerved  from  the 
faith  he  first  professed  and  became  a  Universalist.  He  was  a 
man  of  strictly  moral  life  and  a  friend  to  all  enterprises  calculated 
to  promote  morality  and  education.  In  public  affairs  he  took  a 
warm  interest,  and  originated  a  number  of  beneficial  projects. 

On  the  25th  of  April,  1825,  he  married  Miss  Dorothy  Jewett, 
of  Hebron,  Ct.,  and  had  six  children  —  Benjamin,  Charles  J., 
Herbert  B.,  Wilbur  F.,  Ellen  M.,  and  Alice  A. 

He  was  a  man  of  medium  stature,  and  in  the  prime  of  life  was 
active  in  his  movements,  and  capable  of  enduring  much  fatigue 
and  exposure.  But  for  two  or  three  years  before  his  death,  he 
suffered  greatly  from  chronic  rheumatism,  which  reduced  him 
to   the  sad  condition   of  a  cripple.     He  kept  about  as  long  as 


572  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

possible,  but  for  many  months  was  almost  the  whole  time  con- 
fined to  his  room,  and  much  of  the  time  to  his  bed.  It  was  a 
sore  trial  to  him,  for  his  mind  was  as  vigorous  as  ever.  Yet 
he  bore  his  affliction  with  a  patience  and  resignation  seldom  wit- 
nessed, though  his  pains  were  at  times  excruciating.  He  often 
sat  up  in  bed  to  write  down  his  thoughts,  to  read,  or  arrange 
those  worldly  matters  which  he  knew  were  soon  to  pass  into 
other  hands.      He  died  on  Tuesday,  the  13th  of  October,  1863. 

It  now  remains  to  speak  of  Mr.  Newhall  as  a  writer.  He 
wrote  a  great  many  articles,  in  prose  and  poetry,  which  ap- 
peared in  the  newspapers ;  some  of  which  attracted  considera- 
ble attention.  If  all  that  emanated  from  his  prolific  pen  could 
be  gathered  together,  volumes  might  be  filled ;  and  among  it 
would  be  found  much  of  sterling  value.  But  it  must  be  said 
that  he  wrote  too  much  to  do  full  justice  to  himself — that  he 
did  not  always  take  sufficient  time  to  investigate  and  consider 
his  subjects.  But  a  great  portion  of  what  he  wrote  was  elicited 
by  occurrences  of  temporary  interest,  and  not  expected  to  pos- 
sess an  enduring  value.  He  however  wrote  many  pieces  that 
were  never  published,  some  of  which  would  undoubtedly  do 
credit  to  his  memory,  should  they  appear  in  print. 

The  most  valuable  of  his  published  prose  writings  were  his 
Historical  Sketches  of  Saugus,  which  appeared  in  numbers,  in 
the  Lynn  Weekly  Reporter,  commencing  in  December,  1858, 
and  continuing  on  through  two  or  three  years.  They  did  not 
claim  to  be  a  connected  history,  but  were  rather  a  collection 
of  facts,  traditions,  and  reminiscences,  interspersed  with  descrip- 
tive passages,  reflections,  and  suggestions.  They  were  exceed- 
ingly interesting ;  and  had  he  been  more  exact  in  his  statements, 
instead  of  so  frequently  referring  this  or  that  event  to  about 
such  a  time,  would  have  possessed  greater  value.  But  that 
exactness  is  just  what  requires  the  greatest  labor  at  the  histo- 
rian's hand  ;  and  he  had  not  the  time  to  spare  in  such  gratuitous 
service.  He  did  more  than  could  have  been  expected,  and  has 
furnished  a  vast  number  of  hints  and  much  useful  matter  for 
some  future  historian. 

He  commenced  a  dalliance  with  the  Muses  at  an  early  age, 
and  became  quite  a  skillful  versifier.  Under  date  1819.  at 
which  time  he  was  seventeen  years  old,  he  says: 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES.  —  BENJAMIN   F.    NEWHALL.  57S 

Tliere  was  in  the  neighborhood  an  old  maid  called  Betty  Brown.     She  was 

a  great  tattler,  or  at  least  had  the  repntation  of  being  one.     And  so  T  wrote 

my  first  verse : 

Betty  Brown  is  of  renown, 

Throughout  the  neighborhood, 
Tells  all  she  knows,  where'er  she  goes, 
But  never  tells  no  good. 
It  will  be  observed  that  T  had  never  studied  grammar,  to  understand  it,  and 
did  not  then  see  that  in  my  first  verse  I  was  violating  a  very  important  gram- 
matical rule.     But  no  matter ;  it  was  my  first  effort. 

He  wrote  on  all  subjects  and  had  a  happy  flxculty  of  adapting 
his  style  to  his  matter — being  grave  or  gay  as  occasion  required. 
But  he  had  too  much  natural  kindness  of  heart  often  to  be  severe. 
His  rhymes  were  usually  good,  and  at  times  showed  considerable 
ingenuity.  In  some  pieces  there  ran  a  pleasant  vein  of  quiet 
humor  which  now  and  then  broke  up  in  a  flash  of  satire. 

The  religious  element  so  conspicuous  in  his  character,  has 
been  referred  to.  It  produced  in  the  weary  and  painful  hours 
of  his  last  sickness  much  comfort;  making  him  patient  under 
his  sufferings,  and  inspiring  a  confident  expectation  of  a  happy 
issue  out  of  all  afflictions.  The  following  pieces  bear  evidence 
of  a  devotional,  trusting,  and  thankful  spirit,  and  are,  I  think, 
fair  specimens  of  his  poetry.  The  one  entitled  ^'  Lines  on  My 
Sixtieth  Birth-day,"  I  believe  he  considered  his  best  piece. 
There  certainly  are  some  passages  in  it  worthy  of  being  read  and 
re-read.  But  it  should  be  remarked  that  authors  are  not  usually 
the  best  judges  of  their  own  productions.  Circumstances  un- 
known or  unappreciated  by  the  reader  may  give  them  a  ficti- 
tious value  in  the  mind  of  the  writer.  The  other  piece  —  that 
entitled  "  Answered  Prayer,"  was  dictated  when  prostrate  upon 
his  bed,  a  few  days  before  his  death.     It  was  his  last  piece. 

LINES    ON   MY   SIXTIETH    BIRTH-DAY. 
[April  29,  1862.] 
How  noiselessly  the  wheels  of  time  have  rolled  along  their  way, 
And  brought  once  more  —  perhaps  the  last  —  my  cherished  natal  day, 
Which  on  the  dial-plate  of  time,  counts  up  the  three  score  years, 
Some  brightened  by  a  sunny  smile,  and  some  bedewed  by  tears. 

Just  three  score  years  have  passed  away,  since  I,  a  baby  boy. 

First  pressed  that  dear  maternal  breast,  and  gave  a  mother  joy 

And  made  a  father's  heart  rejoice,  with  pure  paternal  love. 

But  those  warm  hearts  have  ceased  to  beat  —  their  home  is  now  above. 


574  HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 

•   I  yet  remain  ;  but  oh,  how  changed ;  the  child  of  three  score  years 
I  cannot  recognize  at  all  in  that  which  now  appears ; 
And  were  it  not  for  consciousness  that  I  am  still  the  same, 
I  should  suppose  the  change  complete  in  all  except  the  name. 

But  what  are  three  score  years  to  me?  Although  the  life  of  man, 
'T  is  only,  in  the  web  of  life,  the  tiny  infant's  span. 
The  lightning's  flash,  the  arrow's  flight,  the  dew  upon  the  spray, 
Today  't  is  here,  tomorrow  gone  —  thus  life  is  passed  away, 

The  tender  ties  of  early  days,  whicli  rendered  life  so  sweet, 
The  weight  of  three  score  years  have  crushed  beneath  its  giant  fee 
Leaving  a  loving  heart  in  grief  bowed  down  beneath  its  weight, 
Adopting,  as  a  last  recourse,  submission  to  its  fate. 

Few  ties  remain  —  how  dear  to  me  —  they  now  surround  my  bed 
To  wipe  away  the  gathering  tear,  and  soothe  my  aching  head ; 
A  precious  boon  —  a  gift  of  heaven  —  a  treasure  more  than  gold- 
They  smooth  each  day,  life's  rugged  way,  as  I  am  growing  old. 

What  mixture  in  the  cup  of  life,  which  I  so  long  have  quafl^ed, 
How  joy  and  grief,  and  smiles  and  tears,  have  mingled  in  the  drafl 
But  I  have  almost  drained  the  cup ;  and  little  now  remains, 
Excepting  life's  infirmities,  its  sufferings,  and  its  pains. 

\Vliatever  ills  may  yet  betide,  howe'er  disease  and  pain 
May  rack  this  mortal  tenement,  O,  may  I  not  complain, 
But  humbly  rest  in  God's  right  hand  till  life's  short  race  is  run, 
And  say,  with  my  expiring  breath.  Thy  will,  O  Loid,  be  done 


ANSWERED    PRAYER. 
For  many  years  my  prayer  hath  been, 

That  I  might  end  this  mortal  race. 
Without  severe  and  torturing  pain, 

And,  calm  and  easy,  die  in  peace. 

And  now  the  Lord  hath  heard  my  prayer, 
Assuaged  my  pains  so  oft  severe. 

And  given  my  frail  body  rest, 
The  little  time  that  I  am  here. 

I  '11  give  Him  praise,  while  life  and  strength 
Shall  let  me  speak  my  gratitude. 

And  with  my  last  expiring  breath, 

I  '11  calmly  breathe  —  the  Lord  is  good. 


CHAPTER    IV. 


TABLES. 


GOVERNORS  OF  MASSACHUSETTS. 

It  is  so  convenient  for  the  reader  of  a  history  in  any  way  connected  with 
our  Commonwealth,  to  have  a  hst  of  the  Governors  at  hand,  that  one  is  here 
ofiven.  Down  to  the  year  1631,  those  officers  were  elected  by  the  Company, 
in  England.  From  1631  to  1679,  inclusive,  they  were  chosen  annually  by 
the  people  here.  After  the  dissolution  of  the  first  Charter,  in  1684,  affairs 
were  administered  by  a  President.  In  1687,  Sir  Edmund  Andros  became 
Governor,  under  a  royal  commission.  In  1689  he  was  deposed  by  the  people, 
who  then  elected  Simon  Bradstreet,  President,  and  afterward  Governor.  The 
Governors  under  the  second  Charter,  commencing  with  Sir  William  Phipps, 
in  1692,  and  ending  with  Tliomas  Gage,  in  1774,  were  appointed  by  tlie  King. 
With  Hancock  commenced  the  line  of  State  Governors. 

J 749.    Spenser  Phipps. 

William  Shirley. 

Spenser  Phipps. 

Thomas  Pownal. 

Francis  Bernard. 

Thomas  Hutchinson. 

Thomas  Gage. 

John  Hancock. 

James  Bowdoin. 

John  Hancock. 

Samuel  Adams. 

Increase  Sumner. 

Caleb  Strong. 

James  Sullivan. 

Christopher  Gore. 

El  bridge  Gerry. 

Caleb  Strong. 

John  Brooks. 

William  Eustis. 

Levi  Lincoln. 

John  Davis. 

Edward  Everett. 

Marcus  Morton. 

John  Davis. 

Marcus  Morton. 

George  N.  Briggs. 

George  S.  Boutwell. 

John  H.  Clifford. 

Emery  Washburn. 

Henry  J.  Gardnei'. 

Nathaniel  P.  Banks. 

John  A.  Andrew. 

(575) 


1631. 

John  Winthrop. 

1749. 

1634. 

Thomas  Dudley. 

1753. 

1635. 

John  Haynes. 

17.56. 

1636. 

Henry  Vane. 

1757. 

1637. 

John 'Winthrop. 

1760. 

1640. 

Thomas  Dudley. 

1769. 

1641. 

Richard  Bellingham. 

1774. 

1642. 

John  Winthrop. 

1780. 

1644. 

John  Endicott. 

1785. 

1645. 

Thomas  Dudley. 

1787. 

1646. 

John  Winthrop. 

1794. 

1649. 

John  Endicott. 

1797. 

1650. 

Thomas  Dudley. 

1800. 

1651. 

John  Endicott. 

1807. 

1654. 

Richard  Bellingham. 

1809. 

1655. 

Jolm  Endicott. 

1810. 

1665. 

Richard  Bellingham. 

1812. 

1673. 

John  Leverett. 

1816. 

1679. 

Simon  Bradstreet. 

1623. 

1687. 

Edmund  Andros. 

1826. 

1691. 

Simon  Bradstreet. 

1834. 

1692. 

William  Phipps. 

1836. 

1694. 

William  Stoughton. 

1840. 

1699. 

Earl  Bellamont. 

1841. 

1700. 

William  Stoughton. 

•   1843. 

1702. 

Joseph  Dudley. 

1844. 

1715. 

William  Tailer. 

1851. 

1716. 

Samuel  Shute. 

1853. 

1722. 

William  Dummer, 

1854. 

1728. 

William  Burnett. 

1855. 

1730. 

Jonathan  Belcher. 

1858. 

1741. 

William  Shirley. 

1861. 

576 


HISTORY    OF   LYNN. 


SURNAMES 

Of  all  Residents  of  Lynn,  from  the  time  the  Plantation  beo;an,  in  1620,  to 
the  year  1700.  Most  names  were  spelled  in  different  ways;  but  in  this  list  it 
was  not  tliought  necessary  to  follow  the  almost  interminable  variations.  I 
have  seen  in  a  single  deposition  the  same  name  spelled  in  as  many  as  five 
different  ways.  It  is  probable  that  a  few  of  the  individuals  remained  here  but 
a  short  time. 


A. 

Bourne. 

Cole. 

Farnell. 

Gustin. 

Aborne. 

Boutwell. 

Colesworthy. 

Farnsworth. 

H. 

Adams. 

Bowdoin. 

Collins. 

Farr. 

Habberfield. 

Allen. 

Brabrook 

Cooper. 

Farrar. 

Hacker. 

Alley. 

Brand. 

Cowdry. 

Farrington. 

Hackett. 

Almy. 

Braun. 

Cowper.  (?) 

Feake. 

Hale. 

Amey. 

Bredean. 

Cox. 

Felt. 

Hall. 

Anderson. 

Breed. 

Cranston. 

Felton. 

Halsall. 

Andrews. 

Brewer. 

Croft. 

Fern. 

Halsye. 

Appleton. 

Briard. 

Cross. 

Ferniside. 

Hammond. 

Archer. 

Bridges. 

Crowninsheld 

Fish. 

Hand  forth. 

Armitage. 

Brier. 

D. 

Fisk. 

Hardier. 

Atwill. " 

Brisfffs. 

Dane. 

Fitch. 

Hardman. 

At  wood. 

Brimsdell. 

Daniels. 

Flint. 

Harker. 

Audley. 

Brintnall. 

Darling. 

Flood. 

Harlow. 

Augustine. 

Brisco. 

Davis. 

Floyd. 

Harndale. 

Axey. 

Brooks. 

Dawes. 

Foster. 

Hart. 

Ayers. 

Brown. 

Deacon. 

Fott. 

Haskell. 

B. 

Bryan. 

Dent. 

Fraile. 

Haskins. 

Bachiler. 

Bugell. 

Derick. 

Freeman. 

Hathorne. 

Bailey. 

Burcham. 

Desborough. 

Fuller. 

Haven. 

Baker. 

Burchsted. 

Dexter. 

Fulton. 

Hawkes. 

Ballard. 

Burden. 

Dillingham. 

G. 

Hawkins. 

Bancroft. 

Burge. 

Diman. 

Gaines. 

Hay. 

Barber. 

Burges. 

Dingley. 

Garder. 

Haynes. 

Bard. 

Burn. 

Dispaw. 

Gaunt. . 

Healey. 

Bartoll. 

Burn  ell. 

Diven. 

Geere. 

Hedge. 

Bartram. 

Burnet. 

Dixey. 

George. 

Hewes. 

Bassett. 

Bur  rage. 

Dole. 

Gerry. 

Hill. 

Bates. 

Burrill. 

Doolittle. 

Gibson. 

Hilliard. 

Batten. 

Burt. 

Douglas. 

Gifibrd. 

Hinkson. 

Batter. 

Burton. 

Downing. 

Giles. 

Hitch  ens. 

Beall. 

Butler. 

Driver. 

Gillow. 

Hollo  way. 

Beans. 

C. 

Drumer. 

Gilloway. 

Holham. 

Belcher. 

Galium. 

Dugall. 

Gingle. 

Hols  worth. 

Belknap. 

Canterbury. 

Dugglers. 

Goddard. 

Hoi  yoke. 

Bennet. 

Carman. 

Dyer. 

Godson. 

Hood. 

Berry. 

Caseley. 

E. 

Golt. 

Hort. 

Bessey. 

Catlin. 

Eaton. 

Goodale. 

Houghton. 

Blackmore. 

Caulkins. 

Edmunds. 

Googe. 

Howard. 

Blanev. 

Chadwell. 

Edwards. 

Gool. 

Howe. 

Blighe. 

Cheever. 

Egg. 

Gott. 

Howell. 

Bliss. 

Chillingworth 

Elderkin. 

Gould. 

Hubbard. 

Blood. 

Chilson. 

Elkins. 

Go  wing. 

Hudson. 

Blott. 

Churchman. 

Ellis. 

Graves. 

Humfrey. 

Bly. 

Clark. 

Elwill. 

Gray. 

Hurd. 

Bolishar. 

Clement. 

Errington. 

Green. 

Hussey. 

Bootfish. 

Clifford. 

Estes. 

Greenland. 

Hutchins. 

Booth. 

Coates. 

Ewington. 

Greenwood. 

Hutchinson. 

Bordman. 

Cobbet. 

F. 

Griffin. 

I. 

Bound. 

Coldam. 

Fairfield. 

Grunnill. 

Ingalls. 

TABLES. 


577 


Ingerson 
Ireson. 
Tverts. 
Ivory. 

J. 
Jacobs. 
JefFerds. 
Jeiiks. 
Jenkins. 
Jewett. 
Jocelyn. 
Johnson. 
Jones. 
Joyce. 

Keayne. 

Kendall. 

Kerdand. 

Keyser. 

King. 

Kirby. 

Kirman. 

Kneeland. 

Knight. 

Knott. 

L. 
Laighton. 
Lambert. 
Lane. 
Langley. 
Larrabee. 
Lathrop. 
Lay. 
Leader. 
Lee. 

Leonard. 
Lewis. 
Liffhtfoot. 
Liiley. 
Lindsay. 
Locke. 
Longley. 
Look. 
Lovell. 
Lye. 
Lyscom. 
M. 
MaokaJum. 
Maddock. 


Mansfield. 

Phillips. 

Maplesdarme 

Pickering. 

Marshall. 

Pickman. 

Martin. 

Pierson.' 

Mavrick. 

Pigden. 

Mavfield. 

Pinion. 

McDugal. 

Pool. 

McMallen. 

Pope. 

Meriam. 

Potter. 

Merrihue. 

Pray. 

Mills. 

Prichard. 

Milner. 

Proctor. 

Moody. 

Puffer. 

Moore. 

Purchis. 

Morgan. 

Putnam. 

Morley. 

R. 

Mower. 

Ramsdell. 

Munyan. 

Rand. 

N. 

Read. 

Narremore. 

Redding. 

Neck. 

Rednap. 

Needharn. 

Reith. 

Negus. 

Reynolds. 

Newhall. 

Rhodes. 

Newland. 

Rich. 

Newman. 

Richards. 

Nicholson. 

Richardson 

Normington. 

Riddan. 

Norwood. 

Ring. 

Nye. 

Roach. 

O. 

Roberts. 

Oaks. 

Robinson. 

Oak  man. 

Rogers. 

Oliver. 

Roolton. 

Otley. 

Rooten. 

Otway. 

Roots. 

P. 

Rowland. 

Paine. 

Rummary. 

Parker. 

S. 

Parsons. 

Sadler. 

Partridge. 

Sails. 

Patience. 

Salmon. 

Paul. 

Salter. 

Payton. 

Say  re. 

Pearson. 

Scott. 

Pell. 

Seccomb. 

Penfield. 

Sharpe. 

Pentland. 

Shepard. 

Perkins. 

Sherman. 

Person. 

Shore. 

Silsbe. 

Turner. 

Simon. 

Tuttle. 

Simmons. 

Tyler 

Siverns. 

[T. 

Skiff 

Usher 

Skipper. 

V. 

Slawson. 

Veal.  {?) 

Smith. 

Vincent. 

South 

Vinton. 

Spenser. 

W. 

Stacey. 

Wade. 

Stanbury. 

Wait 

Standish. 

Wales. 

Stanley. 

Walker. 

Starr.  * 

Walsall. 

Starke. 

Walton. 

Starkey. 

War  dwell. 

Stearns. 

Warremore. 

Stevens. 

Wathin. 

Stewart. 

Watts. 

Stocker. 

Welby. 

Storke. 

Wellman. 

Stowers  . 

Wellmore. 

Styche. 

Wells. 

'      T. 

West. 

Talmadge. 

Wheat. 

Tarbox. 

Wheeler. 

Tai-r. 

White. 

Taylor. 

Whiting. 

Teague.  (?, 

Whitridge. 

Thacher. 

Whittemore. 

Thorn. 

Wight. 

Thompson. 

Wiley. 

Thorne. 

Wilkins. 

Thoyght. 

Williams. 

Thrasher. 

WilHs. 

Tilton 

Wilhnan. 

Tingle. 

Wilson. 

Tolman. 

Wilt. 

Tomlins. 

Wing. 

Tooley. 

Winsor. 

Tower. 

Winter. 

Towne. 

Witt. 

Townsend. 

Witter. 

Trask. 

Wood. 

Tree. 

Woodey. 

Trevett. 

Woodman. 

Trumbull. 

Wormwood. 

Tupper. 

Wright. 

ASSISTANTS  AND  COUNSELLORS. 

1634  to  1641.    John  Humfrey,  ?  A.^:.tants 

1646  to  1656.    Robert  Bridges,  ^  ^s^^^'^"'^* 

Oliver  Purchis  was  elected  Assistant,  in  1685,  but  "  deelined  bis  oath." 


1721. 

1731  to  1740. 

W2 


John  Burrill, 
Ebenezer  Burrill, 


Members  of  the  Crown 
G©vernor's  Council. 

37 


578 


fllSTOEt    OF   LYNN. 


REPRESENTATIVES  OF  LYNN. 

Down  to  1634  the  General  Court  was  composed  of  the  whole  body  of 
freemen,  and  individuals  were  sometimes  fined  or  censured  for  not  attending 
to  their  legislative  duties.  Jn  May  of  the  year  just  named  the  first  House  of 
Deputies,  or  Representatives  was  formed,  as  it  had  begun  to  be  felt  that  the 
attendance  of  all  the  freemen  was  a  great  inconvenience.  The  following  is  a 
list  of  those  sent  from  Lynn,  down  to  the  close  of  century  1700.  The  list 
would  be  quite  extensive  if  continued  to  the  present  time,  and  would  hardly 
be  of  sufficient  general  interest  to  compensate  for  the  space  it  would  occupy. 


1634.  May  14.      Nathaniel  Turner, 

Thomas  Willis, 
Edward  Tomlins. 

1635.  March  4.    Nathaniel  Turner, 

Timothy  Tomlins. 
May  6.        Nathaniel  Turner, 

Thomas  Smith. 
Sept.  2.      Nathaniel  Turner, 

Edward  Tomlins, 

Thomas  Stanley. 

1636.  March  3.    Nathaniel  Turner, 

William  Wood. 
May  25.      Nathaniel  Tm-ner, 

Daniel  Howe. 
Sept.  8.       Timothy  Tomlins, 

Daniel  Howe. 

1637.  April  18.    Timothy  Tomlins, 

Daniel  Howe. 

1638.  March  12.  Timothy  Tomlins, 

Edward  Howe. 

1639.  March  13.  Timothy  Tomlins, 

Edward  Howe. 
May  22.      Timothy  Tomlins, 

Edward  Holvoke. 
Sept.  4.       Edward  Tomlins, 

Edward  Holvoke. 

1640.  May  13.      Timothy  Tomlins, 

Richard  Walker. 
Oct.  7.        Timothy  Tomlins, 
Edward  Hoi  yoke. 

1641.  June  2.      Edward  Holvoke, 

Richard  Walker. 

Edward  Holyoke, 

Nicholas  Brown. 

Edward  Holyoke. 

Edward  Holyoke, 

Edward  Tomlins. 

Robert  Bridges, 

Edward  Tomlins. 

Robert  Bridges. 
1646.  (Speaker.)  Robert  Bridges, 

Thomas  Laighton. 

Edward  Holyoke. 

Thomas  Laighton, 

Edward  Holyoke. 
1649  to  1653.       Thomas  Laighton. 

1654.  James  Axey. 

1655.  John  Fuller, 
Thomas  Laighton. 


Oct.  7. 


1642. 
1643. 

1644. 

1645. 


1647. 
1648. 


1656  to  1658. 
1659. 


1660. 


May  30. 
Dec.  19. 


Thomas  Laighton, 

Thomas  Marshall. 

Thomas  Marshall. 

Thomas  Marshall, 

Oliver  Purchis. 

Thomas  Laighton. 

[None.] 

Thomas  Marshall. 

Thomas  Marshall. 

John  Fuller. 

Oliver  Purchis. 

Thomas  3Iarshall. 

Oliver  Purchis. 

John  Fuller. 

Richard  Walker. 

Andrew  Mansfield. 

Oliver  Purchis. 

[None.] 

Jeremiah  Shepard, 

Oliver  Purchis. 

[None.] 

John  Burrill,  jr. 

John  Burrill,  sen., 

John  Burrill,  jr. 
"  But  one  to  serve  at  a  time." 
1693  to  1696.        John  Burrill,  jr. 
1697.  John  Burrill,  sen. 

1698  to  1701.        John  Burrill,  jr. 

1702.  John  Person. 

1703.  March  1.    John  Person. 
May  13.      Samuel  Johnson. 

1 704.  John  Burrill,  jr. 

1705.  Joseph  Newhall. 

1706.  John  Pool. 

1707.  (Speaker.)  John  Burrill,  jr. 

1708.  Samuel  Johnson. 

1709.  (Speaker.)  John  Burrill,  jr. 


1661. 
1662. 
1663. 

1664.  May  18 
AuiT.  3. 
1665  to  1667. 
1668. 

1669  to  1673. 
1674  to  1678. 
1679. 

1680  to  1683. 
1684  to  1686. 
1687  and  '88. 
1689. 

1690. 
1691. 
1692. 


1710. 
1711  to  1719. 
1720  to  1724. 
1725. 

1726  and  '27. 
1728  to  1730. 
1731.  May  17. 
June  4. 
1732. 

1733  to  1739. 
1740  to  1742. 
1743  to  1745. 


John  Person. 
John  Burrill,  jr. 
Richard  Johnson. 
Ebenezer  Burrill. 
Thomas  Cheever. 
Ebenezer  Burrill. 
Ebenezer  Burrill. 
Richard  Johnson. 
Richard  Johnson. 
William  Collins. 
Thomas  Cheever. 
William  Collins. 


TABLES. 


579 


t746. 

1747  and  '48. 
1749  and  '50. 
1751. 

1752  to  '56. 
1757. 

1758  to  '62. 
1763. 
1764  to  '73. 

1774.  May  19. 
Oct.  17. 

1775.  Feb.  1. 


Ebenezer  Burrill. 
William  Collins. 
Benjamin  Newhall. 
[None.] 

Benjamin  Newhall. 
William  Collins. 
Benjamin  Newhall. 
William  Collins. 
Ebenezer  Burrill. 
Ebenezer  Burrill. 
Ebenezer  Burrill, 
John  Mansfield. 
John  Mansfield. 


1775.  May  31. 

July  12. 
1776  and '77. 
1778. 
1779.  May  12. 

Auo-.  2. 
1780  and  '81. 
1782. 
1783. 

1784  to  1790. 
1791  to  1793. 
1794  and  '95. 
1796  to  1802. 


Nathaniel  Bancroft. 
Edward  Johnson. 
Edward  Johnson. 
Holton  Johnson. 
Holton  Johnson. 
Samuel  Burrill. 
Samuel  Burrill. 
Holton  Johnson. 
Samuel  Burrill. 
John  Carnes. 
Ezra  Collins. 
John  Carnes. 
James  Robinson. 


ANCIENT  AND  HONORABLE  ARTILLERY  COMPANY. 

For  an  account  of  this  venerable  organization,  see  under  date  1638.  A  list 
of  the  members  from  Lynn  follows.  It  is  possible  that  there  may  be  an  omis- 
sion or  two,  as  the  records  of  the  Company  are  imperfect. 


1638.  Ballard,  William 

1638.  Hewes,  Joseph 

1638.  Howe,  Daniel  (Lieut.) 

1638.  Tomlins,  Edward 

1638.  Turner,  Nathaniel 

1638.  Walker,  Richard 

1639.  Bennet,  Samuel 

1640.  Humfrey,  John 

1640.  Marshall,  Thomas 

1641 .  Bridges,  Robert 
1641.  Humfrey,  John,  jr. 

1641.  Otley,  Adam 

1642.  Wo6d,  John 


1643 
1645. 
1648. 
1652. 
1694. 
1717. 
1821. 
1822. 
1822. 
1822. 
1851. 
1860. 


Smith,  Benjamin 
Coldam,  Clement 
Cole,  John 
Hutchinson,  Samuel 
Baker,  Thomas 
Gray,  Benjamin 
Robinson,  Robert 
Breed,  Daniel  N. 
fJohnson,  George 
Neal,  Ebenezer 
Usher,  Roland  G. 
Fay,  Richard  S.  jr. 


SOLDIERS  OF  THE  REVOLUTION. 


COLONELS. 

Mansfield,  John 
Newhall,  Ezra 

CAPTAINS. 

Galucia,  Daniel 
Lindsay,  Eleazer 
Stocker,  Joseph 

LIEUTENANTS. 

Batts,  John 
Breed,  Frederic 
Chadwell,  Harris 
Johnson,  Edward,  jr 
Upton,  John 

SERGEANTS. 

Hart,  John 
Mansfield,  Ebenezer 
Roby,  Henry 
Stocker,  Ebenezer 
Thompson,  Edward 

CORPORALS. 

Cheever,  Abijah 
Danforth,  Joshua 


Drake,  Michael 
Hill,  William 
Newman,  David 
Tufts,  David 

PRIVATES. 

Alley,  Ephraim 
Alley,  Joseph 
Alley,  Nathan 
Attwill,  Thomas 
Attwill,  William 
Attwill,  Zachariah 
Bacheller,  James 
Bailey,  Aaron 
Baker,  John 
Barry,  Thomas 
Belknap,  Abel 
Belknap,  Abraham 
Blanchard,  John 
Bowdoin,  Benjamin 
Bowdoin,  Francis 
Bowen,  Edward 
Breed,  Aaron 
Breed,  Amos 


Breed,  Ephraim 
Brown,  Benjamin 
Burnam,  Joshua 
Burrage,  John 
Burrill,  Alden 
Burrill,  Ebenezer 
Chamberlain,  Garland 
Cheever,  Israel 
Cheever,  Thomas 
Cheever,  Thomas,  jr. 
Coates,  Stephen 
Gushing,  Nathaniel 
Davis,  Jacob 
Dunn,  David 
Dunnell,  Oliver 
Dunnell,  Reuben 
Farrington,  John 
Farrington,  Joseph 
Farrington,  Theophilus 
Farrington,  Theophilus,  jr. 
Farrington,  William 
Felt,  Joseph 
Florence,  Charles 


580 


HISTORY   OF   LYNN. 


Florence,  Thomas 
Gill,  William 
Hallowell,  Edward 
Hallowell,  Henry 
Hallowell,  Samuel 
Hallowell,  Theopliiliis 
Harris,  Peter 
Hart.  Ebenezer 
Hill,  Robert 
Hitchings,  Nathan 
Hitchings,  Thomas 
Howard,  Ezekiel 
Hudson,  Benjamin 
Hunt,  John 
Ingalls,  Daniel 
Ingalls,  Jacob 
Ingalls,  John 
Ingalls,  Joseph 
Ireson,  Edward 
Ireson,  John 
Jacobs,  Benjamin 
Jacobs,  John 
James,  Benjamin 
Jarvis,  Enoch 
Johnson,  Edward 
Johnson,  James 
Johnson,  John 
Larrabee,  Benjamin 
Lewis,  Caleb 
Lewis,  Isaac. 
Lindsey,  Blaney 
Lindsey,  Daniel 
Lindsey,  Joseph 
Lindsey.  Joseph,  jr. 
Lindsey,  Ralph 
Lindsey,  Ralph,  jr. 
Lye,  Joseph 


Mansfield,  Daniel 
Mansfield,  Robert 
Mansfield,  Samuel 
Mansfield,  Thomas 
Mansfield,  William 
Martin,  Josiali 
Massey,  Benjamin 
Moulton,  Ezra 
Mudge,  Enoch 
Mudge,  Nathan 
Munroe,  Timothy 
Newhall,  Allen 
Newhall,  Asa 
Newhall,  Benjamin 
Newhall,  Galley 
Newhall,  Galvin 
Newhall,  Gharles 
Newhall,  Daniel  A.  B. 
Newhall,  Ebenezer 
Newhall,  Jacob 
Newhall,  James 
Newhall,  James,  jr. 
Newhall,  Micajah 
Newhall,  Nathan 
Newman,  Thomas 
Nourse,  Aaron 
Nourse,  James 
Orgin,  Isaac 
Parrott,  Daniel 
Parrott,  Marstin 
Peabody,  Brinsley 
Peach,  Joseph 
Pepoon,  Richard 
Porter,  Ebenezer 
Proctor,  John 
Proctor,  Joseph,  jr. 
I  Ramsdell,  James 


Ramsdell,  James,  jr. 
Ramsdell,  Kimball 
Ramsdell,  Shadrach 
Ramsdell,  Silas 
Ramsdell,  William 
Rich,  James 

Richardson,  Ebenezer       » 
Richardson,  Eleazer 
Richardson,  Solomon 
Rhodes,  John 
Rhodes,  Josiah 
Robinson,  James 
Roby,  Thomas 
Simms,  John 
Stocker,  Enoch, 
Tarbox,  Baxter 
Tarbox,  Benjamin 
Tarbox,  Nathaniel 
Tarbox,  William 
Tuttle,  Edward 
Tuttle,  Richard 
Tuttle,  Samuel 
Twist,  Ephraim 
Waite,  Samuel 
Watts,  Daniel 
Watts,  William 
Whitman,  Jesse 
Williams,  Daniel 
Williams,  Ebenezer 
Williams,  Joseph 
Willis,  John 
Young,  Henry 

KILLED  AT  LEXINGTON. 

Flint,  William 
Hadley,  Thomas 
Ramsdell,  Abednego 
Towusend,  Daniel 


CLERKS  OF  THE  WRITS  — TOWN 

Clerks  of  the  Writs. 
1640.     Richard  Sadler. 
1643.     Edward  Tomlins. 
1645.     Edward  Burcham. 
1655.     William  Longley. 
1662.    John  Fuller. 

Town  Clerks. 
1666.     Andrew  Mansfield. 
167*2.     Thomas  Laighton. 
1686.     OMver  Purchis. 
1691.     John  Burrill. 
1722.     Richard  Johnson. 
1749.     John  Fuller. 

1755.  Joseph  Fuller. 

1756.  Ebenezer  Burrill. 
1765.     Dr.  Nathaniel  Henchman. 
1767.    Ebenezer  Burrill. 
1775.    Benjamin  Newhall. 


CLERKS  — CITY  CLERKS. 

1777.  William  Collins. 

1784.  Benjamin  Johnson. 

1785.  William  Collins. 

1786.  Ephraim  Breed. 
1804.  Henrv  Hallowell. 
1820.  Samuel  Hallowell. 
1831.  Thomas  Bowler. 

1847.  Jacob  Batchelder. 

1848.  Thomas  Bowler. 

1849.  William  Bassett. 

CiTT  Clerks. 

1850.  William  Bassett. 
1853.  Charles  Merritt. 

1855.  John  Batchelder. 

1856.  Charles  Merritt. 
1859.  Ephraim  A.  Ingalls. 
1861.  Benjamin  H.  Jones. 


TABLES. 


581 


MEMBERS  OF  CONVENTIONS. 

[Convention  for  Ratifying  the  Constitu- 
tion of  the  United  States,] 

John  Burnham,  }  Lynn  and 
John  Carnes,       C  Lynnfield. 


17 


[Convention   for  Forming   the   State 
Constitution,] 

1779.    Samuel  Burrill. 

[Conventions  for  Revising  the  State 
Constitution.] 

1820. 
Bacheller,  Jonathan 
Fuller,  Joseph 
Lovejoy,  John 
Mudge,  Enoch,  jr. 
Mudge,  Ezra 

Makepeace,  Jonathan,  (Saugus.) 
Newhall,  Asa  T.  (Lynnfield.) 

1853. 
Alley,  John  B. 
Breed,  Hiram  N. 
Holder,  Nathaniel 
Hood,  George 

Hawkes,  Stephen  E.  (Saugus.) 
Hewes,  James  (Lynnfield.) 

POSTMASTERS. 
1795.     James  Robinson. 

1802.  Ezra  Hitchings. 

1803.  Samuel  Muliiken. 

1807.  Elijah  Downing. 

1 808.  Jonathan  Bacheller. 
1829.  Jeremiah  C.  Stickney. 
1839.  Thomas  J.  Marsh. 

1841.  Stephen  Oliver. 

1842.  Thomas  B.  Newhall. 

1843.  Benjamin  Mudge. 
1849.  Abner  Austin. 

1853.    Jeremiah  C.  Stickney. 
1858.     Leonard  B.  Usher. 
1861.     George  H.  Chase. 


1812. 
1823- 
1832- 
1834- 
1839. 
1843. 
1844- 
1849- 
1852. 
1855- 
1860- 
1862- 


SENATORS. 

Joseph  Fuller. 

Aaron  Lummus. 

Josiah  Newhall. 

Stephen  Oliver. 

Isaiah  Breed. 

George  Hood. 

Francis  S.  Newhall. 

Daniel  C.  Baker. 

John  B.  Alley. 
1857.     John  Batchelder. 
1861.     Edwin  Walden. 
1863.    William  F.  Johnson. 

W2^ 


1824. 
1833. 
1836. 


1845. 
1850. 


1850. 
1852. 
1853. 
1854. 
1855. 
1856. 
1858. 
1859. 
1861. 
1862. 


MAYORS. 

George  Hood. 
Benjamin  F.  Mudge. 
Daniel  C.  Baker. 
Thomas  P.  Richardson. 
Andrews  Breed. 
Ezra  W.  Mudge. 
William  F.  Johnson. 
Edward  S.  Davis. 
Hiram  N.  Breed. 
Peter  M.  Neal. 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  COMMON 
COUNCIL. 

1850.  Daniel  C.  Baker. 

1851.  James  R.  Newhall. 

1852.  Edward  S.  Davis. 

1854.  Gustavus  Attwill. 

1855.  Gilbert  Hawkes. 

1856.  Edward  S.  Davis. 

1858.  Edwin  Q.  Bacheller. 

1859.  Nathan  Clark. 

1860.  Noah  Robinson. 

1861.  George  H.  Chase. 
1863.  Jesse  L.  Attwill. 


ACADEMY  AND  HIGH  SCHOOL. 

PRECEPTORS  OF  LYNN  ACADEMY. 

1805.  William  Ballard. 

1805.  Francis  Moore. 

1806.  Hosea  Hildretb. 

1807.  Abiel  Chandler. 

1807.  Abner  Loring. 

1808.  Samuel  Newell. 

1809.  Proctor  Pierce. 

1811.  Joseph  Ward  well. 

1812.  Solomon  S.  Whipple. 
1815.  John  Flagg  Gardner. 
1817.  Amos  Rhodes. 

1819.  Benjamin  P.  Emerson. 

1823.  Alonzo  Lewis. 

1825.  Ripley  P.  Adams. 

1827.  George  Delavan. 

1829.  Joseph  H.  Towne. 

1830.  Samuel  Lamson. 
1832.  Ripley  P.  Adams. 
1835.  Ephraim  Ward. 
1835.  Jacob  Batchelder. 

PRINCIPALS  OF  THE   HIGH  SCHOOL. 

1849.  Jacob  Batchelder. 

1856.'  Moses  P.  Case. 

1857.  Henry  Lummis. 

1860.  John  B.  Hubbard. 

1861.  Jacob  Batchelder. 

1862.  Ephraim  Flint. 


582 


HISTORY    OF   LYNN. 


NEWSPAPERS  AND  EDITORS. 

Newspapers. 
[In  the  following  list  are  named  the 
principal  Newspapers  that  have  ap- 
peared in  Lynn,  with  the  dates  of  their 
commencement.  A  number  of  others 
have  from  time  to  time  been  published 
for  short  periods  or  temporary  purposes 
wiiich  it  is  not  necessary  to  occupy 
«pace  in  enumerating.] 

18-25.  Lynn  Weekly  Mirror. 

1830.  Lynn  Record. 

1831.  Essex  Democrat. 

1832.  Weekly  Messenger. 
1838.  Lynn  Freeman. 

1842.     Essex  County  Washiugtonian. 

1842.     The  Locomotive. 

1844.  Essex  County  Whig.  (A  con- 
tinuation of  tlie  Freeman.) 

1844.  The  Pioneer.  (A  continuation 
of  the  Washiugtonian. ) 

1846.  Lynn  News.  (A  continuation 
of  the  Essex  County  Whi^.) 

1849.    The  Bay  State. 

1854.  Lynn  Weekly  Reporter. 

1855.  Josselyu's  Lynn  Daily. 

Editors. 
[In  this  list  will  be  found  the  names 
of  the  principal  editors  of  Lynn  news- 
papers, with  the  names  of  the  papers 
with  which  they  were  especially  con- 
nected. In  some  cases  tliey  were  en- 
gaged on  different  papers  at  different 
periods.  Others,  not  here  named, 
occasionally  put  on  the  editorial  har- 
ness for  temporary  purposes  or  for 
brief  intervals.] 
1825.     Charles  F.  Lummus.     Mirror. 

1830.  Alonzo  Lewis.    .     .     .   Mirror. 

1831.  Benjamin  Mudge.     Democrat. 

1832.  James  R.Newhall.    Messenger. 

1833.  Daniel  Henshaw.      .      Record. 

1840.  Eugene  F.  W.  Gray.    Freeman. 

1841.  Richard  1.  Attwill.     Freeman. 

1842.  Wm.  H.  Perley.  Locomotive. 
1842.  D.H.  Barlow.  'Washinoftouian. 
1844.  Josiah  F.  Kimball.  .  ^  New^s. 
1844.  Henry  Clapp,  jr.      .      Pioneer. 

1848.  George  Bradburn.     .    Pioneer. 

1849.  Lewis  Josselyn.  .  Bay  State. 
1854.     Peter  L.  Cox.     .    .    Reporter. 


MEMBER  OF  CONGRESS. 

X858—  John  B.  Alley. 


POLICE  COURT. 

Justices. 
1849.     Thomas  B.Newhall,  (Standing.) 
1849.     Benjamin  F.  Mudge,  (Special.) 
1849.    James  R.  Newhall,  " 

Clerks. 
1849.     Thomas  B.  Newhall. 
1862.     Henry  C.  Oliver. 


RELIGIOUS  SOCIETIES. 

First  Coj^gregational. 
[Trinitarian.     Founded  in  1632.] 

1632.  Stephen  Bachiler. 

1636.  Samuel  Whiting. 

1637.  Thomas  Cobbet.     (Colleague.) 
1680.  Jeremiah  Shepard. 

1680.  Joseph  Whiting.     (Colleague.) 

1720.  Nathaniel  Henchman. 

1763.  John  Treadwell. 

1784.  Obadiah  Parsons. 

1794.  Thomas  Cushing  Thacher. 

1813.  Isaac  Hurd. 

1818.  Otis  Rockwood. 

1832.  David  Peabody. 
1836.  Parsons  Cooke. 

Second  Congregational. 

[Unitarian.     Founded  in  1822.] 

1824.  James  Diman  Greene. 

1829.  David  H.  Barlow. 

1833.  Samuel  D.  Bobbins. 
1840.  William  Gray  Swett. 
1843.  John  Pierpont,  jr. 
1846.  Charles  C.  Shackford. 

Central  Congregational. 

[Trinitarian.     Founded  in  1850.] 

1850.    Abijah  R.  Baker. 
1855.    Jothara  B.  Sewall. 

Chesnut  Street  Congregational. 
[Trinitarian.] 

I  This  Society  was  commenced  in 
1857,  as  a  Congregational  Methodist, 
under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  D.  L.  Gear. 
But  in  1859  it  became  Calvinistic  Con- 
gregational. 
1857.    D.  L.  Gear.    (Methodist.) 

1859.  Jesse  Page. 

1860.  John  Moore. 

1862.  Abijah  R.  Baker. 

1863.  Henry  M.  Painter. 


TABLES. 


583 


First  Methodist.     [1791.] 

This  was  the  first  Methodist  Society 
in  Massachusetts.  All  the  Methodist 
Societies  in  the  city  are  Episcopal. 

1791.  John  Bloodgood,  Daniel  Smith. 

1792.  Menzes  Raynor. 

1793.  .Jordan  Rexford. 

1794.  Evan  Rogers. 

1795.  George  Pickering. 

1796.  James  Covel. 

1797.  John  Broadhead. 

1798.  Ralph  Williston. 

1799.  Andrew  Nickols. 

1800.  Joshua  Wells. 

1801.  Geo.  Pickering,  T.  F.  Sargent. 

1802.  Thos.  Lyell,  John  Bloodgood. 

1803.  Peter  Jayne. 
1805.  Daniel  Webb 

1807.  Nehemiah  Coye. 

1808.  Dan  Young. 

1809.  William  Stevens. 

1811.  Asa  Kent,  Greenlief  R.  Norris. 

1812.  Joshua  Soule,  Daniel  Webb. 

1813.  Daniel  Webb,  Elijah  Hedding. 

181 4.  Elijah  Hedding,  Leonard  Frost. 

1815.  Geo.  Pickering,  Solomon  Sias. 

1816.  Geo.  Pickering,  B.  F.  Lambord. 

1817.  W.  Marsh,  O.  Hhids. 

1818.  E.  Hedding,  Jas.  B.  Andrews. 

1819.  Elijah  Hedding,  Enoch  Mudge. 

1820.  Enoch  Mudge. 

1821.  Phineas  Peck. 
1823.  Daniel  Fillmore. 
1825.  John  F.  Adams. 
1827.  Daniel  Fillmore. 

1829.  Abraham  D.  Merrill. 

1830.  A.  D.  Merrill,  R.  Spaulding. 

1831.  B.  Otheman,  Selah  Stocking. 

1832.  Bartholomew  Otheman. 

1833.  David  Kilburn. 

1834.  Jotham  Horton. 
1836.  Thomas  C.  Pierce. 
1838.  Charles  K.  True. 

1840.  Charles  Adams. 

1841.  Jefferson  Hascall,  Lester  Janes. 

1842.  James  Porter. 
1844.  Loranus  Crowell. 
1846.  John  W.  Merrill. 
1848.  Lorenzo  R.  Thayer. 
1850.  J.  Augustus  Adams. 
1852.  Henry  V.  Degen. 
1854.  William  Butler. 
1856.  Charles  N.  Smith. 
1858.  Wilham  R.  Clark. 
1860.  George  M.  Steele. 
1862.  Willard  F.  Mallalieu. 
1864.  John  H.  Twombly. 


[1811.] 


Union  Street  Methodist. 

1812.  Daniel  Webb. 

1814.  Leonard  Frost. 

1815.  Solomon  Sias. 

1817.  Orlando  Hinds. 

1818.  .lames  Ambler. 

1819.  Elijah  Hedding. 

1820.  Timothy  Merri'tt. 
1822.  Shipley  W.Wilson. 

1824.  Elijah  Spear. 

1825.  Epaphras  Kibby. 
1828.  Joseph  A.  Merrill. 

1830.  Ephraim  Wiley. 

1831.  Shipley  W.  Wilson. 

1832.  John  Lovejoy. 
1834.  Isaac  Bonney. 

1836.  Daniel  Fillmore. 

1837.  John  Parker. 

1838.  Aaron  D.  Sargent. 
1840.  William  Smith. 
1842.  Jacob  Sanborn. 

1844.  Samuel  A.  Gushing. 

1845.  Phineas  Crandall. 

1846.  Joseph  Dennison. 

1848.  Abraham  D.  Merrill. 

1849.  Stephen  Gushing. 
1851.  Chester  Field. 
1854.  Nathan  D.  George. 

1856.  D.  L.  Gear. 

1857.  John  H.  Mansfield. 
1859.  William  A.  Braman. 
1861.  Henry  W.  Warren. 

1863.  William  C.  High. 

1864.  A.  McKeown. 


South  Street  Methodist.     [1830.1 

1830.  Rufus  Spaulding. 

1831.  Selah  Stocking. 

1832.  Isaac  Bonney. 

1834.  San  ford  Benton. 

1835.  Amos  Binney. 

1836.  Timothy  Merritt. 

1838.  Frederi'c  P.  Tracy. 

1839.  Mark  Staples. 
1841.  Edmund  M.  Beebe. 
1843.  John  B.  Husted. 
1845.  Charles  S.  Macreading. 
1847.  John  Clarke. 

1849.  William  Rice. 

1850.  Simon  Putnam. 

1851.  George  Dunbar. 
1853.  Daniel  Steele. 
1855.  Isaac  Smith. 
1857.  Tales  H.  Newhall. 
1859.  Jeremiah  L.  lianaford, 
1861.  Daniel  Richards. 

1 1863.  Samuel  Kelley, 


584 


HISTORY   OF   LYNN. 


Maple  Street  Methodist. 

1851.  Mark  Staples. 

1852.  Daniel  Richards. 
1854.  Abraham  D.  Merrill. 
1856.  Howard  C.  Dunham. 

1858.  Oliver  S.  Howe. 

1859.  Jarvis  A.  Ames. 
1861.  Abraham  M.  Osgood. 
1863.  John  S.  Day. 


Boston  Street  Methodist. 

1853.  Loranus  Crowell. 

1854.  Isaac  S.  Cushman. 
1856.  Edward  A.  Manning. 
1858.  Henry  E.  Hempstead. 
J860.  Aaron  D.  Sargent. 

1862.  Con  vers  L.  McCurdy. 

1863.  Austin  F.  Herrick. 


First  Baptist. 
[Founded  iu  1816.] 

1816.  George  Phippen. 

1820.  Ebenezer  Nelson,  jr. 

1830.  Daniel  Chessman. 

1833.  L.  Stillman  Bolles. 

1837.  Joel  S.Bacon. 

1840.  Hiram  A.  Graves. 

1843.  Thomas  Driver. 

1849.  William  C.  Richards. 


High  Street  Baptist. 

[Founded  in  1853.] 

1853.    J.  H.  Tilton. 
1858.    Alfred  Owen. 


Third  Baptist. 
[Founded  in  1858.] 
Charles  H.  Cole. 


[1850.] ! 


[1853. 


1861. 


1835. 
1839. 
1843. 
1845. 

1848. 
1850. 
1860. 
1862. 


First  Universalist. 

[Founded  in  1833.] 

Josiah  C.  Waldo. 
Lemuel  Willis. 
Horace  G.  Smith. 
Merritt  Sanford. 
Darwin  Mott. 
Elbridge  G.  Brooks. 
Sumner  Ellis. 
Charles  W.  Biddle. 


Second  Universalist. 
[Founded  in  1836.] 

1836.  Dunbar.  B.  Harris. 

1839.  Edward  N.  Harris. 

1840.  Henry  Jewell. 

1843.  John'Nichols. 

1845.  O.  H.  Tillotson. 
1848.  John  Moore. 

1850.  J.  R.  Johnson. 

1852.  E.  Winchester  Reynolds. 

1858.  Henry  Jewell. 

1859.  William  P.  Payne. 
1863.  N.R.  Wright. 

St.  Stephen's. 
[Protestant  Episcopal.] 
This  corporation,  in  1844,  succeeded 
the  corporation  of  Christ  Church,  which 
was  established  iu  1836,  and  had  erect- 
ed a  house  of  worship  on  North  Com- 
mon street,  but  discontinued  worship 
in  1841.  Both  successions  of  ministeis 
are  given.  Mr.  Ward  was  the  first 
minister  of  Christ  Church,  and  Mr. 
Wildes  the  first  of  St.  Stephen's. 

1836.  Milton  Ward. 

1837.  George  Waters. 

1839.     Frederic  J.  W.  Pollard. 

1841.  Wm.  A.  White.     (Lay  Reader.) 

1844.  George  D.  Wildes. 

1846.  Isaac^W.  Hallam. 

1860.  Edward  H.  True. 
1863.     George  H.  Paine. 

St.  Andrew's. 
[Protestant  Episcopal.] 
This  is  maintained  by  summer  resi- 
dents. The  Chapel,  built  in  I860, 
is  open  during  the  watering  seasor 
only,  and  there  have  been  no  settle':, 
ministers. 

Christian. 
[Founded  in  1835.] 
1835.     Philemon  R.  Russell. 

1841.  Josiah  Knight. 

1842.  David  Knowlton. 

1842.  Elihu  Noves. 

1843.  Warren  Lincoln. 

1851.  Nicholas  S.  Chadwick. 

1853.  Seth  Hinckley. 

1854.  William  Miller. 
1860.  John  Burden. 
1862.  Joseph  Whitney, 
1862.  JohnA.  Goss. 


TABLES. 


585 


St.  Mart's. 

[Roman  Catholic] 

Catholic  services  were  held  in  Lynn, 
at  a  private  house,  as  early  as  1835. 
Subsequently,  the  Town  Hall  was  oc- 
cupied as  a  place  of  worship.  In  1855, 
the  wooden  buildino;  on  Ash  street, 
which  had  been  occupied  as  a  Metho- 
dist and  likewise  as  a  Baptist  house 
of  worship,  and  later  still  as  a  gram- 
mar school-house,  bavins^  been  remod- 
eled and  enlarged  was  consecrated  to 
Catholic  worship.  In  1859  it  was  burn- 
ed. Soon  afterward,  the  beautiful  brick 
Gothic  church  near  the  eastern  end  of 
South  Common  street,  and  which  is 
still  the  finest  public  building  in  Lynn, 
was  erected,  and  made  ready  for  occu- 
pation in  1862. 

1849.     Charles  Smith. 
1851.     Patriek  Strain. 


Friends'  Meeting. 

[Founded  in  1677.] 

See  pages  441  and  442  for  some  ac- 
count of  a  division  in  this  Society.] 

Free  Church. 

[Unitarian.     Founded  in  1851.] 

1851.    John  T.  Sargent. 
1853.     Samuel  Johnson. 

POPULATION  OF  LYNN. 
1765.     (First  recorded  census.)    2.198 

1790 2.291 

1800 2.837 

1810 4.087 

1820 4.515 

1830 6.138 

1840 9.367 

1850 14.257 

1860 19.083 


LYNN  BANKS, 
with  the  dates  of  their  incorporation  and  the  names  of  their  first  Presidents. 


1814. 
1826. 
1832. 
1849. 
1854. 
1855. 


Lynn  Mechanics  Bank, 

Lynn  Institution  for  Savings, 

Nahant  Bank, 

Lnighton  Bank, 

City  Bank,    .... 

Five  Cents  Savings  Bank, 


Joseph  Fuller. 

Amariah  Childs. 

Hezekiah  Chase. 

Francis  S.  Newhall. 

.    John  C.  Abbott. 

George  Hood. 


DISTANCES  AND  MEASUREMENTS. 

From  Central  Square :  m.    r. 

To  Boston  —  head  of  State  street,  over  the  Turnpike,  10  160 

Danvers, 5    80 

Salem,            5    96 

Marblehead, 5  200 

Lynnfield  Hotel, 4  280 

Nahant,  (Whitney's,) 4 

Saugus,  (East  Villaffe,) 2  220 

Saugus,  (Centre  Village,) 3  260 

Lynn  Hotel,            1     77 

Swampscot,  (Beach,) 1  256 

Ocean  House,  (Swampscot,) 2  271 

Phillips's  Point,  (Swampscot,) 3    58 

Lynn  Beach, 226 

From  Lynn  Hotel  to  Dye  House, 1  280 

From  Lynn  Hotel  to  Floating  Bridge, 1  287 

From  Village  Square,  (Woodend,)  to  west  end  of  Common,  by  Essex  st.    1  146 

The  same,  by  Broad  and  Market  streets, 2    26 

From  Washington  Square,  north  end  of  Nahant  street,  to  Lynn  Hotel,    1  120 

Length  of  Common  —  from  north  end  of  Market  street  to  Lynn  Hotel,  230 

Length  of  Lynn  Beach,  entire, 2 

Length  of  Streets, 42    17 


686 


TABLES. 


PUBLIC  SCHOOLS  IN  LYNN. 

Number  of  Public  Schools,  48 

Teachers  —  (male,  6 ;  female,  53)  —  59 
Pupils,  ....        4.332 

Average  age  of  pupils,  10  years,  15  days. 
Teachers'  salaries,  .  $21.996!39 
Total  expenditure  for  Public 

Schools,  in  1863,       .        $31,429.86 


VALUATION  AND  TAXATION. 

Valuation. 
Real  Est.,  3.160.515.  ? 
Personal,  1.674.328,  I 

Real,  5.403.852,  > 

Personal,  2.880.797,  ^ 

Real,         6.291.460, 
Personal,  3.357.605, 

Real,         6.528.762, 
Personal,  3.680.098, 
[The   last   includes   $743,919,   now 
taxed  directly  by  the  State.] 


1850 


1855 


1860 


1864 


$4,834,843 


8.284.649 


9.649.065 


10.208.860 


Rate  of  Taxation. 
1850.     On  every  $1000,  $9.00 

1855.      "       "  "  7.50 

1860.      "      "  "  8.80 

1864.      "      "  "  15.60 

City  Tax. 

1850 $50,000 

1855 57.000 

I860 80.000 

1864 112.000 

CITY  APPROPRIATIONS. 

1864. 
For  Repairs  of  Highways,  $6,000 

Laying    out    and    altering 

Streets,  ...  500 
Lighting  Streets,  .  .  500 
Curb  Stones,  .  .  .  500 
Printing  and  Stationary,  1.000 
Salaries  of  City  Officers,  7.000 
Constables  and  Police,  5.000 

Board  of  Health,  .  .  100 
Improvement  of  Common,  100 
Payment  of  Interest,  18.000 

Payment  of  City  Debt,  8.000 

Free  Public  Library,  1.500 

Pine  Grove  Cemetery,  1.200 

Public  School  Department,  27.000 
(and  receipts  of  department.) 
Poor  Department,         .         18.000 
(and  receipts  of  department.) 
Fire  Deparment,    .        .        3.500 
(and  receipts  of  department.) 


CITY  DEBT  —  CITY  PROPERTY. 


Debt. 


1850. 
1855. 

1860. 

1864. 


$56,960  55 

86..550  00 

107.600  00 

281.800  00 


[But  it  should  be  stated  in  regard  to 
the  latter  that  such  a  portion  was  re- 
imbursable by  tlie  state,  being  for  aid 
to  soldiers,  as  would  in  reality  reduce 
the  debt  to  about.     .        .     $195,000.] 

Value  of  Real  Estate  owned 

by  the  City,    .        .        $156,490  00 

Personal  Estate,         .  28.806  71 

Total,  $185,296  71 


SHOE  BUSINESS. 

1864. 
It  is  difficult  to  give,  in  a  short  space, 
a  perfect  idea  of  the  great  shoe  trade 
of  Lynn.  The  shoes  now  made  are 
of  much  better  quality  and  consequent- 
ly higher  price  than  those  made  a  few 
years  since.  We  include  under  the 
general  term  shoes,  such  boots  as  are 
made  here ;  and  by  the  State  returns 
find  that  during  the  year  ending  June 
1,  1855,  there  were  made  9.275.593 
pairs,  valued  at  $4,165,529.  During 
the  year  ending  Sept.  1,  1864,  it  is 
probable  that  though  there  had  been 
a  large  increase  in  the  business,  there 
were  not  much,  if  any,  above  10.000.000 
pairs  made.  But  the  aggregate  whole- 
sale value  of  these  reached  the  large 

sum  of $14,000,000.00. 

Number  of  Shoe  Manufacturers,     174 
Males  and  females  employed,      17.173 


STATISTICAL  ITEMS. 

1864. 


4.500 
259 
279 


Number  of  Voters  in  Lynn. 
Streets,  Courts,  and  Squares, 
Licensed  Dogs,    . 

Fire  Eneines,      ....  8 

Church  Edifices,          ...  21 

Church  Bells,       ....  5 

Public  Clocks,     ....  3 

Public  Houses,    ....  4 

Grocery  Stores,  ....  69 

Dry  Goods  Stores,       ...  18 

Printing  Offices,           ...  6 

Lawyers,     .....  11 

Physicians,          ,        .        •        •  18 


TABLES  —  LYNNFIELD. 


587 


LYNNFIELD 

This  township  was  granted  to  Lynn  in  1639,  and  was  called  Lynn  End.     In 
1782  it  was  incorporated  as  a  district,  and  in  1814  made  a  separate  town. 


REPRESENTATIVES. 
'27. 


Josiah  Newhall. 

Asa  T.  Newhall. 

John  Upton,  jr.   ' 

Bowman  Viles. 

John  Upton,  jr. 

Joshua  Hewes. 

John  Perkins,  jr. 

William  Perkins. 

David  N.  Swasey. 

James  Jackson. 

Joshua  Hewes. 

Enoch  Russell. 

Josiah  Newhall. 

William  Skinner, 

John  Dan  forth,  jr. 

David  A.  Titcomb. 
[The  House  of  Representatives  had 
become  so  imwieldy  that  in  1857  the 
Legislature  made  provisions  for  dis- 
ti'icting  the  State.  Representatives  are 
therefore  now  chosen  by  districts.] 


1826  and 

1828. 

1829  —  1832. 

1832. 

1833. 

1834  and  '35. 

1836. 

1837. 

1838  —  1841. 

1841. 

1843. 

1844. 

1848. 

1850  and  '51. 

1852  and  '53. 

1856  and  '57. 


J»*- 


1814. 
1818. 
1823. 
1832. 
1833. 
1834. 
1837. 
1841. 
1842. 
1843. 
1844. 
1857. 


TOWN  CLERKS. 

John  Upton,  jr. 
Andrew  Mansfield. 
Bowman  Viles. 
John  Upton,  jr. 
Bowman  Viles. 
Andrew  Mansfield,  jr. 
Joshua  Hewes. 
Andrew  Mansfield,  jr. 
Joshua  Hewes. 
Andrew  Mansfield,  jr. 
John  Perkins,  jr. 
John  Danforth,  jr. 


POSTMASTERS. 

[South  Village.] 
Office  established  25  May,  1836. 
1836.     Theron  Palmer. 
1839.     Charles  Spinney. 
1852.    James  W.  Church. 
1855.     Henry  W.  Swasey. 

[Centre  Village.] 
Office  established  1  August,  1848. 
1848.     George  F.  Whittredge. 
1851.     Samuel  N.  Newcomb, 
J 856.    Jonathan  Bryant. 


RELIGIOUS  SOCIETIES. 

First  Congregational. 
This  society  adhered  to  the  old  Pu- 
ritanical faith  down  through  Mr.  Searl's 
pastorate.     Afterward  there  was  a  Uni- 
tarian supply.     And  in  1849,  it  became 
recognized  as  a  Universalist   society, 
Mr.  Walcott  being  the  first  minister  of 
the  Universalist  persuasion.     This  So- 
ciety was  formed   as   the   second   of 
Lynn,  August  17,  1720,  and  the  place 
of  worship  is  in  the  Centre  Village. 
1720.     Nathaniel  Sparhawk. 
1731.    Stephen  Chase. 
1755.     Benjamin  Adams. 
1783.    Joseph  Mottey. 
1824.     Joseph  Searl. 
1854.     Luther  Walcott. 

Orthodox  Evangelical  Society. 
This  is  a  Trinitarian  Congregational 
Society  —  formed  27  September,  1832, 
and  located  in  the  Centre  Village. 
1833.    Josiah  Hill. 
1837.     Henry  S.  Greene. 
1850.     Uzal'W.  Condit. 
1856.    Edwin  R.  Hodijman. 
1859.     William  C.  Wliitcomb. 


South  Village  Congregational. 
[Trinitarian.     Formed  in  1849.] 
1849.     Ariel  P.  Chute. 
1858.     Allen  Gannett. 

Methodist. 
A  society  of  this  order  was  formed 
here  in  1816,  and  a  house  of  worship 
erected,  in  the  Centre  Village,  in  1823. 
But  regular  meetings  have  not  been 
held  for  several  years. 

1819.  Orlando  Hinds. 

1820.  Isaac  Jennison. 

1821.  Ephraim  Wiley. 

1823.  Leonard  Frost. 

1824.  Henry  Mayo. 

1825  to  1830.    Warren  Emerson. 
1830.     Mark  Staples. 
1832.     Hezekiah  Thacher. 
1834.    JohnBavley. 


588 


TABLES  —  SAUGUS. 


S  AU  GU  S. 

This  town  formed  the  West  Parish  of  Lynn,  till  1815,  when  it  was  incorpo 
rated  under  its  present  name,  which  was  the  ancient  name  of  Lynn. 


REPRESENTATIVES. 


1815. 

1816  and 

1820. 

1821. 

1823. 

1826. 

1827  and 

1829  — 183L 

1831. 

1832  and 

1834. 

1836  aiKl 

1838.' 

1839. 

1840. 

1841. 

1842  and 

1844. 

1846  ami 

1850. 

1851. 

1852. 

1853. 

1854. 

1855. 

]856. 

1857. 


Robert  Ernes. 

Joseph  Cheever. 

Joseph  Cheever. 

Abijah  Cheever. 

Jonathan  Makepeace. 

John  Shaw. 

William  Jackson. 

Abijah  Cheever. 

Joseph  Cheever. 

Zaccheus  N.  Stocker. 

Joseph  Cheever. 

William  W.  Boardman. 

Charles  Sweetser. 

Francis  Dizer. 

Benjamin  Hitchings,  jr. 

Stephen  E.  Hawkes. 

Benjamin  F.  Newhall. 

Pickmore  Jackson. 

Sewall  Boardman. 

Charles  Sweeter. 

George  H.  Sweetser. 

John  B.  Hitchings. 

Samuel  Hawkes. 

Richard  Mansfield. 

William  H.  Newhall. 

Jacob  B.  Calley. 

Jonathan  Newhall. 
[In  1857  the  State  was  districted  and 
Representatives  have  since  been  cho- 
sen by  districts.] 


17. 


'28. 


"S3. 
'37. 


'43. 

'47. 


1815. 
1819. 
1828. 
1831. 
1834. 
1841. 
1848. 
1852. 


1832. 
1832. 
1856. 


1858. 


TOWN  CLERKS. 

Richard  Mansfield. 
Thomas  Mansfield,  jr. 
Zaccheus  N.  Stocker. 
Isaac  Childs. 
William  W.  Boardman. 
Benjamin  F.  Newhall. 
Harmon  Hall. 
William  H.  Newhall. 


POSTMASTERS. 

[East  Village.] 
Henry  Slade. 
George  Newhall. 
Herbert  B.  Newhall. 

[Centre  Village.] 
Julian  D.  Lawrence. 


[Cliftondale.] 
1858.  William  Williams. 
1860.     George  H.  Sweetser. 


RELIGIOUS  SOCIETIES. 

First  Church. 
This  church  was  gathered  in  1732, 
as  the  third  church  of  Lynn,  and  a 
house  of  worship  was  erected  in  1736. 
It  remained  Calvinistic  till  the  settle- 
ment of  Mr.  Randall,  in  1826,  he  being 
a  Unitarian.  The  Uuiversalist  element 
was  strong  in  the  society,  and  after 
Mr.  Randall  left,  the'Calvinistic  branch 
withdrew,  leaving  the  Universalists  in 
possession  of  the  house.  This  society 
is  located  in  the  Centre  Village,  and  is 
the  one  to  which  the  celebrated  Parson 
Roby  so  long  ministered. 
1739.     Edward  Cheever. 

Joseph  Roby. 

William  Frothingham. 

Joseph  Emerson. 

Hervey  Wilbur. 

Ephraim  Randall. 

D.  B.  Harris. 

John  Nichols. 

Josiah  Marvin. 

Josiah  Talbot. 

J.  H.  Campbell. 

B.  W.  Atwell. 

J.  H.  Campbell. 


1752. 
1804. 
1821. 
1824. 
1826. 
1835. 
1837. 
1850. 
1854. 
1857. 
1860. 
1862. 


Trinitarian  Congregational. 
This  society  was   formed  by  those 
who  withdrew,  leaving  the  Universal- 
ists in  possession  of  the  fii'st  church. 

1833.  Sidnev  Holman. 

1843.  Theophilus  Sawin. 

1847.  Cyrus  Stone. 

1851.  Levi  Brigham. 

Methodist.  (East  Village.) 
Methodism  was  introduced  into  Sau- 
gus  in  or  about  the  year  1810,  by  Tho- 
mas Bowler,  Enoch  Mudge,  William 
Walton,  and  a  few  other  laymen  of 
Lynn.  And  the  classes  formed  at  that 
period  were  connected  with  the  society 
at  Lynn.    In  1823,  the  Saugus  inen^ 


TABLES  —  SWAMPSCOT 


NAHANT. 


.89 


bers  withdrew  from  the  Lynn  connec- 
tion, and  formed  a  separate  society  in 
their  own  town.  In  1827  they  built 
their  first  meeting-house,  the  celebrated 
John  N.  Maffit  preaching  the  dedica- 
tion sermon.  Their  present  bouse  of 
worship  was  dedicated  Feb.  22,  1855, 
Bishop  Janes  preaching  the  sermon. 

1823.  Warren  Emerson. 

1824.  Henry  Mayo. 

1825.  Laroy  Sunderland. 

1826.  Aaron  Josselin. 

1828.  Nathan  Paine. 

1829.  Ephraim  K.  Avery. 

1830.  John  J.  Bliss. 

1831.  Hiram  H.  White. 

1832.  Ebenezer  Blake. 

1833.  Joel  Steele. 

1834.  Ezekiel  W.  Stickney. 

1835.  Lewis  Bates. 

1836.  Newel  S.  Spaulding. 

1837.  Sanford  Benton. 


1839.  Daniel  K.  Bannister. 

1841.  Jonathan  D.  Bridge. 

1843.  William  Rice. 

1845.  Isaac  \.  Savage. 

1847.  Edward  Cook. 

1849.  William  M.  Mann. 

1850.  Daniel  K.  Bannister. 

1852.  J.  Augustus  Adams. 

1853.  Ralph  W.  Allen. 
1855.  William  H.  Hatch. 
1857.  Daniel  Richards. 
1859.  Jonas  M.  Clark. 
1861.  Cyrus  L.  Eastman. 
1863.  Daniel  Richards. 


Methodist.    (Cliftondale.) 

1854.  James  Blodgett. 

1857.  George  F.  Pool. 

1859.  Solomon  Chapin. 

1861.  John  S.  Day. 

1863.  Daniel  Wait. 


SWAMPSCOT. 

Swampscot  was  separated  from  Lynn  and  incorporated  as  a  town  in  1852. 


1852. 

1856. 
1857. 

1858. 
1862. 
1863. 
1864. 


1846. 
1861. 


TOWN  CLERKS. 

John  L.  Seger. 
Francis  E.  Andrews. 
William  D.  Brackett 
John  L.  Seger. 
Samuel  O.  Ingalls. 
Daniel  P.  Stimpson. 
John  Seger. 


POSTMASTERS. 

Waldo  Thompson. 
Daniel  P.  Stimpson. 


RELIGIOUS  SOCIETIES. 

Congregational. 
[Trinitarian.     Founded  in  1846.] 
1846.    Jonas  B.  Clark. 

Methodist.     [1854.] 

1854.  Edward  S.  Best. 

1855.  Charles  Noble. 

1856.  John  Smith. 

1858.  Zachariah  A.  Mudge. 

1860.  Linus  Fish. 

1862.  George  Sutherland. 

1864.  Moseley  Dwight. 


NAHANT. 

Nahant  was  separated  from  Lynn  and  incorporated  as  a  town  in  1853 
TOWN  CLERKS. 


1853. 
1857. 


Washington  H.  Johnson. 
Alfred  D.  Johnson. 


POSTMASTERS. 

The  Nahant  Post-office  was 
lished  in  July,  1847. 

1847.     Phineas  Drew. 

1847.    Welcome  W.  Johnson. 

X2 


estab- 


RELIGIOUS  SOCIETIES. 

Independent  Methodist.     [1851.] 

1855.  William  R.  Clark. 

1856.  George  G.  Jones. 

1858.  Allen  Gannet. 

1859.  Charles  N.  Smith. 

1860.  Stephen  Gushing. 

In  1832  a  Tuscan  Chapel  was  erect- 
ed here  chiefly  by  the  subscriptions  of 
summer  residents.  Services  are  held 
in  it  during  the  warm  season  only. 


CHAPTER    V. 


CONCLUSION. 

In  closing  our  Record  of  Events  in  the  history  of  Lynn,  a 
congratulatory  word  or  two  may,  not  improperly,  be  indulged  in. 
Twenty  years  have  been  added  to  the  annals  of  Mr.  Lewis,  and 
perhaps  no  score  of  years  in  our  whole  history  have  been  marked 
by  greater  changes.  We  have  adopted  the  city  form  of  govern- 
ment; and  not  only  that,  but  after  a  sort  have  in  appearance 
likewise  matured  from  village  to  city.  Our  population  has 
rapidly  increased  —  improvements,  useful,  durable,  and  orna- 
mental, have  been  made  on  every  hand  — larger  and  more  costly 
buildings  have  been  erected  —  hissing  steam  and  rumbling  ma- 
chiner}^  have  been  introduced  in  the  manufacture  of  shoes,  our 
staple  article  —  our  taxable  property  has  greatly  increased  ;  and 
so,  for  that  matter,  have  our  taxes  —  the  Common  has  been 
enclosed,  studded  with  trees,  and  traversed  by  gravel  walks  — 
brick  side-walks  have  been  laid  and  numerous  ornamental  trees 
planted  along  their  borders  —  the  road  over  the  Beach  has  been 
constructed  —  the  Police  Court  has  been  established  —  Pine 
Grove  Cemetery  has  been  laid  out  —  the  horse  rail-road  has 
been  built  —  gas  has  been  introduced  for  the  lighting  of 
our  streets,  stores,  and  dwellings  —  telegraphic  communication 
with  the  most  distant  quarters  has  been  established  —  the  schools 
have  much  improved,  and  greatly  increased  in  number  —  reli- 
gious societies  have  sprung  up  till  every  true  worshiper  if  not 
every  whim-driven  soul,  may  find  a  congenial  shrine  —  and  two 
of  the  thrifty  children,  Nahant  and  Swampscot  have  been  invest- 
ed with  the  blessings  and  responsibilities  of  municipal  freedom. 
About  twenty  years  ago,  quite  an  improvement  in  the  archi- 
tectural aspect  of  Lynn  began  to  manifest  itself.  Before  that 
time  the  common,  unembellished  dwelling  of  one,  one  and  a 
half,  or  two  stories  in  height,  prevailed.     Buildings  of  more  than 

C590) 


CONCLtJSTON. 


591 


two  stories,  or  of  any  material  but  wood  were  almost  unknown. 
They  were  usually  very  plain,  with  pitch  roofs,  painted  white, 
and  often  furnished  with  green  blinds.  They  had  an  air  of 
neatness  and  comfort,  though  indicating  limited  means.  But 
those  of  a  very  different  character  have,  within  these  few 
years,  appeared  in  every  quarter.  Among  the  illustrations 
of  this  volume  may  be  found  representations  of  some  of  our 
later  structures.  And  we  are  gratified  in  being  able  to  intro- 
duce a  very  perfect  picture  of  the  old  Town  House,  subse- 
quently dignified  by  the  name  of  City  Hall.  It  is  not, 
however,  presented  for  its  architectural  elegance,  but  for  the 
interest  that  attaches  to  it  as  being  the  only  building  ever 
yet  reared  in  Lynn,  specially  for  municipal  purposes.  It  was 
burned  at  about  daylight  on  the  morning  of  October  6,  1864, 
as  stated  on  page  478.  In  1863,  however,  a  site  for  a  new 
City  Hall  was  purchased,  near  the  eastern  end  of  the  Common, 
at  the  corner  of  Essex  street;  and  indeed  Lynn  would  long 
ago  have  had  an  edifice  better  becoming  her  dignity  could  talk 
have  built  it.  The  picture  was  taken  a  few  weeks  before  the 
fire,  being  actually  photographed  upon  the  block.  A  portion  of 
the  walls  escaped,  and  there  is  no  knowing  to  what  base  uses 
they  may  yet  arrive. 


OLD    TOWN    HOUSE,   AFTERWARD    CITY    HALL,    LYNN. 

The  Town  House  was  built  in  1814,  and  stood  on  the  centre 
of  the  Common,  nearly  opposite  the  head  of  Hanover  street. 
It  originally  had  a  hipped  roof,  and  was  square  in  form.  The 
interior  remained  unfinished  for  many  years.     Elections  were 


592  HISTORY    OF   LYNN. 

of  course  held  in  it ;  and  military  companies  sometimes  exercised 
there ;  and  it  was  used  for  assemblages  of  various  kinds.  In 
1832  it  was  removed  to  the  spot  on  which  it  was  burned  —  a 
few  rods  west  of  Church  street,  on  South  Common  —  and  the 
hall  finished.  For  a  long  time  this  was  the  largest  and  almost 
the  only  hall  in  town,  and  was  occupied  for  all  sorts  of  meetings, 
lectures,  and  exhibitions.  On  the  formation  of  the  City  Gov- 
ernment, in  1850,  the  building  was  thoroughly  repaired  and  the 
interior  remodeled.  And  from  that  time  till  its  destruction  its 
walls  continued  to  resound  with  the  eloquence  of  the  City  Fa- 
thers as  erst  they  did  with  that  of  the  patriotic  old  Town  Orators. 
But  the  glory  of  Lynn  does  not  lie  in  the  stateliness  of  her 
edifices  or  the  elegance  of  her  thoroughfares.  She  has  not  yet 
attained  to  any  thing  very  great  in  respect  to  these  —  though 
if  all  the  finer  buildings  were  concentrated  in  one  quarter  they 
would  present  quite  an  imposing  array — and  would  rather 
point  to  the  thrift  and  good  condition  of  her  people ;  to  their 
industry  and  temperance ;  to  her  ample  provision  for  moral 
and  intellectual  culture ;  to  her  generous  guardianship  of  the 
few  dependent  ones  within  her  borders ;  and  especially  to  the 
charms  which  nature  has  so  lavishly  bestowed  upon  her  — 
charms  which  continue  to  attract,  during  every  watering  season, 
so  many  strangers  of  wealth  and  refinement. 


It  now  remains,  in  closing,  to  express  most  grateful  acknowledgments  for 
the  ready  help  that  we  have  in  numberless  instances  received.  To  name 
every  one  to  whom  we  are  indebted  would  be  impossible.  But  acknow- 
ledgments are  especially  due  to  Joseph  Moulton,  who  is  one  of  the  most 
intelligent  and  reliable  antiquarians  among  us.  He  has  a  small  but  choice 
library,  containing  a  number  of  the  best  historical  and  genealogical  works, 
and  is  always  ready  to  lend  his  valuable  aid  to  those  engaged  in  research 
among  the  things  of  the  past.  He  resides  in  the  old  Mansfield  house,  so 
called,  wliich  stands  on  the  north  side  of  Boston  street,  opposite  the  eastern 
end  of  Marion,  which  house  is  supposed  to  have  weathered  the  storms  of 
about  two  hundred  years,  having  been  built,  according  to  well-sustained  tradi- 
tion, during  the  year  of  the  great  fire  in  London  — 1666.  And  it  is  a  note- 
worthy fact  that  it  has  remained  in  the  occupancy  of  the  direct  descendants 
of  Andrew  Mansfield,  the  individual  who  erected  it,  and  who  was  Town  Clerk 
in  1666,  ever  since  its  construction,  Mr.  Moulton,  on  the  maternal  side,  being 
in  the  direct  line.  It  has,  of  course,  undergone  repairs  and  alterations  neces- 
sary to  meet  the  exigencies  of  changing  time,  but  remains  essentially  the 
same.  Acknowledgments  are  also  due  to  Benjamin  Mudge,  to  William  B. 
Oliver,  to  Waldo  Thompson,  to  John  Danforth,  Jr.,  of  Lynufield,  to 
Elijah  P.  Robinson,  of  Saugus,  and  to  John  Q.  Hammond  and  Dr.  Piper, 
of  Nahant.  Nor  should  the  expression  of  obligations  to  Richard  S.  Fat  and 
E.  Redington  Mddge,  be  omitted. 


INDEX. 


[Every  Surname  in  the  book  appears  in  this  Index,  arranged  alphabetically 
with  the  subjects.] 


Ab^lino,  ship,  captured,  467. 

Abbott,  439, 542, 543, 585. 

Abigail,  (Indian,)  40,  51. 

Aborne,  183,  576. 

Abousett  (Saugus)  river,  31,  57. 

Academy,  Lynn,  367,  370,  379,  581. 

Accident  at  school-house,  416. 

Accident  from  burning  fluid,  447. 

Accidents,  fatal.     See  Deaths. 

Adam,  (slave,)  344. 

Adams,  323,  330,  342,  360,  361,  367, 

575,  576,  581,  583,  587,  589. 
Address  to  President  Adams,  360. 
Africanus,  (slave,)  344. 
Agassiz,  25,  85,  382. 

Aged  persons,  36,  118,  119,  121,  126, 

162,  239,  266,  357,  391,  396,  434, 

451,  463. 
Agricultural  exhibitions,  416,  417,  421. 
Agriculture,  44,  132,  140,  169. 
Ahawayet,  (Indian,)  39,  40. 
Alarm-houses,  203. 

Alarms,  49, 138, 203, 331, 338, 341, 377. 
Aldeman,  242. 
Alewives,  80,  141,  143,  144,  219,  267, 

433.     See  Fish. 
Allen,  111,   185,   190,   191,  239,  256, 

258,  299,  300,  318,  394,   576,  589. 
Alley,  183  184,  185,  263,  305,  327,  342, 

397,  403, 414,  415,  454,  465,  472, 502, 

576,  579,  581,  582. 
Allotment  of  lands,  171,  306. 
Alms-house,  381,423. 
Almv,  169,  576. 

Ambler,  583. 
Ames,  456,  584. 
Amey,  576. 

Amherst,  N.  H.,  settled  in  *733  by  peo- 
ple from  Lynn,  324. 
Amory,  62,  359. 
Anderson,  207,  576. 
Andrew,  466,  575. 

Andrews,  122,  147,  465,  576,  583,  589. 
Andros,  50,  51,  55, 284  to  290, 312,  575. 


Anecdotes : 

Apples  and  cider,  257. 

Biter  bit,  179. 

Conjugal  difficulty,  37. 

Courting,  163,  186,  280. 

Cow  in  grave-yard,  370. 

Dark  day,  344.* 

Early  travel,  93. 

Editorial  wit,  517. 

First  lawyer's  experience,  370. 

Girl  lost  in  the  woods,  141. 

Guessing  time,  346. 

Holding  things  in  common,  197. 

Humors  of  a  sick  man,  518. 

Indian  cunning,  264. 

Indian's  visit  to  England,  137. 

Instinct  of  voung  cows,  421 . 

John's  Peri'l,  61. 

Lawyer  and  client,  435. 

Man  and  Bear,  135. 

Man  and  boat  blown  to  pieces,  140. 

Minister's  choice,  139. 

Ministers,  237,  238. 

Mutton  vs.  turkey,  527. 

Panic  stricken  soldier,  342. 

Piety  of  Mr.  Whiting,  269. 

Practical  joker,  347, 

Prayer,  efficacy  of,  238. 

Proving  a  new  vessel,  321. 

Quaker  log-rolling,  521. 

Quarrel  of  Dexter  and  Endicott,  137. 

Removing  boulder,  74. 

Revolutionary  soldiers,  341 

Rhyming,  333. 

Ride  to  Boston  for  a  dinner,  516. 

Saint  Cuthbert,  87. 

Singular  cure  of  fever,  70. 

Taking  a  glass  together,  149. 

Tenacity  of  purpose,  418. 

Treatment  of  company,  515. 

True  Moody's  savings  bank,  444. 

Warning  off  a  new  comer,  297, 

Wit,  encounter  of,  330. 

Wit  ofMoll  Pitcher.  375, 

Woman  and  wolf,  136. 


X2* 


(593) 


38 


594 


INDEX. 


Animals,  wild,  found  in  Lynn,  45. 

Annawon  (Iiitliau,)  264. 

Annis,  417. 

Anti-masonry,  394,  401. 

Anti-slavery  lecture,  disturbance  at,  401 

Anti-slaverv  society  formed,  398. 

Appleton,  225,  262,  266,  280,  576. 

Appropriation,  city,  1864,  items,  586. 

Arago,  396. 

Archdale,  266. 

Ai-cher,  576. 

Arches,  auroral.     See  Northern  Lights. 

Ardway,  211. 

Ai-mitage,  114, 156,  157,  172,  174,  188, 

190, 209, 210, 211,  221, 224,  233,  241, 

276,  576. 
Artillery,  Ancient  and  Hon.,  177,  579. 
Artillery,  Lynn,  370,  414.   See  Military. 
Asbury,  362. 

Assistants  and  Counsellors,  577. 
Astronomical  observatory,  469, 
Atherton,  209. 
Atkins,  122. 
Atkinson,  465. 

Atlantic  cable  celebration,  453. 
Atmospheric  refraction,  curious  effects 

of,  82, 278.    See  Celestial  Phenomena. 
Atwill,  297,  439, 576,  579, 581,  582, 588. 
Atwood,  576. 
Audley,  576. 
Augustine,  576. 

Aurora  borealis.    See  Northern  Lights. 
Austin,  62,  421,  473,  485,  581. 
Autographs : 

Breed,  Allen,  115. 

Burrill,  George,  115. 

Cicily,  alias  Su-George  (Indian,)  55. 

Dexter,  Thomas,  205. 

Kunkshamooshaw,  Abigail,  55. 

Kunkshamooshaw,  David,  55. 

Laighton,  Thomas,  1,55. 

Newhall,  Thomas,  first  white  person 
born  in  Lynn,  126,  483. 

Pitcher,  Moll,  the  fortune-teller,  376. 

Ponham,  Mary,  (Quonopohit,)  55. 

Whiting,  Rev.  Samuel,  270. 
Autumn  foliage,  82. 
Avery,  589. 

Axey,  115,  172,  240,  576,  578. 
Ayers,  576. 

B. 

Babson,  356. 

Bachiler,  Bacheller,  Batchelder,  100, 
102,  125,  139,  140,  142,  159  to  164, 
179,  428,  471,  482,  576,  579  to  582. 

Backus,  101. 

Bacon,  268,  584. 


Bagnall,  141. 

Bailey,  Bavley,  120,  190,  228,  255,  292, 
332,  430,  465,  486,  576,  579,  587. 

Baker,  116,  (117  and  118  contain  the 
romantic  history  of  Christine,  the 
Indian  captive,)  156,  172,  190,  263, 
299,  405,  424,  426,  433,  436,  479, 
(566  contains  a  biographical  notice 
of  Daniel  C,  the  third  mayor  of 
Lynn,)  576,  579,  582. 

Ball,  calico,  455. 

Ballads,  old  New  England,  107,  133. 

Ballard,  115,  143,  171,  208,  211,  282, 
291, 293,  365,  367,  430, 576, 579,  581. 

Balloon  ascensions,  401,  403,  411. 

Bancroft,  118,  171,  184,  275,  351,  470, 
576,  579. 

Banks,  (surname,)  453,  575. 

Banks,  (money  institutions,)  377,  390, 
398,  423,  439,  445,  585. 

Bannister,  589. 

Baptism,  first  in  Lynn,  139. 

Baptists,  127,  131,^187,  204,  208,  219, 
230,  257,  378,  379,  432,  460,  584. 

Barber,  226,  576. 

Barberry  bushes,  79,  329. 

Barcroft,  118. 

Bard,  576. 

Bard  son,  26. 

Barker,  410,  465. 

Barlow,  394,  400,  582. 

Barnstable  settled  by  Lynn  people,  182. 

Barrett,  432. 

Barry,  433,  464,  579.    See  Berry. 

Bartlett,  465. 

Bartoll,  576. 

Bartram,  576. 

Bass,  141,  144. 

Bassett,  51  to  53,  127,  184,  (185  con- 
tains  the  genealogy  of  the  principal 
Bassett  family  now  in  Lynn,)  200, 
266, 275, 282, 291,  292,  294, 295,  305, 
335, 344, 345, 424, 426, 433,  485,  570, 
576,  580. 

Batchelder.     See  Bachiler. 

Bates,  333,  432,  465, 576,  589. 

Bathing,  81. 

Batten,  576. 

Batter,  172,  200,  236,  261,  576. 

Battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  341. 

Battle  of  Chesapeake  and  Shaunon,373. 

Battle  of  Lexington,  338. 

Batts,  579. 

Baudouin,  91. 

Baxter,  465. 

Bavley.     See  Bailey. 

Beach  protectors,  388,  404,  429. 

Beach  road,  421,  429. 


INDEX. 


595 


Beaches,  66,  67,  78,  144,  388,  404,  421, 
429,  433.     See  Storms.     Tides. 

Beacons  on  Dread  Ledffe,  395,  397,  477. 

Beal,  226,  275,  276,  576. 

Beans,  576. 

Bear  Pond.  70. 

Beard,  (surname)  89,  90. 

Beard,  (of  the  human  face,)  133,  438. 

Bears,  135,  332. 

Beauchamp,  205,  362. 

Becke,  205. 

Becx,  205,  235. 

Beebe,  583. 

Belcher,  323,  575,  576. 

Belknap,  150,  172,  576,  579. 

Bellamont,  575. 

Bellamy,  311. 

Bellingham,  152,181,575. 

Bells,  church,  380,  463,  586. 

Bennet,95,119, 143,  172,  212,  216,  224, 
234,  259,  576,  579. 

Benton,  583,  589. 

Bernard,  575. 

Berries,  varieties  of,  found  in  Lynn,  79. 

Berry,  185,  226,  235,  416,  465,  473,  576. 
See  Barry. 

Besse,  465,"  576. 

Best,  589. 

Biarne,  26. 

Bible  not  read  at  Sunday  services,  105. 

Biddle,  472,  584. 

Bilboes  —  Stocks,  142. 

Billington,  207. 

Binney,  583. 

Biographical    Sketches   anxD    Per- 
sonal Notices  : 
Adams,  Rev.  Benj.  Lynnfield,  342. 
Bachiler,  Rev.  Stephen,  139,  159. 
Baker,  Christine,  Indian  captive,  117. 
Baker,  Daniel  C,  third  mayor,  566. 
Barker,  Dr.  Charles  O.,  410. 
Breed,  Ebenezer,  (Uncle  Eben.)  519. 
Breed,  Isaiah,  541. 
Brimblecom,  Col.  Samuel,  424. 
Brown,  Goold,  449. 
Burrill,  Hon.  Ebenezer,  492. 
Burrill,  Hon.  John,  489. 
Carnes,  Rev.  John,  363. 
Chase,  Rev.  Stephen,  Lynnfield,  330. 
Cheever,  Rev.  Edward,  Saugus,  328. 
Childs,  Amariah,415. 
Cobbet,  Rev.  Thomas,  236. 
Coffin,  Dr.  Edward  L.,  533. 
Collins,  Micajah,  500. 
Cooke,  Rev.  Dr.  Parsons,  475. 
Curtin,  Enoch,  528. 
Dagyr,  John  Adam,  328. 


Biographical  Sketches  and  Per- 
sonal Notices — (Continued.) 

Dexter,  Thomas,  204. 

Downing,  Elijah,  519. 

Felton,  Cornelius  C,  86 

Flagg,  Dr.  John,  358. 

Flora,  (slave,)  391. 

Fuller,  Maria  Augusta,  505. 

Gardner,  Dr.  James,  397. 

Gates,  Isaac,  lawyer,  435. 

Gray,  George,  the  Lynn  hermit,  419. 

Gray,  William,  496. 

Hazeltine,  Dr.  Richard,  403. 

Henchman,  Rev.  Nathaniel,  332. 

Hentz,  Caroline  Lee,  275. 

Holyoke,  Edward,  121. 

Hood,  George,  first  mayor,  542. 

Humfrey,  John,  147,  197. 

Hurd,  Rev.  Isaac,  379. 

Hutchinson,  Jesse,  437. 

Hutchinson,  Judson  J.,  455. 

Jenks,  Joseph,  iron-worker,  208. 

Leonard,  James  and  Henry,  206. 

Lewis,  Alonzo,  544. 

Lummus,  Dr.  Aaron,  396. 

Lummus, Charles  F., first  printer,  51 1 

Merrill,  Benjamin,  first  lawyer,  370. 

Montowampate,  Indian  Sagamore  of 
Lynn,  36,  146. 

Moody,  Lady  Deborah,  187. 

Moody,  True,  444. 

Mottey,  Rev.  Joseph,  Lynnfield,  387. 

Moulton,  Solomon,  502. 

Mudije,  Rev.  Enoch,  536. 

Mudge,  Ezra,  538. 

Mulliken,  Samuel,  417. 

Nahanton,  (Indian,)  41. 

Nanapashemet,  Indian  Sachem,  34. 

Newhall,  Asa  T.,  Lynnfield,  537. 

Newhall,  Benjamin  F.,  Saugus,  567. 

Newhall,  Francis  S.,  539. 

Newhall,  Isaac,  540. 

Newhall,  Jacob,  landlord,  494. 

Newhall,  Josiah,  533. 

Newhall,  Thomas,  the  first  person  of 
European  parentage  born  here  — 
with  genealogy  of  the  Newhall 
family,  482. 

Parsons,  Rev.  Obadiah,  356. 

Perkms,  Dr.  John,  Lynnfield,  345. 

Pierson,  Rev.  Abraham,  195. 

Pitcher,  Moll,  the  fortune-teller,  374. 

Pompey,  (slave,)  344. 

Poquanum,  Sachem  of  Nahant,  40, 
141,  146. 

Purchis,  Thomas,  266. 

Quanopkonat,  (Indian,)  42. 

Robinson,  Col.  James,  397 


596 


HISTORY    OF    LYNN 


Biographical   Sketches    and    Per- 
sonal Notices — (Continued.) 

Roby,  Rev.  Joseph,  Saugus,  363. 

Sadler,  Richard,  157. 

Shepard,  Rev.  Jeremiah,  314. 

Sparhawk,Rev.Nath'l,  Lvnnfield,  323. 

Swett,  Rev.  William  Gray,  410. 

Thacher,  Rev.  Thomas  C,  373. 

Tread  well,  Rev.  John,  346. 

Trevett,  Robert  W.,  lawyer,  409. 

Tudor,  Frederic,  474. 

Turner,  Capt.  Nathaniel,  12S. 

Washburn,  Reuben  P.,  lawyer,  372. 

Wenepoykin,  (Indian,)  38. 

Whiting,  Rev.  Samuel,  267. 

Yawata,  (Indian,)  40.  • 
[See  also  Earlv  Settlers.] 
Birds,  45, 57,  80. 144, 298, 299, 433, 473. 
Bishop,  256. 
Bistow,  229. 
Bitner,  111. 
Black,  465,  589. 
Blackmore,  576. 
Blackstone,  41,  56,  108,  109. 
Black  Will,  (Indian,)  40,  131,  141,  144, 

241,  242. 
Black  Will's  Cliff,  67. 
Blake,  542. 
Blanchard,  448,  579. 
Blanev,  226,  267,  329,  359,  373,  395, 

448;  470,  576. 
Blighe,  26,  256,  292,  576. 
Bliss,  576,  589. 
Blodgett,  589. 
Blood,  576. 
Bloodgood,  583. 
Bloomer,  430. 
Bloomer  costume,  430. 
Blott,  214,  576. 
Blv,  226,  576. 
Board  of  Trade,  450. 
Boardman,  and  Bordman,  576,  588. 
Boiling  Springs,  70,  71. 
Bolishar,  576. 
Bolles,  584. 
Bonaparte,  500. 
Bond,  181,  205,  478. 
Bonney,  583. 
Bonytlion,  180. 
Bootfish,  576. 
Booth,  576. 
Boradile,  314. 
Boston  Massacre,  335. 
Botany  of  Lynn,  78,  455. 
Boulders,  granite,  73. 
Bound,  576. 
Boundaries,  57, 183, 234,  252,  257,  441, 

452. 


Bounties.     See  Soldiers'  Bounties. 

Bourne,  576. 

Boutwell,  150,  172,  575,  576. 

Bowden,  579. 

Bowdoin,  576,  579. 

Bo  wd  well,  197. 

Bowler,  337,  580. 

Boynton,  336,  462,  465. 

Brabrook,  576. 

Rrackett,  332,  589. 

Bradburn,  582. 

Bradburv,  62,  211. 

Braddock,  396. 

Bradstreet,  115,  204, 210, 211,  255,  257, 
277,  296,  575. 

Brainard,  174. 

Braman,  583. 

Brand,  576. 

Brattle,  296. 

Braun  or  Brawn,  265,  456,  576. 

Brazil,  447.^ 

Bredean,  576. 

Breed,  61,  91,  115,  171.  185,  194,  235, 
252, 282,  292, 293, 297, 299,  305,  311, 
312, 340, 342, 354, 362, 363,  364,  365, 
370, 386,  403, 411,  429, 443,  462,  465, 
472,  473,  479,  485.  (519  to  528  con- 
tain  a  biographical  notice  of  Ebene- 
zer  Breed  —  ''Uncle  Eben."  And 
541  and  542  contain  a  biographical 
notice  of  Isaiah  Breed.)  544,  576, 
579,  580,  581. 

Breed's  End,  origin  of  name,  115. 

Brereton,  31. 

Brewer,  120,  226,  292,  538,  576. 

Briant  and  Bryant,  332,  587. 

Briar d,  576. 

Brick  side-walks,  440. 

Bridge,  (surname,)  589. 

Bridge,  natural,  60 

Bridges,  (surname,)  88,  120,  150,  172, 
185,  204,  205,  212,  216,  217,  219,  221 
to  224,  230,  231,  240,  576  to  579. 

Bridges,  (over  water-courses,)  58,  60, 
70",  96,  141,  182,  219,  223,  236,  321, 
334.  ^ 

Brier,  576. 

Briggs,  575,  576. 

Brigham,  588. 

Brimblecom^9],424. 

Brimsdell,  576. 

Brintnall,  576. 

Brisco,  576. 

Broadhead,  583. 

Brock,  373. 

Brook,  (surname,)  171,  172. 

Brooks,  (surname,)  172,  175,  378,  428, 
575,  576,  584. 


INDEX. 


597 


Brooks,  (water-courses,)  144,  145,  201, 

362. 
Brown,  52,  53,  95,  109,  119,  171,  181, 
200,  214, 228, 309,  310,  417,  448,  449, 
453,  458, 465, 482, 573, 576,  578,  579. 
Brummell,  516. 
Bryan,  576. 
Bryant.     See  Briant. 

Buchanan,  453. 

Buckingham,  513. 

Buckley,  239,  448,  452. 

Buffuui,  426. 

Bugell,  576. 

Bulfinch,  418. 

Bulkley,  300. 

Bull,  ferocious,  221. 

Bull-fight  in  1808,  in  Lynn,  369 

Bumstead,  321. 

Bundock,  154,  155. 

Bunker  Hill  battle,  341. 

Burcham,  1.50,  151,  172,  214,  576,  580. 

Burchsted,  26,  311,  330,  342,  345,  375, 
576. 

Burden,  131,576,584. 

Bulge,  233,  576. 

Burges,  576. 

Burial  places.     See  Burying  Grounds. 

Burn,  576. 

Burnam  and  Burnhain,  579,  581. 

Burnell,  576. 

Burnett,  117,  575,  576. 

Burning  fluid,  accident  by,  447. 

Burrage,  226,  298.  576,  579. 

Burrill,  10,51.  (115  and  492  contain 
genealogies  of  the  Burrill  family.) 
116, 171, 173, 201, 202, 227,  263,  266, 
280,  282,  287, 290, 291,  292,  293,  297, 
319,  .325, 333, 334, 338, 345,  354,  358, 
379,  463,  465,  479,  485.  (489  to  494 
contain  biographical  notices  of  Hon. 
John  Burrill,  and  Hon.  Ebenezer, 
his  brother.)  494,  540,  576,  577,  578, 
579,  580,  581. 

Burroughs,  294,  301,  303. 

Burt,  151,  172,  175,  184,  191,  212,  576. 

Burton,  171,  239,  576. 

Burying  Groimds,  44, 170, 283, 299, 320, 
372,  389,  390.     See  Cemeteries. 

Butler,  446,  576,  583. 

Button,  49. 

Byfield,  104. 

Byles,  344. 

Byron,  554. 


Cabot,  28,  383. 
Calamy,  158. 
Caldwell,  421,  465, 


Calef,  296. 

Calico  ball,  455. 

Calico  printing,  403. 

California  emigration,  423. 

Calley,  588. 

Callum,  576. 

Calvin,  442. 

Camden,  l70. 

Cameron,  359. 

Campbell,  465,  588. 

Canker  worms,  252, 309,  326,  336,  394, 
473. 

Canonicus,  (Indian,)  33. 

Canterbury,  576. 

Capitein,  22.  n 

Carlisle,  448. 

Carman,  169,  576. 

Carnes,  351,  352,  363,  373,  374,  579, 
581. 

Carpenter,  465. 

Carter,  403. 

Case,  581. 

Caseiey,  576. 

Cass,  427. 

Castine,  289. 

Castle  Rock,  60.  75. 

Casualties.     See  Deaths. 

Caswell,  465. 

Catamount  killed  in  Lynn  woods,  335. 

Caterpillars,  220, 256, 281 ,  309, '328, 473. 

Catholic  Church,  456,  464,  585. 

Catholic  Neutrals,  330. 

Catlin,  423,  576. 

Cattle,  112, 131, 136, 144, 147,  179,  232, 
286,  298,  311,  325,  328. 

Cattle  Shows.  See  Agricultural  Exhi- 
bitions. 

Cauldron  Cliff,  60. 

Caulkins,  211,  576. 

Cave,  Dungeon.     See  Dungeon  Rock. 

Cave,  Swallows',  59,  75. 

Cave,  Wolf's,  66. 

Cavern,  Roaring,  60. 

Cedar  Pond,  70. 

Celebrations.     See  Independence. 

Celestial  and  atmospheric  phenomena, 
82,  257,  278,  313,  323,  327,  335,  336, 
338,  389, 390, 391, 396, 397,  400,  402, 
415,  426, 434, 446, 449, 457, 461,  462. 

Cemetery,  Pine  Grove,  Lynn,  conse- 
crated, 425.  First  bm-ial  in,  426. 
Conveyed  to  the  city,  438.  Soldiers' 
lot  in,  472. 

Cemetery,  Catholic,  consecrated,  454. 

Cemetery,  Lynnfield,  consecrated,  448. 

Cemetery,  Swampscot,  consecrated,439 

Chadwell,  119,  169,  171,  227,  228,  340, 
526,  538,  576,  579. 


598 


HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 


Chadwick,  584. 

Chamberlain,  579. 

Cliandler,  465,  581. 

Changes  of  weather,  extraordinary.  82, 

417,438,443,464. 
Channing,  553. 
Chapin,  589. 
Chapman,  154. 
CFiarters,  colonial,  280,  575. 
Chase,  323, 327, 330, 333, 370,  402, 416, 

465,  485,  500,  566,  581,  585,  587. 
Cheever,  86,  320,  325,  328,  344,  345, 

429,  471,  576,  578,  579,  588. 
Chesapeake  and  Shannon,  battle  of, 373. 
Chesnuts,  252. 
Chessman,  584. 
Chester,  417. 
Chicataubut,  (Indian,)  33. 
Chickering,  310. 
Child,  158,  211. 

Childs,  321, 360,  415,  416,  568, 585.  588. 
Chi  nine  worth,  576. 
Chilson,  208,  576. 
Chipman,  499. 
Choate,  420. 

Chocolate  manufacture,  360,  415. 
Cholera,  Asiatic,  423. 
Christmas,  observance  of.  forbidden  by 

law,  103,  251. 
Christmas-day,  warm,  358. 
Church,  (surname,)  184,  305,  587. 
Church,  formation  of  first  in  Lvnn,  139. 
Church  difficulties,  140,  148,  164,  354, 

387. 
Church  edifices.     See  Meeting  Houses. 
Church,  Protestant  Episcopal,  100  to 

110,381,402,404,460. 
Churches.     See  Religious  Societies. 
Churchill,  melancholy  death   of  Miss 

Sarah,  429. 
Churchman,  190,  191,  576. 
Chute.  448,  587. 

Cicily  Su-George,  (Indian,)  39, 41, 51, 54. 
Cilley,  465. 
City  form  of  government  adopted,  424. 

Clerks,  list  of;  580. 

Debt  at  different  periods,  586. 

Property  in  1864,  value  of,  586. 

Tax  and  rate  of  taxation  at  differ- 
ent periods,  586. 

Appropriation,  1864,  items,  586. 

Hall,  478,  591. 

,  Valuation  of  estates  in,  at  differ- 
ent periods,  586. 
City  Guards,  433,  465. 
Clam-bake,  political,  at  Swampscot,414. 
Clams,  136,  144,  297.  309. 
Clapp,  456,  582. 


Clark,  131, 185, 230, 231,  305,  431,  434, 

469,  576,  581,  583,  589. 
Clarrage,  465. 
Clay,  427,  434,  461. 
Clement,  465,  576. 
j  Clergymen.     See  Ministers. 
Clerks,  Town  and  City,  lists  of,  580. 
Town,  of  Lynnfield,  587. 

Town,  of  Nahant,  589. 

Town,  of  Saugus,  588. 

Town,  of  Swampscot,  589. 

of  the  Writs,  10,  214,  292,  580. 


Cleveland,  346.  351. 

Cleves,  160. 

Clifford,  299,  300,  575,  576. 

Climate,  80,  82. 

Clocks,  public,  586. 

Clough,  135. 

Coal,  anthracite,  earlv  use  of,  400. 

Coates,  226, 241, 261, 285, 417, 576,  579. 
I  Cobb,  403. 

'  Cobbet,  48,  49,  159,  169,  172,  209,  212, 
i     215,  224,  229,  235  to  242,  256,  257, 
260,  576,  582. 

Cod-fish,  80.     Great  fares  of,  448. 

Codman,  395. 

Coe,  465. 

Coftee,  introduction  of,  313. 

Coffin,  356,  396,  453,  479,  533,  534. 

Coggshall,  377. 

Coining.     See  Money. 

Cold,  204,  222,  298,  325,  344,  356,  380, 
386,  390, 397, 404, 407, 411,  442,  445, 
473. 

Coldam,  119,  143,  172,  173,  175,  292, 
576,  579. 

Cole,  190,  295,  576,  579,  584. 

Colesworthy,  151,  576. 

Collins,  11, '151, 154, 171, 185, 215, 219, 
240,  252,  253,  282,  291,  293,  298,  301, 
305, 312, 324, 325, 326,  328, 331,  336, 
344,  345,  467,  479.  (500  to  502  con- 
tain  a  biographical  notice  of  Micajah 
Collins,  the  Quaker  f)reacher.)  520, 
521,  525,  536,  576,  578,  579,  580. 
I  Colored  race,  22,  277.  See  Slaves. 
Slavery. 

Columbus,  28.  271. 

Colyer,  443. 

Come-outers,  408. 

Comets,  234,  255,  276,  372,  390,  402, 
411,  437,  451.  (454,  the  comet  of 
1858,  with  illustration.)  460.  (468, 
the  comet  of  1861,  with  illustration.) 

Committee  of  Safety,  Revolutionary, 
340. 

Common  Council,  Presidents  of,  581. 

Common,  Lynn,  306,  310,  422. 


INDEX. 


599 


Communion  ])lMte  of  First  Church,  354. 

Coiiaut,  56,  ]41,  187. 

Concrete  or  gravel  houses,  440. 

Condit,  587. 

Conflict  between  church  and  civil  au- 
thorities, 253. 

Congress  boot,  417. 

Conner,  430,  431,  465. 

Consumption,  81,  428. 

Continental  money,  343. 

Conventions,  Constitutional,  members 
of,  581. 

Cooke,  402,  407,  408,  420,  448,  475  to 
477,  582,  589. 

Coolidge,  405. 

Cooper,  151,  171,  172,  194,  195,  216, 
576. 

Copley,  205. 

Copp,'371,  425. 

Corey,  294. 

Corn,  132,  169. 

Corwin  or  Curwln,  200,  228,  289. 

Costume.     See  Dress. 

Cotton,  (surname,)  169,  234. 

Counsellors  and  Assistants,  names  of, 
577. 

Courts,  12, 134, 146, 164,  165,  169,  250, 
253,  256,  322,  335,  423,  582. 

Courtship,  37,  163,  186,  222.  225,  280. 

Cove,  Dorothy's,  291. 

Covel,  583. 

Covenant,  Half-way,  166. 

Coveijant  of  First  Church  of  Lynn,  165. 

Cowdry,  113,  171,214,  576. 

Cowper,  214,  216,  576. 

Cox,  439,  576,  582. 

Cove,  583. 

Crafts,  173,  256. 

Crandall,  131,  230,  231,  583. 

Cranston,  576. 

Crimes.     See  Punishments. 

Croft,  173,  576. 

Cromwell,  156,  229,  234. 

Cross,  172,  576. 

Crow,  358. 

Crowell,  583,  584. 

Crowninscheldt,  71,  72,  299,  300,  576. 

Cryon,  465. 

Currel,  366. 

Currency.     See  Money. 

Curtin,  342,  479,  514.  '  (528  to  532  con- 
tain a  notice  of  Enoch  Curtin.) 

Curtis,  320,  415,  465. 

Curwin  or  Corwin,  200,  228,  289. 

Cushing,  390,  579,  583,  589. 

Cnshman,  121,  364,  584. 

Customs.    See  Manners  and  Customs. 

Cutler,  534, 


Daffin,  290,  297. 

Daguerreotype  picture,  first  taken  in 
Lynn,  409. 

Dagyr,  90,  328. 

Dalton,  160,  164,  466. 

Dancing,  232,  260,  359,  416. 

Dane,  576. 

Danforth,  111.  178,  274,  275,  296,  434, 
579,  587,  592. 

Daniels,  190,  576. 

Dark  days,  310,  343. 

Darling,* 208,  299,  576. 

Dashing  Rock,  61. 

D'Auley,  217. 

Davenport,  98,  129,  176,  466. 

David,  (Indian,)  39,  41,  51,  54. 

Davis,  122, 151, 152, 172,  173,  181,  192, 
200, 276,  282, 384, 430, 433,  436,  453, 
466,  472,  575,  576,  579,  581. 

Davison,  233. 

Dawes,  224,  576. 

Day,  584,  589. 

Deacon,  253,  172,  258,  576. 

Deaths,  accidental  and  singular.  111, 
124, 153, 203, 262, 277, 321,  323,  324, 
326, 329, 331 ,  332, 334, 335,  336,  347, 
351, 357, 358, 362, 364, 366,  367,  371, 
377, 380, 381, 388, 391, 394,  395,  403, 
405, 406, 414, 415,  418,  421,  423,  426, 
429, 430, 432, 434, 436, 437,  438,  439, 
443, 445, 446, 447, 449, 450,  451,  452, 
453, 454, 456, 457, 460, 467,  469,  472, 
474,  478. 

Debt,  City,  at  different  periods,  586. 

Deed,  Indian,  of  Lynn,  49,  282. 

Deer,  311,  325,  337. 

Degen,  583. 

Delavan,  581. 

Denier,  461. 

Dennison,  261,  583. 

Dent,  576. 

Derby,  497,  499. 

Derick,  294,  295,  576. 

Desborough,  576. 

Devereaux,  342. 

DeWitt,  190. 

Dexter,  40,  95,  119,  125,  131,  137,  138, 
140, 142, 169, 172, 196, 204,  205,  213, 
219, 221, 224, 240, 241, 242,  267,  318, 
319, 346, 576. 

Dickerson,  298. 

Dillingham,  120,  169,  576. 

Diman,  576.  > 

Dimond,  374. 
I  Dinah,  (slave,)  344. 

Dinan,  188,  192. 
I  Dingley,  576. 


600 


HISTORY    OF   LYNN. 


Disaster  at  Lynnfield  Pond,  426. 

Disasters  of  the  Sea.     See  Shipwrecks. 

Discoveries  and  Voyages,  early,  25. 

Diseases.     See  Sickness. 

Dispaw,  .576. 

Diven,  135,  576. 

Division  of  lands,  171,2.52,  306. 

Dixey,  112,  113,242,576. 

Dixon,  389. 

Dizer,  588. 

Doctors.     See  Physicians. 

Dogs,  number  of,  licensed  in  1864,  586. 

Dolan,  445. 

Dole,  576. 

Domestic  animals.    See  Cattle.    Sheep. 

Donellv,  466. 

Doolittle,  ]22, 123,  576. 

Dorothy's  Cove,  291. 

Dorrel,*31. 

Double  Tides,  remarkable,  150,  410. 

Dougherty,  466 

Douglas,  576. 

Dow,  471. 

Downer,  465. 

Downing,  137,  179,  207,  210,  223,  224, 

259,  3] 7,  424,  479.    (519  contains  a 

notice  of  Elijah  Downing.)    576,  581. 
Drake,  264,  579. 
Draper,  451,  456. 

Dread  Ledge  Beacons,  395,  397,  477. 
Dress,  87,  90,  182,  231,  233,  348,  430. 
Drew,  539,  589. 
Driver,  119, 172, 191, 263, 282, 291, 576, 

584. 
Droughts,  182,  212,  277,  282,  298,  306, 

328, 347, 351, 362, 416, 439,  445,  447, 

460, 477. 
Drownings.     See  Deaths. 
Drumer,  576. 
Drunkenness,  135,  140,  204,211,212, 

217. 
Dudley,  36,  42,  45,  109,  114,  117,  203, 

215,  305,  465,  575. 
Dugall,  576. 
Dugglers,  576. 
Dummer,  191,  575. 
Dunbar,  583. 
Dungeon  Rock,  243  to  250,  401,  430, 

445,  471. 
Dunham,  584. 
Dunn,  579. 
Dunnell,  579 
Dunton,  156 
Durant,  401. 
Dwellings,  construction  and  fashion  of, 

114,  132,  440,  590. 
Dwight,  589. 
Dyer,  362,  576. 


E. 

Eagles,  432,  442,  446. 

Early  Settlers  of  Lvnn,  notices  of,  1 1 1, 

1 14, 150,  173,  183,  225.     List  of  Sur- 
names of,  576. 
Earthquakes,  117,  182,  209,  243,  2.52, 

321, 323, 324, 326, 330, 331,  333,  34,5. 

361, 367, 371, 377, 380, 396,  403,  416. 

436,  462. 
Easterly  winds,  425.     See  Winds. 
Eastman,  460,  589. 
Eaton,  229,  241,576. 
Eclipses,  255,  260,  367,  456. 
Editors  of  Lvnn  newspapers.  582. 
Edmunds,  120,  172,  282,  285,  576. 
Education,  283.     See  Schools. 
Edward,  (Indian,)  203. 
Edwards,  466,  576. 
Egg,  576. 

Egg  Rock,  61,  75,  448,  462. 
Effg  Rock  Light,  448,  450. 
Eider,  465. 

Elderkin,  143,  172,  174,  175,  576. 
Eldred,  444. 

Electric  Telegraph,  418,  444,  454. 
Elephant,  first  exhibited  in  Lynn,  362 
Eliot,  40,  181,  242,  260,  427. 
Elkins,  299,  576. 
Ellis,  223,  460,  576,  584. 
Elwell,  184,  576. 
Embargo,  368,  371. 
Embedded  Trees,  77,  40 
Emerson,  86,  330.  403,  581,  587,  588 

589. 
Emerton,  465,  570. 
Emery,  477. 
Emesj  588. 
Endicott,  31,  32,  49,  95,  112,  137,  138 

149,  191,  205,  210,  211,  229,  575. 
Engines.     See  Fire  Engines. 
Enlistments,  465,  467. 
Entertainment  of  dignitaries,  210. 
Episcopal  Church.     See  Church. 

Epitaphs  : 

Burchsted,  Dr.  John  Henrv,  226. 
Burrill,  Hon.  John,  491. 
Clifford,  John,  299. 
Cobbet,  Rev.  Thomas,  236. 
Henchman,  Rev.  Nathaniel,  333. 
Shepard,  Rev.  Jeremiah,  318. 
Stocker,  Mrs.  Harriet  N.,  426. 
Townsend,  Daniel,  339. 
Whiting,  Rev.  Samuel,  272. 

Eric,  26. 

Errington,  576. 

Essex,  (slave,)  344. 

Estes,  185,  305,  439,  466,  485,  576. 


INDEX. 


GOl 


Ether,  singular  death  by,  443. 
Eiistis,  575. 
Evelyn,  260. 
Everett,  575. 
Ewington,  576. 
Exchange  Building,  41 
Execution  of  Hugh  Peters,  149. 
Explosion  of  steam  cylinder,  470. 

F. 

Factory,  Oak  street,  (Breed's,)  411. 

Fairfield,  152,  190,  191,  192,  200,  576. 

Fairne,  342.     See  Fern. 

Fairs,  Ladies',  404,  422,  469. 

Fales,  358,  465. 

Fall  of  a  house,  440. 

Farley,  443. 

Farmer,  158. 

Farm  house,  old,  at  Swampscot,  202. 

Farming,  44,  140,  169. 

Farm  produce,  })rices  of,  at  different 
periods.     See  Prices. 

Farnel,  263,  576. 

Earns  worth,  576. 

Farr,  120,  172,  242,  280,  576. 

Farrar,  185,  186,  292,  293,  294,  295, 
298,  306,  484,  485,  576. 

Farrington,  51,  153,  171,  186,  190,  193, 
194, 235, 263, 282, 292,  293,  342,  355, 
365, 486, 492,  576,  579. 

F'ashions.     See  Dress. 

Fasts,  164, 169,  255,  256,  260,  281,  309. 
322,  423,  464,  469. 

Fay,  71,579,  592. 

Feake,  120,  159,  576. 

Felt,  233,  313,  321,  340,  576,  579. 

Felton,  86,  576. 

Female  education,  363. 

Fenno,  457,  474. 

Feme,  185,  576.     See  Fairue. 

Fernside,  576. 

Ferry,  ancient,  94,  98,  183. 

Fidler,  362. 

Field,  583. 

Fight,  prize,  in  Lynn,  436. 

Fillmore,  427,  583. 

Financial  embarrassments  in  1857,  452. 

Finncgan,  362. 

Fire  Department,  402,  463. 

Fire  Engines,  235. 359, 451, 461, 477, 586 

Fire-flies,  80. 

Fires,  121,  130, 196, 223,  324,  325,  329, 
365, 368, 370, 386, 400,  402,  403,  407, 
410,  412,  414, 415,  416,  418.  42],  423, 
424, 425, 428, 429, 430, 431,  432,  437, 
439, 443,  444. 446,  450, 452,  456,  457, 
458, 460, 462;  464, 467, 469,  470,  471, 
472,473,477,478. 

¥2 


First  Church  Covenant,  165. 

First  interment  in  Old  Burying  Ground, 

171.     In  Pine  Grove  Cemetery,  426. 
First  newspaper  printed  in  Lvnn,  512. 
First  Seulers.     See  Early  Settlers. 
First  white  person  born  here,  126,  482. 
Fish,  (surname,)  576,  589. 
Fish,  (of  the  sea,)  80,  141,  144,  219, 

395,  433,  439, 450, 451, 452,  461,  462. 

Great  fares  of,  443,  448,  463,  473, 

478. 
Fisher,  310. 
Fiske,  473,  576. 

Fitch,  111,  120,  172,  190,  214,  576. 
Fitzpatrick,  445,  454,  467. 
Flag,  colonial,  149,  280,  347. 
Flagg,  345,  358,  372,  379,  497. 
Flanders,  466. 
Flannel,    manufacture   of,   at  Saugus, 

395,  405. 
Flax,  132. 

Flax  Pond,  132,  143. 
Flint,  257,  265,  335,  339,  576,  580,  581. 
Flood,  191,  576.     See  Floyd. 
Flora,  (slave,)  391,  392. 
Florence,  579,  580. 
Floyd,  153,  171,  576.     See  Flood. 
i  Flushing,  L.  L,   settled,   in    1640,  by 

Lynn  people,  196. 
Flynn,  464. 
Foley,  205,  235. 
Foliage,  autumn,  82. 
Foote,  427. 

Foot-prints  in  rock,  69. 
Foot  races,  443,  448,  452,  456. 
Forbes,  351,  456. 
Forret,  192. 

Fortune  teller,  (Moll  Pitcher,)  374. 
Foss,  465. 
Foster,  153,  171,  207,  417,  426,  465, 

466,  576. 
Fott,  576. 

Fowle,  158,  358,  484. 
Fox,  162,  303. 
Foxcroft,  465. 
Foxes,  299,  319,  329,  445. 
Foye,  465. 

Fraile,  153,  172,  576. 
Franklin,  413. 
Eraser,  465. 
Free  Church,  432,  585. 
Freeman,  (surname,)  153,  169,  576. 
Freeman,  (qualified  resident.)  158. 
Freemasons,  367,  390,  394,  401,  414. 
French,  439. 

Friction  Matches  come  into  use,  400. 
Friends.     See  Quakers. 
Frost,  (surname,)  235,  457,  583,  587. 


602 


HISTORY    OF   LYNN. 


Frosted  Trees,  39Q,  445,  508. 

Frosts,  327,  358,  379,  402,  404,  456. 

Frothingham,  366,  588. 

Fruit,  large  crops  of,  396,  463,  472. 

Fugitive  slave  law  of  1850,  426. 

Fuller,  22,  153,  186,  252,  256,  262,  287, 
292, 359,  362,  418,  450,  479.  (505  to 
511  contain  a  biographical  notice  of 
Maria  Augusta  Fuller.)  530,  576, 
578,  580,  581,  585. 

Fulton,  576. 

Funerals,  customs  at,  103,  236,  276. 

Funerals  of  deceased  soldiers,  471. 

Furbush,  430. 

Furnace,  great  and  little,  66. 


Gage,  316,  338,  575. 

Gaines,  172,  190,  576. 

Gale,  (surname,)  433,  447. 

Gales.  See  Winds.  Storms.  Tem- 
pests. 

Galucia,  579. 

Gannett,  587,  589. 

Garder,  184.  263,  57o. 

Gardner,  306,  308,  358,  391,  397,  498, 
575,  581. 

Garments,  fashions  of     See  Dress. 

Gas,  illuminating,  436,  438,  463. 

Gaskins,  345. 

Gates,  435,  436,  514. 

Gaunt,  576. 

Gear  and  Geere,  153,  576,  582,  583. 

Gedney,  157. 

Genealogies  : 
Bassett,  185. 
Burrill,  115,  492 
Hart,  227. 
Lewis,  181 

Newhall,  tracing  the  lineage  of  four- 
teen of  the  lieads  of  families  of 
■  the  name,  now  among  us,  up  to 
Thomas,    the   first    individual    of 
European    parentage,    born   here, 
483  to  488. 
Witt,  190. 
General  Court,  134,  146,  164.  165,  169, 

250,  256,  322,  335,  578. 
Geology  of  Lynn,  72,  408. 
George,  172,  576,  .583. 
George  Rumnev  Marsh  alias    George 
No-Nose,  (Indian,)  38,  39,  41,  42,  51, 
131,  182,  203,  232,  241,  242. 
Gerrv,  343,  350,  575,  576. 
Gettings,  236. 
Gibbons,  36,  180. 
Gibson,  546,  576. 


Gifford,  91,  207,  226,  229,  230,  233. 

235,  259,  276,  576. 
Gift,  (slave,)  344. 
Gilbert,  466. 
Giles,  576. 
Gill,  580. 

Gillow,  179,  186,  576 
Gillowav,  576. 
Gingle,  576. 

Girls,  lost,  141,  203.     See  Deaths. 
Glover,  136. 
Goats,  196,  232. 
Goddard,  576. 
Godson,  172,175,576, 
GofF,  310. 
Goldthwaite,  421. 
Golt,  282,  576. 
Goodale,  576. 
Goodridffe,  465. 
Gookin,33,  40,  47. 
Gool,  576. 
Goie,  352,  369,  575. 
Gorges,  30,  31,  32,  34,  180,  198. 
Gosnold,  28,  29,  40. 
Goss,  584. 
Gott,  576. 

Gould,  186.  226,  250,  251,  345,  576. 
Gove,  438,  486. 

Governors  of  Massachusetts,  list  of,  575 
Gowdev,  381. 
Gowing  or  Gowau,  227,  298,  330,  331 

450,  576. 
Graham,  169. 
Granite,  73. 

Grasshoppers,  62,  256,  328. 
Gravel  houses,  440. 
Graves,  113,  120,  226,  263,  282,  576, 

584. 
Gravesend.  origin  of  name,  121. 
Gravesend,  L.  L,  settled  in  1640,  by 

Lynn  people,  196. 
Gravestone,  oldest  in  Lvnn,  299. 
Gray,  309,  312,  328,  362,  369.    (419 

and  '20  contain  a  notice  of  George 

Gray  the  Lynn  hermit.)    479.    (496 

to  500  contain  a  biographical  sketch 

of  William  Grav,  the  eminent  mer 

chant.)     576,579,582. 
Green  and  Greene,  229,  389,  391,  417, 

576,  582,  587. 
Greenhill,  205.  235. 
Greenland,  306,  308,  576. 
Greenwood,  576. 
Griffin,  185,  466,  475,  576. 
G)-otto,  Irene's,  60. 
Grotto,  Mai-y's,  66. 
Grout,  434. 
Grover,  417,  466. 


INDEX. 


603 


Grunnill,  576. 

Giiirey,  361. 

Guns  not  to  be  used  by,  or  sold  to,  the 

Indians,  135,  140. 
Gurney,  443. 
Gustin,  576. 

H. 

Haberfield,  292,  293,  576. 

Hacker,  185,  576. 

Hackett,  576. 

Haddock,  80,  450. 

Hadley,  339,  580. 

Hail,  278,  259,  441,  461. 

Hair,  lon^,  224,  238,  328.     See  Beard. 

Hale,  296,  576. 

Half-way  Covenant,  166. 

Hall,  120,  121,  256,  362.  576,  588. 

Hallam,  584 

Hallett,  181. 

Hallowell,327,341,580.   See Holloway. 

Halsall,  576. 

Halsey,  172,  174,  194,  214,  216,  576. 

Hammond,  171,  576,  592. 

Hampton,  N.  H.,  settled  in  1638,  by 

Lynn  people,  179. 
Hanaford,  583. 
Hancock,  345,  350,  575. 
Handforth,  153,  172,  278,  576. 
Hannibal,  (slave,)  344,  345. 
Hanson,  471,  546. 

Hardier,  155,  172,  193,  194,  242,  576. 
Hard  man,  576. 
Harker,  576. 
Harlow,  576. 
Harndale,  576. 
Hariiden,  466. 
Harris,  107,  247,  248,  300,  383,  402, 

465,  466,  580,  584,  588. 
Harrison,  408. 
Harsev,  52, 
Hart,  55,  188,  189,  226.     (227  contains 

a  ^enealogry  of  tlie  Hart  family.)   263, 

292,  294,  295,  576,  579,  580. 
Hartwell,  377. 
Hascall,  583. 
Hasel,  231. 
Hasey,  306,  308. 
Haskell,  190,  447,  576. 
Haskins,  576. 
Hatch,  589. 
Hathaway,  123. 
Hathorne.  124,  176,  186,  196,  233,  240, 

252,  253,  258,  261,  265,  282,  576. 
Haven,  186,  211,  292,  482,  576. 
Hawkes,  95,  121,  172,  219,  230,  233, 

240,  251,  282,  292,  324,  345,  473, 

576,  581,  588. 


Hawkins,  151,  313,  576. 

Hawlev,  475. 

Hay,  440,  576. 

Haynes,  575,  576 

Hayward,  266. 

Hazen,  332. 

Hazeltine,  403. 

Healey,  576. 

Hedding,  583. 

Hedge,  242,  576. 

Hempstead,  (surname,)  584. 

Hempstead,  L.  I.,  settled  in  1640,  by 

Lynn  people,  196. 
Henchmaji,   318,  322,  326,  327,  329, 

332,  333,  474,  477,  580,  582. 
Hendley,  448. 
Henshaw^,  582 
Hentz,  275. 
Hepburn,  417. 
Herbert,  434. 

Hermit  of  Lynn  —  George  Gray,  419. 
Herrick,  584. 

Hewes,  212,  213,  576,  579,  581,  587 
Hickocke,  205. 

Higginson,  34,  38,  51,  239,  265. 
High,  583. 

High  Rock,  68,  72,  403,  417,  421. 
High  School,  428.     List  of  Principals, 

581. 
Highway  Robbery,  379.   See  Robberies. 
Hill  and  Hills,  (surnames,)  185,  452, 

465,  576,  579,  580,  587. 
Hill,  Lindsey's,  125. 
Hill,  Pine,  69. 
Hill.  Sagamore,  69. 
Hili;  Windmill,  127. 
Hildreth,  368,  414,  581. 
Hiller,  466. 
Hilliard,  576. 
Hinckley,  584. 
Hinds,  583,  587 
Hinks,  465,  468. 
Hinkson,  576, 
Hitchings,  Hitchens,  263, 282,  356,  380, 

576,  580,  581,  588. 
Hithersay,  211. 
Hixon,  4*65. 
Hobart,  274. 
Hobby,  327,  333 
Hodgkins,  261,  469. 
Hodgman,  448,  587. 
Hog,  large,  414. 
Hogan,  395. 
Holbrook,  536. 
Holcraft,  91. 
Holder,  462,  581. 
Holham,  576. 
.Holloway,  186,  576.    See  Hallowell. 


604 


HISTORY    OF   LYNN. 


Holinan,  588. 

Holmes,  106,  131,  230,  231,  426. 

Hols  worth,  576. 

Holyoke,  (surname,)  121  to   125,  128, 

171,  242,  576,  578. 
Holyoke,  Mount,  origin  of  name,  123. 
Holyoke  Spring,  70,  12]. 
Homicides  in  Lynn,  430,  437,  472. 
Hood,  53,  ]84,  185,  186,  200,  292,  294, 

298, 305, 312, 335, 362, 424,  425,  426, 

429,  433,  445,  479,  484.    (542  to  544 

contain  a  biographical  notice  of  Geo. 

Hood,  the  first  Mayor  of  Lynn.)   576, 

581,  585. 
Hooke,  196. 
Hooker,  224. 
Hooper,  201. 
Hopkins,  140. 

Horse-mackerel,  444,  447,  457. 
Horse  Rail-roads,  463,  467,  473. 
Horse  Trot  in  1816,  in  Lynn,  379. 
Hort,  576. 
Horton,  583. 
Hot  Weather,  169,  319,  321.  328,  371, 

379,  381,  390,  413,  415,  447,  477. 
Hotel,    Nahaut,    built,   382.      Eastern 

wing  blown  down,  438.    Description 

of,  469.     Destroyed  by  fire,  469. 
Hotels   built.       Lynn,    365.      Mineral 

Spring,  371.      Sagamore,  439. 
Hotels.     See  Taverns. 
Houghton,  576. 
Houses,   construction   and  fashion  of, 

114,  132,  440,  590. 
Howard,  187,  357,  576,  580. 
Howe,  124, 125, 135, 143,  J  67, 169,  171, 

172, 175, 177, 178, 190, 192,  193,  194, 

576,  578,  579,  584. 

Howell,  143,  157,  171,  194,  195,214, 

223,  576. 
Hoyt,  465. 
Hubbard,  101,  125,  190,  214,  216,  259, 

292,  316,  473,  576,  581. 
Hudson,  125,  152,  157,  172,  191,  192, 

205, 208, 218, 292, 307,  434,  465,  576, 

580. 
Huffhes,  212. 
Hull,  122,  256. 
Humfrey,  56,  114,  141,  147,  149,  152, 

165, 168, 169, 179, 180, 187,  191,  192, 

196  to  201,  241,  242,  285,  291,  576, 

577,  579. 
Hunnewell,  466. 
Hunt,  580. 

Hunting  in  Lynn  woods,  in  1855,  445. 
Hurd,  374,  379,  576,  582. 
Hussey,  125,  139,  160,  162,  179.  239, 
351,  390,  482,  576. 


Husted,  583. 

Hutchins,  120,  293,  576. 

Hutchinson,  138,  151,  164,  169,  172 
178, 183,  214, 218, 228, 251,  255,  334 
340, 361, 417, 437, 455, 489,  490,  491 
575, 576,  579. 

Hydrophobia,  distressing  death  by,  467 

1. 

Ice  business,  443,  474. 

Ice  in  July,  326. 

Impressions  of  feet  in  rock,  6  . 

Impressment  of  soldiers,  263,  291,  326. 
331. 

Independence,  celebrations  of,  366, 368, 
371,  391,  403,  421,  451,  456. 

India  Rubber  Overshoes  introduced. 
386. 

Indian  Deed  of  Lynn,  49,  282. 

Indian  Skeleton  found,  388. 

Indian  Summer,  82,  440. 

Indian  Wars,  167,  262.     See  Wars. 

Indians,  17  to  21,  32  to  49,  135  to  141, 
167,  178.  203,  209,  252,  262  to  265, 
288,  321,  412,  423,  462.  (And  foi 
sketches  of  several  of  the  more  prom 
inent  Indians  who  resided  in  this  vi- 
cinity, see   Biographical    Sketches.) 

Iiigalls,  111,  112,^171,  191,  200,  223, 
240,  331,  351,  425,  450,  465,  466, 
576,  580,  589. 

Ingerson,  577. 

Inns.     See  Taverns 

Inoculation  for  small-pox,  342. 

Inscriptions.     See  Epitaphs. 

Insects,  destructive.  See  Caterpillars. 
Canker  Worms. 

Installations.     See  Ordinations. 

Institutions  for  savings,  390,  445,  585. 

Instruction.    See  Education.    Schools. 

Instructions  to  John  Carnes,  Repre- 
sentative, in  1786,  352. 

Insurance  Companies,  391,  398,  433. 

Intoxication.     See  Drunkenness. 

Inventions,  mechanical,  220,  236,  389. 

Irene's  Grotto,  60. 

Ireson,  172,  187,  241,  528,  577,  580. 

L-on  Works  on  Saugus  river,  first  in 
the  country,  69,  97,  204,  211,  212, 
213,  217  to"  224,  230,  233,  234,  235, 
251,  259,  266,  280. 

Iron  Castings,  first  in  the  country,  208. 

Iron  Mine  Ledge,  61,  213,  292. 

L-on  Factory,  Oak  st.  (T.  N.  Breed's,', 

4n. 

Iron-workers,  206,  207,  208,  229,  411. 

Iverts,  577. 

Ivory,  172,  173,  226,  227,  577, 


INDEX. 


605 


J. 

Jackson,  372,  373,  399,  400,  414,  453, 

500,  538,  587,  588. 
Jacob  and  Jacobs,  307,  372,  519,  577, 

580. 
Jamaica,  L.  L,  settled  in  1640,  by  Lynn 

people,  196. 
James,  (surname,)  329,  580. 
James,  (Indian,)  34,  36,  38,  40,  41,  42, 

112,131,146,264,282. 
Janes,  366,  443,  583,  589. 
Jai-vis,  580. 
Jay,  349. 
Jayne,  583. 
.FefFerds,  577 
Jefferson,  35 
Jeffrey,  322. 
Jeffries,  427. 
Jenkins,  182,  305,  577. 
Jenks,  208,  220, 231, 233,  234, 23r  ^51, 

252,  256,  257,  260,  577. 
Jennings,  118. 
Jennison,  587. 
Jewell,  584. 

Jewett,  211,  236,  439,  571,  577. 
Jillson,  446. 

Jocelyn,  577.     See  Josselyn. 
John,  ^Indian,)  36.  38,  131,  146. 
John's  Peril,  61. 
Johnson,  51, 112, 127, 132, 154, 162, 172, 

198, 200, 204, 232, 252, 282,  291,  292, 

293, 297, 312, 342, 344, 362,  365,  367, 

447, 452, 465, 466, 485, 533,  577,  578, 

579, 580,  581,  584,  585, 589. 
Jones,  224,  465,  485,  577,  580,  589. 
Jortin,  403. 
Josselyn,  29, 42, 196, 255, 382, 423,  442, 

582,  589.     See  Jocelyn. 
Joy,  408. 
Joyce,  577. 
Justices  of  the  Peace,  first  in  Lynn, 

under  the  Constitution,  345. 

K. 
Keayne,  121,  158,  178,  183,  214,  215, 

216,  240,  577. 
Keene,  465. 

Keith,  109,  300,  301,  302,  303,  465. 
Kelley,  465,  466,  583. 
Kendall,  577. 
Kent,  583. 
Kertland,  88,  154,  155,  172,  192,  193, 

194,  226,  256,  266,  282,  577. 
Keyser,  121,  122,  125,  143,  187,  241, 

577. 
Kibbey,  372,  583. 
Kiching,  211. 
Kidder,  421. 

Y2* 


Kieft,  192. 

Kilburn,  583. 

Kimball,  417,  465,  466,  582. 

King,  51,  52,  53,  126,  130,  200,  204, 

220,   221,  222,  228,  257,  266,  275, 

287,  291,  292,  577. 
Kingsbury,  450. 
Kirbv,  577. 
Kirk,  226. 
Kirman,  577. 
Kleezkowska,  474, 
Kneeland,  577. 
Knight,  171,  190,  222,  251,  296,577, 

584. 
Knott,  169,  577. 
Knowlton,  450,  584. 
Kossuth,  433. 
Kunkshamooshaw,  (Indian,)  40,  51,  54, 

282. 


Labor,  prices  of,  at  different  periods. 

See  Prices. 
Laborda,  466. 
Ladies'  Dress.     See  Dress. 
Ladies'  Fairs,  404,  422,  469. 
Lafayette,  Gen.,  his  visits  to  Lynn,  351, 

388. 
Laighton,  155,  171,  214,  215,  236,  241, 

256,  266,  267,  287,  577,  578,  580. 
Lake,  466. 

Lambert,  190,  223,  465  577. 
Lamberton,  129 
Lambord,  583. 
Lamphier,  423. 
Lamson,  581. 

Land,  ancient  mode  of  conveying,  258. 
Landing,  Ballard's,  98. 
Landing,  Needham's,  98. 
Lands,  division  of,  171,  252,  306.      -- 
Lane,  577. 
Langlev,  176,  577. 
Larkin,*321,415. 
Larrabee,  339,  357,  577,  580. 
Lathrop,  154,  577. 
Laud,  102. 
Lauriat,  403,  411. 
Lawrence,  330,  373,  382, 383,  384,  385, 

588. 
Lawsuits.  196,  203,  221,  234,  241,  251, 

252, 258, 259, 260, 266, 267,  297,  368. 
Lawyers,  370,  372,  409,  435,  585. 
Lay,*  577. 
Leader,  206,  213,  220,  222,  224,  229, 

577. 
Le  Beau,  117. 
Leap  from  High  Rock,  403. 
Leap,  Lover's,  69,  72,  403,  550. 


606 


HISTORY    OF   LYNN. 


Leavitt,  31. 

Lechford,  32,  ]04. 

Lee,  354,  362,  577. 

Legg,  242,  577. 

Legislature.     See  General  Court. 

Leif,  26. 

Lentljall,  3L 

Leonard,  206,  207,  230,  259,  577. 

Letter  of  Rev.  Mr.  Whiting  to  Increase 

Matlier,  265. 
Letter  of  Rev.  Messrs.  Whiting  and 

Cobbet  to  Cromwell,  229. 
Letters  of  Ebenezer  Breed,  embodying 
information  respectiaig  the  shoe  trade 
of  Lynn,  soon  after  the  Revolution, 
523  to  526. 
Leverett,  158,  261,  575. 
Lewis,  11, 13,  20,  23,  24,  28,  43,  49,  54, 
62,  67,  68,  72,  79,  84,  91,  96,  101,  108, 
116, 120, 125,  126,  128, 129,  133,  147, 
151, 154, 155, 156, 158, 163,  166,  167, 
169, 170, 173, 180, 181, 182,  184,  195, 
199, 200, 201, 204, 205, 206,  209,  215. 
225, 227, 228, 235, 238,  243,  244,  245, 
246, 266, 267,  275, 279,  280,  283,  287, 
289, 292, 293, 294, 299, 300.  313,  316, 
317,  318, 321, 324,  325, 330,  333,  342, 
343, 344, 352,355, 363, 368,  371,  381, 
382, 390, 393, 395,  404.  405,  408,  412, 
421, 452, 461,  470, 478,  479,  481,  482, 
489, 490,  505, 512, 514, 528,  529,  541, 
544.    (544  to  565  contain  a  biograph- 
ical sketch  of  Alonzo  Lewis,  the  his- 
torian.    And  on  page  181   may  be 
found  his  genealogy.)   566,  577,580, 
581,  582,  590. 
Lexington,  battle  of,  338. 
Libraries,  381,  387,  443,  458,  471,  517. 
Lightfoot,  155,  172,  203,  215,  577. 
Light  Houses,  61,  429,  448,  450,  461, 

556. 
Light  Infantry,  Lvnn,  372,  389,  416, 

437,  465.     See  Military. 
Lightning,  69,  256,  259,' 322,  326,  329, 
331, 351, 361, 364. 367, 368,  370,  395, 
397, 401, 403,  407,  415,  421,  425,  431, 
437,438,447,453,461,471. 
Lilley,  184,  577. 
Lincoln,  434,  462,  463,  464,  511,  575, 

584. 
Lindsey,  125,241,263,  282,  325,  331, 

345,  577,  579,  580. 
Lindsey's  Hill,  125. 
Linen,  manufacture  of,  in  Lynn,  321, 

378,  379. 
Linnaeus,  91,  560. 
Lislet,  22. 
Little,  538. 


Loan  and  Fund  Associations,  441. 

Lobster  Rocks,  62,  392. 

Lobsters,  80,  144,  371. 

Locke,  263,  282,  265,  577 

Lockier,  109. 

Lockjaw,  4Ji9,  451. 

Log  Cabins,  408. 

Long,  247,  248. 

Longevity.    See  Aged  Persons. 

Longfellow,  85. 

Long  Island,  N.  Y.,  settlement  of  Lynn 
people  on,  in  1640,  192. 

Lonsley.  155,  172,  175,  176,  215,  236, 
252,  253,  577,  580. 

Look,  577. 

Loid,  239,  253,  255. 

Lord's  day,  110.    See  Sabbath, 

Loring,  581. 

Loudon,  331. 

Lougee,  465. 

Lovell,  226.  577. 

Lovejoy,  570,  581,  583. 

Lover's  Leap,  69,  72,  403,  550. 

Lumber,  amount  of,  landed  in  Lynn, 
in  1858,  454. 

Lummis,  581. 

Lummus,  387,  390,  396,  479,  502. 
(511  to  519  contain  a  biographical 
sketch  of  Charles  F.  Lummus,  tlie 
first  printer  established  in  L}*iin.) 
527,533,541,569,581,582. 

Luscomb.     See  Lyscom. 

Lyceum  and  Lyceum  Hall,  392,  408, 
*428. 

Lye,  227,  577,  580. 

Lyell,  583. 

LYNN: 

Indian  Deed  of,  49. 

General  Description  —  Topography, 

Phenomena,  Natural  History,  56. 
First  settlement  of.  111. 
Incorporation  of,  134. 
Description  of,   in  1633,  by  Wood, 

143 ;  and  in  1651,  by  Johnson,  232. 
Receives  its  present  name,  169 ;  the 

orthography    and    origin    of   the 

name,  170. 
Lands  divided,  170,  306. 
Surnames  of  all  the  early  residents 

of,  576. 
First  Directory  of,  published,  517. 
City  form  of  government  adopted, 

424. 
Population  of,  at  different  periods, 

585. 
(And  see  Tables  beginning  on  page 

576.) 


INDEX. 


607 


Lyiin  Mutual  Fire  lusuj-aiice  Compa- 
ny formed,  391. 
Lynn  Village,  182,  196,  212. 

LYNNFIELD: 

Territory  forming,  granted  to  Lynn, 

176. 
Made  a  District,  or  Parish,  309. 
Incorporated  as  a  Town,  377. 
Forest   Hill    Cemetery  consecrated, 

448. 
Lists   of  Representatives,  Postmas- 
ters, Town  Clerks,  Religious  So- 
cieties, and  Ministers,  587. 
Ajid  see  pages,  76,   149,  183,  306, 
310, 318, 323,  324, 330, 332,  334,  342, 
345, 352, 362, 379, 380, 387,  388,  403, 
404,  407,  409,  410, 421,  425,  426,  436, 
440,  441, 447, 452,  458,  461,  463,  469, 
470.     See  also  Deaths.     Lightnidig. 
Fires.     Storms. 
Lynnmere,  71. 

Lyscom,  Luscomb,  226,  449,  454,  466, 
577. 

M. 

Mackalum,  577. 

Mackerel,  80,  144,  439,  478. 

Macomber,  465. 

Macreading,  583. 

Madison,  521. 

Madoc,  28,  577. 

Madockawando,  (Indian,)  238,  289. 

Maffit,  589. 

Magazines,  powder.  326,  366. 

Magee,  63,  384. 

Magnetic  Telegraph,  418,  444,  453, 
454,  469. 

Mahoney,  466. 

Mailey,  451. 

Makepeace,  320,  360,  487,  581,  588. 

Malicious  mischief,  259. 

Mallalieu,  583. 

Manatahqua,  (Indian,)  39,  41. 

Mann,  445,  589. 

Manners  and  Customs  of  olden  time, 
99,  103,  107,  132,  133,  183,  209,  236, 
240,  276,  347,  378,  496. 

Manning,  584. 

Mansfield,  122,  145,  151,  172,  175,  176, 
187, 188, 189, 190, 229, 240,  253,  256, 
266, 282, 292, 298, 323, 328,  329,  331, 
334, 338, 340,  341, 344, 351,  381,  425, 
458, 486, 492, 577, 578, 579,  580,  583, 
587,  588. 

Mansfield's  End,  origin  of  name,  187. 

Maplesdarme,  577. 

Map  of  Lynn,  first  complete,  395. 

Marble,  245  to  250,  430,  445. 


Marblehend,  roads  to,  250,  261. 

Marine  Disasters.     See  Shipwrecks. 

Market,  ancient,  at  Lvnn,  221. 

Marriage  ceremony,  103,  243,  250,  258, 
267. 

Marsh,  371,  581,  583. 

Marshall,  155,  156,  157,  172,  214,  217, 
240, 243, 250, 258, 262, 282,  577,  578, 
579 

Marshes,  salt,  76,  144,  365,  366,  408. 

Marston,  386. 

Martin,  120,  122,  214,  341,  346,  347, 
465,  466,  471,  495,  533,  577,  580. 

Marvin,  588. 

Mary's  Grotto,  66. 

Masconomo,  (Indian,)  138. 

Mason,  275, 

Masonic  Celebration,  390.  See  Free- 
masons. 

Massasoit,  (Indian,)  33,  262. 

Massey,  359,  391,  580. 

Matches,  friction,  come  into  use,  400. 

Mather,  48,  49,  71,  159,  178.  199,  236, 
237, 238, 260, 265, 272, 276,  296,  316. 

Matrimonial  Difficulties,  37,  223,  276. 

Matthew,  423. 

Maule,  125. 

Mavrick,  118,  121,  146,  577. 

Mayfield,  577. 

Mayo,  201,  587,  589. 

Mayors  of  Lynn,  list  of,  581. 

McCurdy,  584. 

McDavit,  466. 

McDonald,  396. 

McDugal,  577. 

McGuire,  437. 

McKeown,  583. 

McMallen,  577. 

Mead,  466. 

Meadows,  77. 

Measurements  and  Distances,  585. 

Meeting-houses,  107, 139, 197,232,267, 
277, 292,  293, 299, 305, 309,  310,  320, 
324, 372, 374, 379, 388, 390,  395,  398, 
400, 402,  403,  404, 415,  428,  431,  435, 
443,  447,  451,  452,  454, 458,  460,  464, 
469, 586. 

Mellen,  466. 

Memoirs.     See  Biographical  Sketches. 

Meriam,  208,  309,  320.  326,  577. 

Merrihue,  577. 

Merrill,  370,  465,  583,  584. 

Merritt,  362,  426,  436,  439,  465,  580, 
583. 

Mesmerism,  or  Animal  Magnetism, 408. 

Metal  Pens  come  into  use,  401. 

Meteoi-s,  363,  396,  400,  446,  461.  See 
Celestial  Phenomena. 


G08 


HISTORY    OP    LYNN. 


Methoclist  Conferences  at  Lynn,  362, 
456. 

Methodist  Societies  and  Ministei*s,  354, 
583,  584,  587,  588,  589. 

Miantonimo,  (Indian,)  17,  33. 

Miles,  200. 

Military,  135,  138,  140,  141,  143,  147, 
177,  '212,  213,  216,  220,  234,  243,  255, 
262, 275, 292, 305, 331, 341,  358,  370, 
372, 377, 414, 416, 418, 433,  434,  453, 
465,  469,  579. 

Miller,  414,  466,  584. 

Millerism,  414. 

Millett,  414. 

Mills,  (surname,)  291,  297,  299,  311, 
440,  446,  456,  577. 

Mills,  (for  ^rindin?,)  119,  127, 128,  143, 
147, 153, 157, 165, 200, 220,  234,  235, 
320, 397. 

Milner,  190,  577. 

Mineral  Sprincr,  71,  98,  257,  265,  279, 
300,  371. 

Ministers,  146.  1.59,  169,  277,  341,  398, 
401,  402,  407,  412,  428,  443.  Sue 
cession  of,  in  the  various  societies  of 
Lvnn,  Lvnnfield,  Saugus,  Swamps- 
cot,  andNahant,  583  to  589.  And 
see  Ordinations.     Salaries. 

Mi  not,  62. 

Minot's  Led^e  Light,  429,  461. 

Mint,  for  coining  silver,  established  at 
Boston,  in  1652,  233. 

Mirage,  82,  278.  See  Celestial  and  At- 
mospheric Phenomena. 

Misdemeanors.     See  Punishments. 

Missionary  Society,  first  Methodist, 
formed,'  381. 

Mitchell,  257,  278,  468,  469. 

Moll  Pitcher,  the  fortune-teller,  374. 

Money,  43, 150, 233,  260,  291,  319,  322, 
343,  351. 

Montovvampate,  (Indian,)  36,  38,  137, 
138,  140,  146. 

Moody,  187,  188,  199,  201,  204,214, 
22i;  238,  239,  387,  444,  577. 

Moore,  189,  461,  542,  577,  581,  582, 
584. 

Morgan,  577. 

Moriey,  140,  577. 

Mormonism  in  Lynn,  398. 

Morocco  leather,  manufacture  of,  363, 
520. 

Morrill.  456. 

Morris,  122. 

Morton,  101,257,417,575. 

Mosses,  pressing  of,  418. 

Mott,  584. 

Mottey,  85,  345,  387,  587. 


Moulton,  437,  466,  479.  (502,  '3  and  *4 
contain  a  biographical  notice  of  Sol- 
omon Moulton.)    580,  592. 

Mount  Holyoke,  origin  of  name,  123. 

Mount  Tom,  origin  of  name,  124. 

Mower,  190,  282,  324,  577. 

Mudge,  201,  202,  227,  331,  336,  366, 
370, 373,  377.  396,  401,  402,  426,  433, 
473,  479,  492,  501.  (536  contains  a 
biographical  notice  of  Rev.  Enoch 
Mudge.  And  538  contains  a  bio- 
graphical notice  of  Ezra  Mudge.) 
580,  581,  582,  583,  589,  592. 

Mudgett,  465. 

Mud  Houses,  so  called,  440. 

Mulliken,  417,  418,  581. 

Muminquash,  (Indian,)  264. 

Munroe,  339,  340,  380,  465,  468,  470, 
580. 

Munyan,  577. 

Murders  in  Lynn,  430,  437,  472. 

Murray,  466. 

Music,  band  of,  formed  in  Lynn,  434. 

Musical  Association,  443. 

Myles,  109. 

N. 
NAHANT: 

Early  accounts  of,  26  to  32. 

Description  of,  topographical,  and 
general,  58  to  &7,  74,  75,  80  to  85. 

Purchase  of,  from  Indian  Sagamore, 
for  a  suit  of  clothes,  claimed  bv 
Thomas  Dexter,  131,  148,  240  t'o 
242,  267. 

Efforts  of  Randolph  to  obtain  grant 
of  from  Andros,  284,  to  291. 

Sea-serpent's  appearance  in  the  wa- 
ters of,  382. 

Incorporated  as  a  separate  town,  436. 

Hotel  built,  382 ;  description  of,  469 ; 
destroyed  by  fire,  469. 

Names  of  Tow^n  Clerks,  Postmasters, 
and  Ministers,  589. 

And  see  pages  20,  26,  41,  57,  63,  70, 

112, 119, 131, 135, 141, 144,  148,  204, 

213,  2.33,  240, 257, 261,  291,  292,  297, 

306, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312,  319,  334, 

335, 362, 365, 370, 378, 380,  381 ,  389, 

395, 407, 421, 429, 431, 438,  444,  451, 

452,453,457,463,474. 

See  also  Deaths.    Fires.     Lightning. 
Shipwrecks.     Storms.     Tides. 
Nahanton,  (Indian,)  41,  42. 
Names,  double,  488. 
Nanapashemet,  (Indian,)  33  to  38,  40, 

263,  282. 
Narremore,  577. 


INDEX. 


609 


Nntural  Bridjje,  60. 

Natural  History  Society,  410.  - 

Neal,  185,  199,  579,  581.    See  Neill. 

Neck,  577. 

Needham,  98,  188,  189,  194,  2^8,  524, 
577. 

Needle,  singular  case  of,  in  human 
body,  457. 

Negros.  See  Colored  Race.  Slavery. 
Slaves. 

Negus,  125,  577. 

Neil],  474.    SeeNea 

Nelson,  584. 

Newbold,  185. 

Newcomb,  587. 

Newell,  370,  416,  426,  581. 

Newhall,  125,  139,  155,  172,  181,  185, 
186, 194, 263,  283, 293, 297,  306,  312, 
320, 327, 328, 334,  341, 342,  345,  347, 
348, 36],  364, 370, 382, 387,  391,  398, 
402, 407, 409,  410, 417, 418,  420,  429, 
442, 443, 447,  465, 472,  479,  577,  578, 
579,  580, 581 ,  582,  585, 587,  588.  .  .  . 
And  biographical  notices  of  deceased 
members  of  the  Newhall  family  may 
be  found  as  follows : 

Thomas  Newhall,  the  first  white 
person  born  in  Lynn  ;  with  a  ge- 
nealogical sketch  of  the  Newhall 
family,  482. 
Jacob  (Landlord)  Newhall,  494. 
Josiah  Newhall,  (Hon.)  533. 
Asa  T.  Newhall,  (Hon.)  537. 
Francis  S.  Newhall,  (Hon.)  539. 
Isaac  Newhall,  540. 
Benjamin  F.  Newhall,  567. 

Newland,  577. 

Newman,  577,  579,  580. 

Newspaper,  first  in  Lynn,  512. 

Newspaper  Editors,  list  of,  582. 

Newspapers,  390, 395, 396, 398, 405, 407, 
410, 413, 423,  439, 442,  456,  512,  582. 

Newton,  276,  465,  466,  560. 

Nicholet,  261. 

Nichols,  201,  342,  362,  407,  465,  58-3, 
584,  588. 

Nicholson,  577. 

Nickerson,  398. 

Nicknames,  488,  514. 

Night  Arches.     See  Northern  Lights. 

Noble,  589. 

Nonupanohow,  (Indian,)  39,  41,  51,  54. 

Noonan,  465. 

Normenton,  297,  484,  577. 

Norris,  208,  583. 

North  Spring,  70. 

Northern  Lights,  313,  323,  327,  335, 
338,  391,  396,  402,  457. 


Northey,  185. 

Norton,  238,  239. 

Norwood,  228,  293,  326,  332,  341,  347, 

577. 
Notary  Public    established    in    Lynn, 

361. 
Nourse,  416,  580. 
No  well,  115,  152. 
Noyes,  415,  584. 
Nullification,  Lynn  vs.  South  Carolina, 

399,  427. 
Nultonanit,  (Indian,)  32. 
Nye,  577. 


Oak,  old,  147. 

Oakes,  228,  262,  305,  577. 

Oakman,  577. 

Obatinua,  (Indian,)  35. 

Observatorv,  Astronomical,  at  Lynn, 

469.       / 
Old   Burying  Ground.     See   Burying 

Grounds. 
Old  Mansfield  House,  592.  / 

Old  People.     See  Aged  Persons. 
Old  Tenor,  319. 
Old  Tunnel  Meeting-house,  277.     See 

Meeting-houses. 
Olden,  525. 

Oldest  Grave-stone,  299. 
Oldham,  31,  32. 
Oliver,  158,  183,  267,  414,  465,  577, 

581,  582. 
Omnibus  commences  running,  435. 
Onslow,  490. 
Oonsumog,  (Indian,)  40. 
Opium  eater,  526. 
Ordinations  and  Installations,  165,  276, 

318, 323, 325, 329, 330, 333,  345,  351, 

358, 366, 374, 380, 388, 389,  394,  398, 

400, 402, 407, 410, 412, 428,  443,  460, 

472. 
Orgin,  580. 
Orr,  466. 
Osgood,  584. 
Ossian,  19,  508. 
Otheman,  583. 
Otis,  117,  444. 
Otley,  190,  577,  579. 
Otway,  577. 
Over-shoes,  India  rubber,  introduced, 

386. 
Owen,  466,  584. 
Owls,  433,  473. 
Oxenbridge,  261. 
Ox-wagon,  first  in  Lynn,  348. 
Oyster  Bay,  L.  1.,  settled  in  1640,  by 

Lynn  people,  196. 


39 


610 


HISTORY    OF   LYNN. 


P. 
Pacey,  216. 
Packet  schooner  run   between   Lynn 

and  Boston,  327. 
Padington,  194. 
Padishall,  297. 
Pa^e,  122,  257,  582. 
Pahpocksitt,  (Indian,)  38,  41. 
Paine  and  Payne,  190,  266,  521,  577, 

583,  584. 
Painter,  582. 
Palfrey,  141. 

Palmer,  200,  380,  447,  465,  587. 
Papasiquineo,  (Indian,)  37. 
Paper  Money.    See  Money. 
PctrGus  Ql 

Parker,'  157,  172,  383.  577,  583. 
Parris,  294. 
Parrott,  362,  421,  580. 
Parsonage,  First  Parish,  and  Parsonage 

Lands.  353. 
Parsons,  112,  351,  356,  357,  577,  562. 
Partridge,  172,  577. 
Passaconaway,  (Indian,)  36. 
Patience,  577. 
Patten,  417,  465. 
Paul,  259,  577. 
Payne.     See  Paine. 
Payson,  351,  417. 
Pay  ton,  577. 
Pea  Island,  59. 

Peabody,  398,  401,  466,  580,  582. 
Peach,  580. 

Peale  and  Peele,  410,  571 
Pearls,  discovery  of,  451. 
Pearson,  577. 
Pease,  258. 
Peat  Meadows,  77. 
Peck,  583. 
Pedestrian  exercises  and  contests,  443, 

448,  452,  456. 
Pedigrees.     See  Genealogies. 
Pell,  172,  577. 
Pendleton,  353. 
Penfieid,  228,  577. 
Pennerson,  365. 
Pennock,  523. 

Pens,  Metal,  come  into  use,  401. 
Pentland,  577. 
Pepoon,  580. 
Perdv,  430,  432. 
Peril,  John's,  61. 
Perkins,  228,  238,  323,  330,  331,  344, 

345,  380,  382,  403,  577,  587. 
Perlev,  582. 
Perrv,  379. 
Person,  228,  577,  578. 
Petagoonaquah,  (Indian,)  39. 


Petagunsk,  (Indian,)  39. 

Peters,  102,  135,  149,  192,  234. 

Peterson,  449. 

Petitions:  Edward  Randolph  to  Gov. 
Andros,  for  a  grant  of  Nahant,  284. 
Soldiers  of  Wampanoag  war.  for 
grant  of  lands,  281. 

Pews,  meeting-house,  277. 

Phantom  Ship,  129,  130. 

Pharaoh,  (slave,)  344. 

Phebe.  (slave,)  345. 

Phenomena  at  Saugus  river,  387. 

Phenomena.  See  Celestial  and  Atmos- 
pheric Phenomena. 

PhiJbrick,  486. 

Philip,  (Indian,)  264. 

Phillips,  200,  228,  235,  239,  251,  257, 
261, 263, 305, 342, 345, 357,  359,  367, 
381,453,463,466,486,577. 

Phippen,  379,  584. 

Phipps,  296,  575. 

Photographs,  409. 

Phrenology,  408. 

Physicians,  226, 276, 345, 358, 396,  397, 
403,  410,  425,  533,  586. 

Pickering,  116,  196,  362,  490,  492,  493, 
541,  577,  583. 

Pickman,  577. 

Pic-nic  at  Lynnfield  pond,  distressing 
accident  at,  426. 

Pic-nic,  Spiritualist,  at  Dune^eon  Rock, 
471. 

Pierce,  141,  465,  581,  583. 

Pierpont,  412,  582. 

Pierson,  157,  192,  195,  577 

Pigden,  577. 

Pigeons,  wild,  45. 

Pike,  262,  418,  465,  466. 

Pine  Giove  Cemetery.     See  Cemetery. 

Pine  Hill,  69. 

Pine  Tree  Coins,  233. 

Pinion,  225,  251,  577. 

Piper,  592. 

Pirate,  shipwreck  of,  311. 

Pirate's  Cave.    See  Dungeon  Rock. 

Pirates'  Glen,  70,  244,  249. 

Pirates,  traditions  concerning,  243. 

Pitcher,  330,  374,  375,  376. 

Pitt,  489,  490. 

Plant,  322. 

Plants  found  in  Lynn,  79. 

Plurality  Law,  438. 

Pococke,  205. 

Poetry,  specimens  of,  by  deceased  na- 
tives Lynn.  See  Specimens  of  Po- 
etry, 

Poets  and  Prose  Writers,  native.  See 
Writers. 


INDEX. 


611 


Police  Court,  Lynn,  423,  582. 
Political    Mass-meetings   and   Proces- 
sions, 4  J  4,  462. 
Political   Parties   in   Lynn,  349,  350, 

368,  369. 
Polk,  417. 
Pollard,  584. 
Pometacom,  (King  Philip,  Indian,)  17, 

262  to  264. 
Pompey,  (slave,)  344. 
Ponds,  70,  127,  143,  149,  411. 
Ponus,  (Indian,)  129. 
Pool,  157,  171,  214,  577,  578,  589. 
Poor-house,  381,  423. 
Pope,  342,  577. 
Population  of  Lynn  at  different  periods, 

583. 
Poquanum,  (Indian,)  39  to  41,  47,  119, 

141,  146. 
Porphyry,  72. 
Porter,  342,  580,  583. 
Post-masters,  581,  587,  588,  589. 
Post-offices,  266, 357, 365, 398, 403, 421. 
Potato  Rot,  336,  416,  426,  432. 
Potatoes  introduced,  312. 
Potter,  51,  126,  157,  171,  190,  221,  282, 

293,  320,  321,  482,  484,  577. 
Pottery  established,  372. 
Pounds,  91. 
Pousland,  465. 
Powder  Magazines,  326,  366 
Pownal,  575. 
Pranker,  405,  470. 
Pratt,  11,  331,  342,  365,  466. 
Pray,  190,  207,  225,  577. 
Prayer,  273. 

Prayers,  answer  to,  238,  362. 
Prayers  at  funerals  not  customary  here, 

in  early  times,  103. 
Preaching  in  the  open  air,  327,  448. 
Preaching  of  Whitefield,  in  Lynn,  326, 

327. 
Predestination,  doctrine  of,  563. 
Prescott,  85,  554. 
Presidents  of  Common  Council,  list  of, 

581. 
Presidents  of  the  United  States,  Visits 

of  to  Lynn,  353,  380,  400,  417. 
Price,  268. 

Prices,  134, 136, 175, 196, 222, 235, 252, 
257, 266,  298, 305, 322, 330,  380,  396. 
Prichard,  577. 

Prince,  62, 101, 162,  344,  382,  384,  499. 
Prince,  (slave,)  344. 

Prince  of  Wales,  his  Visit  to  Lynn,  462. 
Pring,  29. 

Printing  office,  first  in  Lynn,  512,  514. 
Printing  offices,  in  1864,  586. 


Privateer,  373. 

Prize  Fight  in  Lynn,  436. 

Probate  Court  at  Lvnn,  .389,  463. 

Proctor,  484,  295,  363,  445,  577,  580. 

Provisions,  &c.,  prices  of,  at  different 

periods.     See  Prices. 
Public  Houses.     See  Taverns. 
Puffer,  577. 
Pulpit  Rock,  60,  75. 
Punishments,  140,  142,  143,  152,  157, 

162, 165, 173, 183, 191, 196,  197,  204, 

209,  212, 216,  220, 223, 225,  230,  233, 

253,  256,  258. 
Purchis,  9,  10,  51,  157,  190,  192,  226, 

251, 256,  262, 266,  267, 282,  287,  290, 

577,  578,  580. 
Purinton,  345,  485. 
Puritanism,  100  to  1 10. 
Pury,  205. 
Putnam,  86,  122,  190,  214,  215,  295, 

323,  340,  341,  577,  583 
Pynchon,  121,  122,  123. 

Q. 

Quaker  Doctrines  discussed  by  George 

Keith  and  John  Richardson,  in  1702, 

at  Lynn,  300  to  305. 
Quaker  Meeting-houses,  267,  320,  379. 
Quakers  subjected  to  indignities  and 

oppressions,  250,  262,  273,  296,  298, 

305. 
Quakers,   riotous    proceedings   of,   in 

1822,  at  their  meeting-house,  387. 
Quakers  divide  on  point  of  doctrine, 

and  point  stated,  441. 
Quakers,  various  facts  concerning,  47, 

125, 291, 296, 305, 312, 318,  329,  342, 

351, 390,  402, 536,  585.      ^  /f  4 
Quanapaug,  (Indian,)  263,  264. 
Quanapokonat,  (Indian,)  42, 
Quarrel  between  Thomas  Dexter  and 

John  Endicott,  137. 
Queakussen,  (Indian,)  40,  41. 
Quonopohit,  (Indian,)  51,  54,  55,  263, 

264,  282. 

R. 

Racoons,  374. 

Raddin,  235,  288,  443,  450,  570. 

Rail-roads,  steam  and  horse,  100,  404, 

411,  436,  440,  463,  467,  473. 
Rain,  260,  262,  282,  314,  325,  359,  398, 

440. 
Ramsdell,  126,  229,  242,  289,  339,  425, 

443,  452,  577,  580. 
Rand,  190,  240,  292,  466,  577. 
Randall,  588. 
Randolph,  234,  284  to  291. 


612 


HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 


Rattlesnakes,  416,  425,  434. 

Raymond,  465. 

Rayuor,  583. 

Read,211,  276,  577.     See  Reed. 

Reading  settled  in  1639,  by  Lynn  peo- 
ple, 182. 

Rebellion,  Sliays's,  349,  352. 

Rebellion,  Southern,  of  1861,  patriotic 
proceedings  in  Lynn  at  commence- 
ment of,  464. 

Records,  Town,  9,  483. 

Red  Rock,  69. 

Red  Spring,  71.     See  Mineral  Spring. 

Redding,  577. 

Rednap,  127,  172,  239,  577. 

Reed,  201,  351,  465,  466,  477.  See 
Read. 

Regan,  447. 

Regatta  at  Nahant,  457. 

Reith,  577. 

Religious  Character  of  the  Early  Set- 
tlers, 100. 

Religious  Societies,  lists  of,  and  Minis- 
ters, 582,  583, 584,  585,  587,  588,  589. 

Remick,  465. 

Representatives,  134, 146,  292.  Names 
of — Lynn,  578;  Lynnfield,  587; 
Saugus,  588. 

Resolutions  adopted  in  1773,  concern- 
ing the  duty  on  Tea,  337. 

Resolutions  concerning  the  South  Caro- 
lina Nullification  of  1832,  399. 

Resolutions  concerning  the  Fugitive 
Slave  Law  of  1850,  427. 

Resolutions  concerning  the  Rebellion 
of  1861,  466. 

Revenue,  U.  S.  surplus,  distribmed,  404. 

Revolutionary  matters,  334  to  349. 

Revolutionary  Soldiers  belonging  to 
Lvnn,  names  of,  579. 

Rexford,  583. 

Reynolds,  466,  577,  584. 

Rhodes,  91, 143, 157, 190, 263, 282, 292, 
320, 336, 356, 434,  447, 466,  520,  523, 
534, 577,  580,  581. 

Rhymster,  333. 

Rice,  311,  312,  569,  583,  589. 

Rich,  577,  580. 

Richards,  126,  127,  143,  184,  282,  287, 
305,  577,  583,  584,  589. 

Richardson,  302,  303,  380,  439,  577, 
580,  581. 

Rickman,  89,  90. 

Ricraft,  172. 

Riddan,  577. 

Rifle  Company,  Lynn,  389,  418. 

Ring,  577. 

Roach,  436,  577 


Roads,  94, 100,  137,  196,  250,  260,  421. 

Roaring  Cavern,  60. 

Robberies,  216, 379,  421,  426,  431,  461, 

462. 
Robbins,  368,  371,  382,  400,  407,  582. 
Roberts,  577. 
Robinson,  25^8,  357,  362,  367,  397,  410, 

579,  580,  581,  592. 
Robv,  329, 340,  351,  363,  460,  579,  580, 

588. 
Rock  Temple,  64. 
Rocks,  60, 61, 62,  66,  68,  69,  72,  73,  74, 

439. 
Bockwood,  380,  398,  534,  582. 
Rogers,  162,  261,  451,  577,  583. 
Roman  Catholics.  See  Catholic  Church. 
Roolton,  172,  577. 
Root,  261,  577. 
Rooten,  577. 

Rope-walking,  daring  feats  of,  461. 
Rose,  363. 
Rouillard,  62. 
Rowe,  466. 
Rowland,  577. 
Rubin,  211. 
Ruff,  524. 
Ruggles,  213. 

Rum  exchanged  for  Negro  Slaves,  178. 
Rummary,  577. 
Rumney  Marsh,  39,  76. 
Russell,  122,  206,  278,  279,  402,  584, 

587. 

S. 
Sabbath    and    Sabbath-breaking,   105, 

110,  209,  217,  223, 256,  257,  300,  373, 
Sadler,  10,  94,  95,  157,  158,  172,  174, 

183,  196,  209,  214,  352,  577,  580. 
Sadler's  Rock,  69,  72,  95,  439. 
Safety,  Committee  of.  Revolutionary, 

340. 
Sagamore  Hill,  36,  44,  69,  93,  121,  128, 

131,  165. 
Sagamore  Hotel  built,  439. 
Salaries,  277,  298,  311,  318,  322,  324, 

326. 
Sails,  577. 

Salmon,  127,  241,  252,  260,  577. 
Salter,  577. 

Saltonstall,  154,  280,  296. 
Saltpetre,  manufacture  of  required  in 

families,  203. 
Samson,  (slave,)  344. 
Sanborn,  162,  465,  583. 
Sanchez,  28. 
Sancho,  22. 
Sandwich,  settlement  of,  commenced 

in  1637  by  Lynn  people,  169 


INDEX. 


613 


Sanford,  192,  584. 

Sarah,  (Indian,)  41. 

Sargent,  362,  434,  466,  583,  584,  585. 

Sassacus,  (Indian,)  17,  33,  168,  264. 

SAUGUS: 

Incorporated  as  a  separate  town,  378. 

Names    of  Representatives,   Town 

Clerks,    Post-masters,     Ministers, 

588.  ^  /  y 


VI,  413,  572.  S 


^4(i 
See  also 
J)eatlis. 


;  421. 


m{m,  4 

Meeting-houses.     Fi 
Lightning^    >^to/rn 
Saugi>!^  Riv 

23^,  231^3:^3 
Saunderson,  465. 
Savage,  120,  122,  155,  156,  158,  191, 

195,  234,  235,  259,  266,  280,  589. 
Savage  Rock,  28. 

Savings  institutions,  390,  445,  585. 
Sawin,  588. 
Say,  197. 
Savles,  158. 

Sayre,  171,  193,  194,  577. 
Scales,  451. 
Scarlet,  210. 
School-houses,  322,  324,  329,  358,  381, 

416,  421, 422,  423, 424, 428,  431,  432, 

436,446,447,456,458,467. 
School-masters,  131, 203,  283,  292,  297, 

300, 305, 309, 310, 312, 318,  324,  329, 

581. 
Schools,  222,  260,  283,  284,  305,  309, 

311,  318,  342,  351,  363,  424,  586. 
Schouler,  466. 
Scott,  172,  209,  405,  577. 
Sea,   damage   by   the,  388.  429,  442. 

See  Tides. 
Sea-guards  erected  on  Beach,  388,  404, 

429. 
Sea-serpent,  382  to  386. 
Seal,  City,  556. 
Seals,  137,  439. 
Searl,  388,  587. 
Seccomb,  577. 
Sedgwick,  213. 
Seger,  589. 

Selectmen,  165,  266,  282,  293,  329. 
Senators,  names  of.  from  Lynn,  581. 
Sermons,  105,  149,  178,  316. 
Settlers.     See  Early  Settlers. 
Sew£.ll,  119,  127,  i79,  276,  360,  361, 

443,  582. 
Seward,  427. 

Z2 


Shackfoid,  94,  425,  582. 

Shag  Rocks,  60,  394. 

Shakspeare,  123. 

Sharks,  395,  451,  461. 

Sharp,  300,  432,  577. 

Shattuck,  113. 

Shaw,  231,  417,  588. 

Shays's  Rebellion,  349,  352. 

Sheep,  131,  232,  286,  290,  311,  325, 
329. 

Shells,  beach,  309,  368. 

Shepard,  238,  257,  276,  277,  278,  283, 
289, 291,  292, 293, 296,  298,  299,  300, 
301, 303, 304, 311, 312,  314,  315,  316, 
317, 31 8, 333,  492,  577,  578,  582. 

Shepherd,  town,  310. 
.      i-Sherman,  91,  417,  577. 
2SiSC    Shipwrecked  Mariners,  sufferings  of, 
124,  357,  362,  364,  463. 

Shipwrecks,  124,  136,  141,  242,  311, 
325, 329, 331, 334, 335, 336,  353,  357, 
359, 362, 390, 391, 392, 394.  396,  403, 
407,  410, 431, 432, 448, 449,  456,  463. 

Ship-yards  at  Lynn,  321,  399.        [478. 

Shirley,  575. 

Shoe  business  in  1864,  586. 

Shoe-makers,  88,  89.  91,  154,  256,  299, 
328,  382,  413,  424,  447,  459,  586. 

Shoe-makers'  Strike,  in  1860,  459. 

Shoes  and  Shoemaking,  86,  232,  299, 
324, 334, 335, 361, 371,  520,  523,  524, 
525, 570.  ^ 

Shore,  577. 

Shorev,  .364,  365,  373. 

Shrud,  138. 

Shurtleff,  .533. 

Shute,  310,  575. 

Sias,  583. 

Sickness,  34, 81, 146,212,222,  255,  256, 
265, 298, 319, 324, 325, 342,  397,  421, 
424, 428, 490. 

Side-walks,  brick,  440. 

Signatures.     See  Autographs. 

Siguenot,  117. 

Silk,  mantifacture  of,  at  Lynn,  329,  404. 

Silsbe,  153,  184,  228,  292,'  333,  577. 

Simmons,  577. 

Simms,  274,  580. 

Simon,  577. 

Simpson,  447. 

Siverns,  577. 

Skating,  455. 

Skeleton  of  Indian  exhumed,  386 

Skelton,  141. 

Skeppar,  215,  577. 

Skerry,  210. 

Skiff,  577. 

Skinner,  417,  587 


614 


HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 


Slade,  588. 

Slave,  Fugitive,  Law,  of  1850,  426. 

Slavery,  22,  178,  187,  264,  426. 

Slavery,  abolishment  of,  in  the  West 
Indies,  celebrated  in  Lynn,  415. 

Slaves  owned  in  Lynn,  344. 

Slawson,  577. 

Sleeping  in  Meeting,  209,  212,  221. 

Sleigh  Ride,  perilous,  353. 

Small,  434. 

Small-pox,  146, 256, 298,  319,  342,  397, 
424  490. 

Smith',  30,' 33,  127,  163,  171,  187,  298, 
319, 35],  384, 396,  463, 465,  467,  569, 
577, 578,  579, 583,  584,  585,  589. 

Snakes,  62,  416,  425,  434. 

Snow,  (surname,)  465,  466. 

Snow  and  Snow  Storms,  141, 146, 176, 
203, 204, 2.59, 260,  298, 306,  310,  322, 
324, 325, 329, 335, 336,  364,  366,  371, 
372, 386, 391, 402, 433, 438,  441,  445, 
449,  464. 

Snow  in  July,  366;  in  June,  379. 

Snuff,  manufacture  of,  358. 

Soames,  288. 

Society,  Female  Benevolent,  478. 

Soldiers.     See  Military.     Volunteers. 

Soldiers'  bounties,  341,  352,  358,  377. 

Soldiers,  funerals  of  deceased,  471. 

Soldiers'  lot  in  Cemetery,  472. 

Soldiers,  names  of,  who  volunteered 
at  outbreak  of  Rebellion  of  1861, 
465,  466. 

Soldiers  of  the  Revolution,  names  of, 
579. 

Soldiers,  public  reception  of,  on  their 
return  from  war,  468,  473,  478. 

Soule,  434,  583. 

South,  143,  171,  173,  577. 

Southampton,  L.  I.,  settled  in  1640,  by 
Lynn  people,  192. 

Souther,  11,5,  470. 

Sparhawk,  318,  323,  336,  351,  587. 

Sparks,  466. 

Spaulding,  395,  583,  589. 

Spear,  583. 

Specimens  of  Poetry,  by  deceased  wri- 
ters, natives  of  Lynn,  395,  501,  503, 
504,  508  to  511,  530  to  533,  535, 
537,  545,  550  to  553,  565,  573,  574. 

Spencer,  94,  115,  172,  174,  183,  191, 
577. 

Spies,  Indian,  263. 

Spinney,  417,  587. 

Spiritualism,  246,  413,  437,  471. 

Sports  of  the  Indians,  46. 

Spoutiii}:  Horn,  60. 

Spring  Pond,  71,  299.  411. 


Springs,  70,  71,  121,  147,  279,  300. 
See  Mineral  Spring. 

Sprowl,  410. 

Squidraysett,  (Indian,)  141. 

St.  John,  273,  274. 

Stacey,  190,  229,  263,  577. 

Stackpole,  379. 

Stage  Travel,  99,  333,  405. 

Stamp  Act,  334. 

Stanbury,  171,  194,  577. 

Standish,  577. 

Stanley,  165,  225,  261,  448,  577,  578. 

Staples,  583,  584,  587. 

Star,  The,  the  first  penny  newspaper 
in  Lynn,  517. 

Starke,'  577. 

Starkey,  577. 

Starkweather,  475. 

Starr,  577. 

Stavers.  333. 

Steam  Cylinder,  explosion  of,  470. 

Steam  Fire  Engine,  first  in  Lynn,  477. 

Stearns,  406,  577. 

Steele,  583,  589. 

Stetson,  147. 

Stevens,  197,  438,  577,  583. 

Stewart,  577.     See  Stuart. 

Stickney,  581,  589,  592. 

Stimpson,  589. 

Stirling,  192. 

Stocker,  156,  298,  426,  577,  579,  580, 
588. 

Stocking,  583. 

Stocks,  Bilboes,  142. 

Stockton,  123. 

Stoddard,  117 

Stone,  465,  588. 

Stone  Houses,  201,  380,  381,  440,  469. 

Stores  in  Lynn,  in  1864,  586. 

Storey,  373. 

Storke,  579. 

Storms,  124,  150.  203,  209,  221,  259, 
260, 266, 278, 306, 310, 319,  322,  324, 
325, 329, 335, 336, 359,  366,  371,  378, 
380,  386, 391, 396,  397,  407.  410,  416, 
423, 429,  433,  438,  440,  441,  445,  446, 
449,461,462,463,464,477. 

Stoughton,  575. 

Stowers,  489,  5' 

Strain,  585. 

Strange  proceedings  in  forming  a  new 
church,  in  1674,  261. 

Streets  of  Lynn,  in  1864,  586. 

Strike,  Shoemakers'  in  1860,  4.59. 

Strong,  350,  575. 

Stuart,  497.     See  Stewart. 

Stuyvesant,  188. 

Styche,  207,  211,  239,  577. 


INDEX. 


615 


Styles,  old  and  new,  25. 

Sufferings  of  Shiyjwrecked  Mariners, 
124,  357,  362,  364,  463. 

Sullivan,  62,  350,  369,  575. 

Summer,  Indian,  82,  440. 

Sumner,  575. 

Sun,  spots  on.  See  Celestial  Phenom- 
ena. 

Sunday  Services,  customs  at,  105,  209. 
See  Sabbath.     Sleeping  in  Meeting. 

Sunderland,  413,  589. 

Sun-dial  on  Lynn  Common,  453. 

Sun-fish,  large,  462. 

Sunk  Rock,  62. 

Surnames  of  all  Lynn  Settlers  down  to 
the  year  1700,  576. 

Surplus  United  States  Revenue  distrib- 
uted, 404. 

Sutherland,  589. 

Swaine,  52. 

Swallows'  Cave,  59,  75. 

Swamps,  78,  119,  128. 

SWAMPSCOT: 

Incorporated  as  a  separate  town,  434. 
Orthography  of  the  name,  170. 
First  Fishing  Schooner  at,  359. 
Cemetery  consecrated,  439. 
Lists  of  Town  Clerks,  Post-masters, 

and  Ministers,  589. 
And  see  pages  20,  67,  73,  131,  250, 
358,  374,  391,  395,  402,  414,  415, 
423,  443,  445,  446,  447,  448,  450, 
451,  456,  457,  471,  472.  See  also 
Shipwrecks.    Storms.    Lightning. 
Tides.     Fires.     Deaths. 
Swan,  466,  545. 
Swansey,  417,  587. 
Sweetser,  321,  360,  465,  466,  588. 
Swett,  407,  410,  500,  582. 
Symonds,  120,  150,  196,  211. 
Sythe,  improved,  patented  in  1655,  by 
Joseph  Jenks,  of  Lynn,  235. 


Tables  of  names  of  Public  Officers  and 
others,  Statistics,  &c.,  575  to  589. 

Tailor,  575.     See  Taylor. 

Talbot,  300,  301,  588. 

Talmage,  130,  171,  172,  176,  577. 

Tanneries,  112,  386. 

Tapley,  227,  465. 

Tar,  manufacture  of,  242. 

Tarbox,  114,  190,  225,  261,  263,  282, 
310,  478,  577. 

Tarr,  4(55,  577,  580. 

Tavern  bills,  curious,  of  certain  colo- 
nial dignitaries,  210. 


Taverns,  114,  156,  165,  210,  214,  223, 

255,  277, 341, 342, 365, 371,  382,  438, 

439,  469, 495,  586. 
Tax,  City,  at  different  periods,  586. 
Taxation,  rate  of,  at  various  times,  586. 
Taxes,  145, 222, 31 1, 324, 334, 335,  586. 
Taylor,  127,  172,  190,  221,  222,  280, 

307, 320, 362, 400, 405,  428,  466,  577. 
Tea,  early  use  of,  313.    Votes  passed 

in  Lynn,  in  1771  and  1773,  concern- 
ing the  use  of,  336,  337.     Destruction 

of,  in  Lvnn,  in  1773,  337. 
Teague,  265,  577. 
Telegraph,  418,  444,  453,  454,  469. 
Temperance  Levee  of  Rev.  Theobold 

Matthew,  423. 
Temperance  Society,  390. 
Tempests,  150,  209,  221,  259,  262,  366, 

396,  397,  407.    See  Storms. 
Temple,  230,  234,  541. 
Temple  Rock,  64. 
Ten  Hour  System,  425. 
Terry,  194. 
Thacher,  86,  150,  239,  358,  359,  361, 

365,  373,  381,  505,  577,  582,  587. 
Thanksgivings,  143,  473. 
Thayer,  583. 
Thing,  462. 
Thorn,  577. 

Thomas,  124,  139,  155,  439. 
Thompson,  271,  354,  386,  401,  402, 

426,  428,  466,  577,  579,  589,  592. 
Thorn,  172,577. 
Thorndike,  371. 
Thorwald,  26,  27. 
Thoyght.  577. 
Thrasher,  577. 
Throat  Distemper,  325. 
Thunder.     See  Lightning. 
Tibbets,  425,  446. 
Tides,  remarkable,  150,  203,  260,  319, 

336, 351, 395, 396,  407, 410,  423,  454. 
Tight  rope,  remarkable  feats  on,  461. 
Tiilotson,  327,  584. 
Tilton,  190,  204,  577,  584. 
Tingle,  577. 

Tispaquin,  (Indian,)  264. 
Titcomb,  352,  587. 
Tobacco,  141,  220,  250,  371. 
Tobin,  470. 

Tokowampate,  (Indian,)  264. 
Tolman,  577.         ^ 
Tom,  (Indian,)  40,  41. 
Tom,  Mount,  origin  of  name,  124. 
Tomlins,  127,  128,  143,  146,  147,  157, 

165,  171, 172, 177,  196, 203,  209,  214, 

577,  578,  579,  580. 
Tontoquon,  (Indian,)  39. 


616 


HISTORY    OF    LYNN. 


Toolev,  577. 

Tornados,   426,  431.     See  Tempests. 

Storms.     Winds. 
Tour,  217. 
Tower,  251,577. 
Towlin,  465. 

Town  Clerks.     See  Clerks. 
Town  House,  377,  424,  478,  591. 
Town  Meetinj^s,    132,    196,  241,  278, 

290, 296, 324, 360, 367, 368,  369,  371. 
Town  Records,  9. 
Towne,  577,  581. 
Townsend,  159, 172,  196,  218,  263,  268, 

282,  310,  312,  339,  577,  580. 
Tracv,  453,  455,  583. 
Trade,  Board  of,  450. 
Trask,  242,  465,  577. 
Travel,   modes  of,   and  facilities  for. 

93,  99,  298,  333,  405. 
Trawl -fish  in  ff,  450. 
Treadwell,  333,  340,  346,  347,  582. 
Treason,  142,  251. 
Tree,  (surname,)  577. 
Trees,  Frosted,  392,  445,  508. 
Trees,  miscellaneous  notices  of,  77,  79, 

82,  147,  202,  408,  412,  438. 
l\-evett,  409,  577. 
Troopers.     See  Military. 
Trot,  Horse,  in  1816,  at  Lynn,  379. 
Trotting  Horse  killed  by  lightning,  453. 
Trotting  Park,  Franklin,  laid  out.  451. 
True,  144,  583,  584. 
Trumbull,  190,  577. 
Tucker,  318. 
Tuckerman,  388. 
Tuckney,  268. 
Tudor,  '63,  389,  432,  474. 
Tufts,  227,  466,  579. 
Tupper,  169,  577. 
Turner,  128,  129,  130,  132,  140  to  143, 

146, 147, 165, 167, 177,  223,  577,  578, 

579. 
Turnpike,  100,  365,  478. 
Turtles,  423,  444,  461. 
Tutt,  466. 

Tuttle,  122,  465,  580. 
Twiss,  236. 
Twist,  580. 
Twomblv,  583. 
Tyler,  190,  192,405,411. 
Tythingmen,  165. 

U. 

Unitarian  Society,  first  m  Lynn,  formed, 
388.     Succession  of  Ministers,  582. 

I'liitarian  Society,  Central,  (Free  Ch.,) 
formed.  432.  Succession  of  Minis- 
ters, 585. 


Universalism,    first    preaching    of,   in 

Lynn,  372. 
Universalist  Society,  first  in  Lynn,  400. 

Succession  of  Ministers,  584. 
Universalist  Society,  second  in  Lynn, 

402.  Succession  of  Ministers,  .584. 
Universalist  Society  in  Lynnfield,  587. 
Universalist   Society   in    Saugus,   460, 

588. 
Upton,  579,  587. 
Usher,  425,  465,  577,  579,  581. 


Vaccination,  342. 

Valuation  of  Estates  in  Lvnn,  at  differ- 
ent periods,  428,  463,  586. 

Vane,  167,  169,  198,  575. 

Vasa,  22. 

Vassall.  158. 

A^audreul,  117. 

Veal,  244,  246,  247,  248,  577. 

Vega,  28. 

Vegetable-animal,  (rose-fish,)  80. 

Venus,  (slave,)  344. 

Viall,  403. 

Vickary,  431. 

Vicksburg,  fall  of,  celebrated,  473 

Viles,  587. 

Vincent,  577. 

Vinton,  229,  577. 

Visit  of  Kossuth,  the  Hungai'ian  Exile, 
433. 

Visits  of  Gen.  Lafayette,  351,  388. 

Visits  of  Presidents  of  the  United  States, 
353,  380,  400,  417. 

Voltaire,  560. 

Volunteer  Soldiers,  465,  467  See  Mil- 
itary. 

Voyages  and  Discoveries,  early,  25. 

W. 

Waban,  (Indian,)  264. 

Wabaquin,  (Indian,)  41. 

Wabbacowet,  (Indian,)  35. 

Wade,  214,  216,  577. 

Wages.     See  Prices. 

Wain  Wright,  317. 

Wait,  229,  256,  266,  334,  472,  577, 580, 

589. 
Walcott,  295,  587. 
Waldeu,  581. 
Waldo,  584. 
Wales,  577. 

Wales,  Prince  of,  in  Lynn,  462. 
Walker,  130,  135,  138,  151,  171,  172, 

190, 214,  217, 228, 242, 266,  275,  333, 

577,  578,  579. 
Walsall,  577. 


INDEX. 


617 


Walton,  171,  173,  194,  209,  577. 

War  Meetings  in  Lynn,  466,  470,  471, 

474. 
Ward,  219,  363,  402,  581,  584. 
Wardwell,  577,  581. 
Warmest  weather  ever  known  in  Lynn, 

477.     See  Hot  Weatlier. 
Warninaf  off  a  Settler,  297 
Warremore,  577. 
Warren,  583. 
Wars,  34,  167,  262,  264,  288,  305  330, 

331,  340,  372,  417. 
Wascussue,  (Indian,)  129. 
Washburn,  372,  575. 
Washington,  350,  353,  361. 
Washington,    President,   visits    Lynn, 

353.     His  memory  honored,  361. 
Washington  Square  enclosed,  469. 
Wastall,  154. 
Waterman,  546. 
Watei-s,  584. 
Wathin,  172,  577 
Wattaquattinusk,  (Indian,)  39. 
Watts,  137,  452,  465,  577,  580. 
Weather,  extraordinary  changes  in  the, 

82,417,438,443,464. 
Weatlier,  warm.     See  Hot  Weather. 
Webb,  194,  213,  234,  235,  583. 
Webbacowet,  (Indian,)  35. 
Webster,  163,  421,  427,  435,  466,  549. 
Weinberg,  470. 
Weitzel,  473. 
Welby,  172,  577 
Weld',  205,  273. 

Wellman,  190,  229,  251,  263,  335,  577. 
Wellmore,  577. 
Wells,  172, 174, 190, 192, 193, 362,  577, 

583. 
Wendell,  417. 
Wenepovkin,    Winuepurkit,    (Indian,) 

36,  38  to  42,  51,  146,  233,  242,  263, 

264,  282. 
Wentworth,  117,  465. 
Wenuchus,  (Indian,)  36,   38,   41,  59, 

138. 
West,  172,  219,  577. 
Westland,  269,  270. 
Whales,  330,  391,  456. 
Whaling  Company,  398. 
Whalley,  310,  460. 
Wheat,  (surname,)  577. 
Wheat,  (grain,)  255. 
Wheatley,  22. 
Wheaton.  493. 
Wheel'^r,  143,234,242,577. 
Wheelwright,  164,  169 
Whipple,  211,  581. 
Whip-poor-will,  82. 

Z2* 


Whitcomb,  89,  90,  587. 
White,  130, 172, 289, 466,  577,  584, 589. 
Whitefield,  326,  327,  332,  333. 
Whiting,  145,  165,  169,  172,  212,  227, 

229,  231,  2.35,  236,  238,  240,  241,  242, 

253,  254,  256,  257,  260,  265,  266  to 

276,  296,  314,  333,  492,  577,  582. 
Whitman,  580. 

Whitney,  291,  311,  312,  465,  584. 
Whitridge,  172,  227,  577,  587. 
Whittemore,  358,  577. 
Whittier,  91. 
Whittingham,  225. 
Wiggin,  210.  242,  451. 
Wigglesworth,  332,  356. 
Wight,  (slave,)  229,  344,  577. 
Wilbur,  442,  588. 
Wild  Animals  found  in  Lynn,  45. 
Wild  Fowl,  80. 
Wildes,  584. 

Wilev,  372,  425,  583,  587. 
Wilkins,  122,  130,  577. 
Willey,  151,  577. 
William,  Duke,  or  Black  Will,  (Indian,) 

40,  131,  141,  144,  241,  242. 
Williams,  48,  117,  164,335,370,465, 

577,  580,  588. 
Williamson,  359. 
Willis,  85,  130,  146,  171,  214,  381,  382, 

577,  578,  580,  584. 
Williston,  362,  583. 
Willman,  577. 

Wills,  curious,  121,  122,  188. 
Wilson,  122,  146,  169,  216,  271,  466, 

577,  583. 
Wilt,  577. 

Windmill  Hill,  127,  165. 
Winds,  high,  266,  278,  378,  425,  426, 

431,  437,  438,  441,  463,  477. 
Wing,  162,  486,  577. 
Winget,  330. 
Winser,  577. 
Winslow,  35,  169. 
Winter,  (surname,)  160,  577. 
Winters,  remarkable,  257,  298,  381. 
Wiiithrop,  95,  100,  114,  124,  129,  133, 

136, 137, 139, 140, 141, 146,  155,  160, 

164, 168, 169, 183, 187, 193,  199,  200, 

203, 205, 209,  213, 224,  311,  575. 
Wire  manufacture,  257,  372. 
Wit,  singular  encounters  of,  330,  346. 
Witchcraft  and  Witches,  186,  224,  238, 

276,  293  to  296. 
Witherdin,  226. 

Witt,  190,  192,  256,  293,  299,  577. 
Witter,  130,   131,  208,  219,  230,  231, 

242,  577. 
Wolfe,  396. 


618 


HISTORY   OF   LYNN. 


Wolf's  Cave,  66. 

Wolves,  132,  136,  144,  147,  241,  286, 

299,  311,  329. 
Woman,  tributes  to,  17,  405. 
Wonohaquaham,  (Indian,)  36,  137,  138, 

146. 
Wood,  45,  70,  77,  79,  113,  133,  136, 

141, 143, 145, 165, 169, 171,  577,  578, 

579. 
Woodbury,  339. 
Woodend,  origin  of  name,  113. 
Woodev,  242.  297,  577. 
Woodlands,  306. 
Woodman,  577. 
Woods,  Fires  in  the,  424,  431,  443, 458, 

477. 
Wooing,  37,  163,  186,  222,  225,  280. 
Worcester,  120,  277. 
Work-honse,  381,  423. 


World's  Fair,  in  1852,  436. 

Wormwood,  321.  577. 

Wright,  131,  135;  140,  143,  577,  584. 

Writers,  deceased,  of  Poetrv  and  Prose, 
natives  of  Lynn,  502,  505,  528,  533, 
536,540,544,567.      '        '        '    '^' 

Writs,  Clerks  of  the,  292,  580. 

Wuttanoh,  (Indian,)  39,  41. 

Wyman,  163. 

Y. 

Yarmouth  settled  in  1639,  by  Lynn 
people,  182.  '     J      J   " 

Yatt,  194. 

Yawata,  (Indian,)  36,  40,  59,  264. 
York,  417. 
Young,  466,  580,  583 

Z. 

Zodiacal  Light,  257. 


EASTERN   RAIL    ROAD    STATION,    LYNN. 
Erected  in  1848.     Central  Square. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE. 


1004.  Thorwald,  the  Northman,  supposed  to  have  visited  Nahant 
1602.  Gosnold  supposed  to  have  anchored  near  Nahant. 
1614.  Captain  John  Smith  appears  at  Nahant. 
1622.  Nahant  granted  to  Captain  Robert  Gorges. 

1629.  Settlement  of  Lynn  commences. 

1630.  Thomas  Newhall  born  ;  being  the  first  white  person  born  in  Lynn.     Fifty 

settlers,  chiefly  farmers,  with  many  families,  arrive. 

1632.  First  Church  formed,  Rev.  Stephen  Bachiler,  minister. 

1633.  A  corn  mill  built  on  Strawberry  brook ;  the  first  mill  in  Lynn. 

1634.  Hon.  John  Humfrey  arrives  and  settles  on  his  farm,  near  Nahant  street. 

William  Wood,  of  Lynn,  publishes  his  "New  Englands  Prospect." 

1635.  Philip  Kertland,  the  first  shoemaker  in  Lynn,  arrives. 

1637.  Name  of  the  settlement  changed  from  Saugus  to  Lynn. 

1638.  First  division  of  lands,  among  the  inhabitants. 

1639.  Ferry  established  across  Saugus  river,  from  Needham's  Landing  to  Bal- 

lard's.    First  bridge  over  Saugus  river,  at  Boston  street  crossing,  built. 

1643.  Iron  Works  established  on  Saugus  river;  the  first  in  America. 

1646.  A  market  ordered  to  be  held  at  Lynn  every  Tuesday,  "  their  lecture  day." 

1658.  Dungeon  Rock  supposed  to  have  been  rent  by  an  earthquake,  entomb- 
ing alive  Thomas  Veal,  a  pirate,  with  treasure. 

1669.  Boniface  Burton,  dies,  aged  1 13  years. 

1671.  This  year  was  remarkable  for  the  severity  of  its  storms.  There  was  a 
violent  snow  storm,  18  January,  with  much  thunder  and  lightning. 

1680.  Dr.  Philip  Read  complains  of  Mrs.  Margaret  Gifford,  as  a  witch.  The 
great  Newtonian  comet  appears,  in  November,  exciting  much  alarm. 

1682.  Old  Tunnel  Meeting-house  built. 

1688.  The  people  much  excited  by  Randolph's  petition  to  Andros,  for  Nahant. 

1692.  Great  witchcraft  excitement. 

1696.  Severe  winter;  the  coldest  since  the  settlement  commenced. 

1697.  Much  alarm  in  Lynn  on  account  of  the  appearance  of  the  small-pox. 
1706.  Second  division  of  lands  among  the  inhabitants. 

1708.  A  fast  held  on  account  of  the  ravages  of  canker  worms  and  caterpillars. 

1715.  First  Meeting-house  in  Lynnfield  built. 

1716.  Extraordinary  darkness  at  noon-day,  21  Oct.;  dinner  tables  lighted. 

1717.  Memorable  snow  storms,  Feb.  20  and  24;  one  story  houses  buried. 
1719.  Northern  Lights  observed  for  the  first  time,  17  Dec;  a  startling  display 
1723.  Terrific  storm,  24  Feb.,  the  sea  raging  and  rising  to  an  alarming  height. 

First  mill  on  Saugus  river,  at  Boston  street  crossing,  built. 
1726.  £13.15  awarded  to  Nathaniel  Potter,  for  linen  manufactured  at  Lynn. 
1736.  First  Meeting-house  in  Saugus  built. 
1745.  Mr.  Whitefield  preaches  on  Lynn  Common,  creating  much  excitement. 

1749.  Great  drought,  hot  summer,  and  immense  multitudes  of  grasshoppers. 

1750.  John  Adam  Dagyr.  an  accomplished  shoemaker  arrives,  and  gives  great 

impetus  to  the  business ;  Ijecame  noted,  but  died  in  the  alms-house. 
1755.  Greatest  earthquake  ever  known  in  New  England,  18  November. 
1770.  Potato  rot  prevails.     Canker  worms  commit  great  ravages. 
1776.  Twenty-six  negro  slaves  owned  in  Lynn. 
1780.  Memorable  dark  day,  19  May;  houses  lighted  as  at  night. 
1793.  Lynn  Post-office  established,  and  kept  on  Boston  street,  near  Federal. 

(619) 


620  HISTORY   OF   LYNN. 


1795.  Brig  Peggy  wrecked  ou  Long  Beach,  Dec.  9,  and  eleven  lives  lost. 
1800.  Manufacture  of  morocco  leather  introduced.     Elephant  first  shown  here. 

1803.  Boston  and  Salem  Turnpike  opened  and  Lynn  Hotel  built.    Miles  Shorey 

and  wife  killed  by  lightning,  at  their  dwelling,  Boston  street,  10  July. 

1804.  Independence  first  celebrated  in  Lynn.     Snow  fell  in  July. 

1808.  First  law  office  in  Lynn  opened.     Great  bull  fight  at  Half-way  House. 
Trapping  of  lobsters  first  practised  at  Swampscot. 

1813.  Moll  Pitcher,  the  celebrated  fortune-teller  dies,  9  April,  aged  75  years. 

1814.  Lynnfield  incorporated  as  a  separate  town.     First  Town  House  in  Lynn 

built.     First  bank  established.    Female  Benevolent  Society  formed. 

1815.  Saugus  incorporated  as  a  separate  town.     Terrific  southeasterly  gale, 

23  September,  carrying  tlie  ocean  spray  several  miles  inland. 
1819.  The  great  sea-serpent  appears  in  our  waters. 
1825.  First  Lynn  newspaper  —  the  Weekly  Mirror  —  issued,  3  September. 

1827.  A  broad  and  brilliant  night  arch,  28  August. 

1828.  A  whale,  sixty  feet  in  length,  cast  ashore  at  "Whale  beach,  2  May. 

1829.  A  splendid  display  of  frosted  trees,  10  January.  Another  in  Dec,  1855. 
1833.  Extraordinary  shower  of  meteors,  13  November. 

1838.  Eastern  Rail  Road  opened  for  travel,  from  Boston  for  Salem,  28  August. 
1843.  Schooner  Thomas  wrecked  on  Long  beach,  five  men  perishing,  17  March. 
1846.  Rockaway  House,  Swampscot,  burned,  1  January. 

1848.  Carriage  Road  over  harbor  side  of  Long  beach  built.     Lynn  Common 

fenced.     George  Gray,  the  Lynn  hermit,  dies. 

1849.  Lynn  Police  Court  established.     Large  emigration  to  California. 

1850.  Lynn  adopts  the  City  form  of  government.     Pine  Grove  Cemetery  con- 

secrated, 24  July.  Thirteen  persons,  of  a  pic-nic  party,  drowned  in 
Lynnfield  pond,  15  August.     "  Ten  hour  system  "  generally  adopted. 

1851.  John  J.  Perdy  murdered  at  his  boarding  house.  Market  street,  28  .Tune. 

1852.  Swampscot  incorporated  as  a  separate  town.     Hiram  Marble  commences 

the  excavation  of  Dungeon  Rock.  Louis  Kossuth,  the  Hungarian 
exile  visits  Lynn,  6  May.     Omnibus  line  commences  in  Lynn. 

1853.  Nahant  incorporated  as  a  separate  town.     Prize  fight  on  Lynnfield  road, 

3  January.  Gas  first  lighted  in  Lynn,  13  January.  Cars  commence 
running  over  the  Saugus  Branch  Rail  Road,  1  February.  Patrick 
McGuire  fatally  stabbed,  in  Franklin  street,  26  September. 

1856.  Egg  Rock  light  shown  for  the  first  time,  15  September. 

1857.  Bark  Tedesco  wrecked  at  Swampscot,  all  on  board  perishing,  18  January. 

1858.  Telegraphic  communication  between  Lynn  and  other  places  established. 

A  magnificent  comet,  Donati's,  visible  in  the  northwest,  in  the  autumn. 

1859.  Roman  Catholic  church.  Ash  street,  burned,  28  May.     Brilliant  display 

of  northern  lights,  28  August ;  the  whole  heavens  covered.  Union 
street  Methodist  meeting-house  destroyed  by  fire,  20  November. 

1860.  Harbor  so  frozen,  in  January,  that  persons  walked  across,  to  Bass  Point. 

Shoemakers'  great  strike  commences  in  February.  Prince  of  Wales 
passes  through  town,  20  October.  Horse  Rail  Road  cars  commence 
running,  29  November.     Market  street  first  lighted  by  gas,  7  Dec. 

1861.  Alonzo  Lewis,  the  poet  and  historian,  dies  21  January,  aged  66  years. 

A  splendid  comet  suddenly  appears,  2  July,  the  tail  of  which  had 
actually  swept  the  earth  three  days  before,  producing  nothing  beyond 
a  slight  apparently  auroral  light  in  the  atmosphere.  The  extensive 
edifice  known  as  Nahant  Hotel,  burned,  12  September. 

1862.  Lynn  Free  Public  Library  opened.     Enthusiastic  war  meetings  held. 

Nathan  Breed,  jr.,  murdered  in  his  store,  on  Summer  street,  23  Dec. 
1864.  June  25,  the  thermometer  rose  to  104  degrees,  in  shady  places,  in  Lynn, 
indicating  the  warmest  day  here  of  which  there  is  any  record.  Great 
drought,  and  extensive  fires  in  the  woods,  during  the  summer.  City 
Hall,  (old  Town  House,  built  in  1814,)  burned  6  October,  and  Joseph 
Bond,  confined  in  the  lock-up,  burned  to  death. 


5590    0  i  6 


ACME  ] 

BOOKBINDING  CO..  IKC  t 

-1 

JUN  1991  { 

100  CAMBRIDGE  STREET 
CHARLESTOWN,  MASS 


